PDA

View Full Version : Smaller CO2 Onboard Air solutions



Ted_Z
08-06-2007, 08:04 PM
I was walking through Lowes the other day when I saw this "Portable Compressed CO2 Regulator" http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=166441-61735-J-6901-100 . Basically a paintball tank, gage, regulator and hose bundled together.

I like the idea of the "power tank" type systems, but they always seemed too big to lug around. The paintball tanks look like about the right size for airing up tires (too small for power tools). I figured I could do the same as the above for less $ or make it better. Google revealed that this idea has been around for a while (see below).

Has anyone has put their own compact CO2 system together using paintball stuff? Making a "power tank" clone seems simple enough, the regulator links below are <$40.

http://www.co2togo.com/ (http://www.co2togo.com/)
http://www.tippmannindustrial.com/index.php?cPath=73&osCsid=c3001d30878e56a5df90b5a1d61ad874 (http://www.tippmannindustrial.com/index.php?cPath=73&osCsid=c3001d30878e56a5df90b5a1d61ad874)
Just a regulator:
http://www.palmer-pursuit.com/online-catalog/stabilizer.htm (http://www.palmer-pursuit.com/online-catalog/stabilizer.htm)

Regulators for full sized bottles:
http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/909_979/products_id/18742 (http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/909_979/products_id/18742)
http://www.offroadtuff.com/CO2Regulators.htm (http://www.offroadtuff.com/CO2Regulators.htm)
http://www.williamsballoons.com/html/carbon_dioxide.html (http://www.williamsballoons.com/html/carbon_dioxide.html)

AgitatedPancake
08-06-2007, 08:31 PM
you'd have to see how much c02 is really in a bottle. I never took all those classes, and don't know how to convert it all considering its stored as a liquid inside the bottle. It would be nice because i have a few paintball tanks lyin around I could use (16oz'ers)

Ted_Z
08-06-2007, 09:01 PM
The Lowes regulator comes with a 9oz bottle, but can take any paintball tank (up to 24oz?) They also sell a 20oz.

If I did my numbers right, a 20oz CO2 tank should give 6100in^3 at 30psi. A 31x10.5 tire is around 2000in^3. So in theory you could fill 3 tires from flat to 30psi. If you're airing down to 10-15psi, you should have enough for all 4 tires.

The above numbers don't look all that great. After looking around the net a bit, it might be better, cheaperand easier to find a 2.5lb CO2 tank that has the standard valve on top and use a fixed regulator. Or I could just stick with my little Tsunami MF-1050 compressor!

AgitatedPancake
08-06-2007, 09:27 PM
yeah thats what I figured, most paintball shops charge like $4 a bottle or so to refill, so it could add up more than a full sized bottle.

DJJordache
08-06-2007, 09:33 PM
I used to play PB and that palmers pursuit reg is awesome (I have 2) and will not freeze up like most other regs i have used in PB. BUT I don't know if it will do the CFM that you might want for tires.
Another option taken from PB is they also use nitrogen or compressed air tanks at a much higher pressure and can also have a higher volume of air in carbon fiber wrapped tanks and are also pretty cheap to fill at just a little more than co2

I also thought about something like this but stick to my master flow 1050 / 50 compressor

AgitatedPancake
08-06-2007, 10:32 PM
I dont think a compressed air tank would be reasonable. It's been a while, so I'm having a hard time remembering, but I have a 68ci (i think) tank that goes up to 3000-3500psi

vinny4130
08-07-2007, 01:23 AM
i was told by a welding supply company that medical oxygen tank can have the valve and regulator adapted to flow co2. tanks come in 10 and 15 lb sizes. they are thiner and/or taller then a 20lb powertank or homemade tank. also the poly performance 125psi fixed co2 regulator is a easy way to go on a homemade.