Diving Bottle

Hightower · 19 March 2014, 13:48

I'm possibly looking for one of these for a new air rifle I've just bought, can someone please explain the certificate/stamping of the bottle. Is this just for diving purposes or a general safety test for the bottle?

Nick Hearne · 19 March 2014, 13:59

You will have to have it tested and in test to get anyone to fill it for you as you do not want to be filling it and have the bottle fail on you as it could kill at worst, get your self a compressor then you could fill any old manky bottle, but not to be recommended!

allena · 19 March 2014, 13:59

Hi the markings are test dats and from memory all bottles have to be tested by annually, this is the reason I purchased a hand pump for my gun.

Hightower · 19 March 2014, 14:04

Thanks guys, thought it was more bottle safety related than diving, but had to ask.

Seen someone use a hand pump and it nearly killed them pumping up the reservoir. Certainly they weren't able to shoot a gun accurately for 1/2 hour lol.

thomas · 19 March 2014, 14:36

Go to a race weekend and most of the garages use them for air tools and tyre filling, from what I've seen they're not looked very well.

If you intend to fill it with a regular compressor then you'll be hard pushed to find one not fit for the job as you'll only stick about 8 bar in it. If using a dive shop to fill then you'll need something tested as you could go off and dive with it.

... mind you, if you were going to use a compressor you may as well use the tank on that as even a cheap one will have twice the capacity

treerat · 19 March 2014, 15:07

The test isn't yearly. It's a five year hydrostatic test with a visual mid way. If the cylinder is dry only it's a ten year test.

treerat · 19 March 2014, 15:08

You'll want a 300 bar one if you can. Many are 232 cylinders.

Festinghouse · 19 March 2014, 20:07

300 bar are heavier and not everywhere can fill to 300. i like the comment above about getting your own compressor - youre looking at over a grand for a second hand one! get a bottle in test and it only costs me 3quid a fill from my local diving centre. my logun solo will do over 100 shots per charge so only needs topping up occasionally - in fact in the last 8 years or so that ive had it ive only had the bottle filled twice!

thomas · 19 March 2014, 20:44

I didn't mean a diving one, just an 80 quid 24l one from machinemart, if his mate is using a bicycle pump then 200 bar is going to be over kill. The convenience of not having to go to the dive shop would be worthwhile, plus they're handy for all sorts of other things.

Peter_C · 19 March 2014, 20:53

Dpending on how much you plan to use the tank renting might be an option.

Here in the USA a hydro is due every 5 years and the dive shops often choose to require a visual every year. The same tank might be able to be filled at a paint ball range without the yearly visual.

For cost savings I would recommend an aluminum tank. Steel tanks are more expensive, but there is nothing wrong with buying used. 9 of my 11 tanks were purchased used. My compressor was purchased used too, but I have over $3,600 US into it. Owning a compressor is not feasible for an air riffle.

How much pressure does this riffle require?

Festinghouse · 19 March 2014, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

I didn't mean a diving one, just an 80 quid 24l one from machinemart, if his mate is using a bicycle pump then 200 bar is going to be over kill. The convenience of not having to go to the dive shop would be worthwhile, plus they're handy for all sorts of other things.

the gun itself needs 200 bar, and the pump he refers to is a purpose made stirrup pump which itself costs over 100quid

thomas · 19 March 2014, 22:03

oops, I'll shut up and go back to cutting vinyl.

Peter_C · 20 March 2014, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festinghouse

the gun itself needs 200 bar

If that is the case, I would go with a BIG steel high pressure (HP130 cubic foot in the USA) tank that will be rated for 300 bar. The bigger the tank the longer between fills. They won't last very long if trying to stay above 200 bar.

Side note, my compressor runs up to 345 bar, which is what most average scuba compressors are rated for.

Got a link to this rifle? I need a new squirrel gun, as they are getting out of control.

Nick Hearne · 20 March 2014, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festinghouse

300 bar are heavier and not everywhere can fill to 300. i like the comment above about getting your own compressor - youre looking at over a grand for a second hand one! get a bottle in test and it only costs me 3quid a fill from my local diving centre. my logun solo will do over 100 shots per charge so only needs topping up occasionally - in fact in the last 8 years or so that ive had it ive only had the bottle filled twice!

I did not recommend getting a compressor!

"get your self a compressor then you could fill any old manky bottle, but NOT to be recommended"

Hightower · 20 March 2014, 13:12

Thanks for your input guys. This is the first PCP rifle I've bought, short term I can use the clubs air supply to refill the gun. But there will come a time during the warmer months where I will want to use the rifle outside of my club and want to shoot HFT, plink etc. This is where I'll need another supply of air. My preference is for a diving bottle which I can refill from, but like all things cost is a deciding factor. It might be for example be cheaper to buy additional Air Arms cylinders for the rifle and fill them from the club. Yes a styrup pump might be an option too, but not my first choice.

So for the moment I will explore the cost of a diving cylinder, regulator, hoses and fill adapters (Whips)

diver 1 · 20 March 2014, 13:19

Diving cylinders used for diving must be visually inspected after 2.5 yrs then hydraulically testes at 5 years, visual at 7.5 yrs, hydraulic at 10.... etc etc

IF the diving cylinders are used on land -i.e. not diving underwater then its just a hydraulic test every 5 years I'm fairly sure.

You should be able to pick up a 232bar rated Faber dive cylinder 2nd hand for around £100. Getting it tested is normally around £30-40 depending where you go. Most dive shops will help you. Might be worth ensuring your test centre is IDEST approved, because more and more dive shops here will only fill cylinders who have been tested and stamped by an IDEST approved test centre.

Alternatively hassle a mate who does scuba diving and ask to borrow a bit of air now and again, for the sake of charging and rifle you'll not be wanting much volume, so should be plenty of gas left in the bottle for a decent dive anyway. If you were local I'd help you out

Hightower · 20 March 2014, 13:36

Don't know anyone that dives locally.

I'm just going to pop down to Southern cylinder services and have a word with them. I might be able to pick up an out of test bottle cheap and get it tested. Obviously that's only one part of the story. I have to find out how much the regulators and hoses are for my rifle too.

treerat · 20 March 2014, 19:24

I fill a couple of local air rifle guys. They burning a 3l cylinder that I fill via decimating from my 232 bar 12l. Gives him enough to shoot for a couple of months. Depends how much you plan to use it really.

Hightower · 20 March 2014, 21:14

I was looking at the packages on the Godive website, includes valve and hoses for airguns. New 7ltr package for £175