Compressor dealers?

[BackwoodsGA]

Looking for a compressor to fill my tanks between trips. I have six LP108 so feel somewhere between 3-6 cfm will do. Any input of dealers or compressors to keep a look out for? Are the old Kiddie or Bristol worth looking at? I have read until I have hit information overload.... I am also looking for real world nitrox stik feedback.

Thanks!

Scott

 

[rcontrera]

Hi Scott

For those old Kidde compressors, Jim Sheldon is your guy. He has been buying up surplus blocks and building nice little units for years. I am the local Coltri guy for the board and can help you out there. There are lots of Bauer "experts" here but really no major dealers (I have been a Bauer dealer for over 20 years but now do primarily Coltri). Most of the Bauer fans buy from Porter Stiles.

As for which models are in your size range, you are looking at the MCH6 Coltri, Bauer Jr II, Bauer Oceanus II and Jim will have to tell you which Kidde you are looking at.

Hope that helps!

 

[BackwoodsGA]

Hi Scott

For those old Kidde compressors, Jim Sheldon is your guy. He has been buying up surplus blocks and building nice little units for years. I am the local Coltri guy for the board and can help you out there. There are lots of Bauer "experts" here but really no major dealers (I have been a Bauer dealer for over 20 years but now do primarily Coltri). Most of the Bauer fans buy from Porter Stiles.

As for which models are in your size range, you are looking at the MCH6 Coltri, Bauer Jr II, Bauer Oceanus II and Jim will have to tell you which Kidde you are looking at.

Hope that helps!

Thanks! Emailed Jim as well. I work in parts and equipment everyday so I am very hands on. The compressor+filter is where I want to make sure I do not make a mistake. I must pre blend or partial pressure fill Nitrox and don't care much to blow my self up!

 

[rcontrera]

With either the Bauer or Coltri compressors, you may want to add additional filtration. The stock filters are pretty small and will just barely get you grade E air. If you are looking for OCA, an additional filter stack is definitely called for. Jim already installs a fair size filter on his machines since the Kidde don't come standard with anything. But he can replace it with one of the big dudes if you are having him do you something custom.

 

[BackwoodsGA]

With either the Bauer or Coltri compressors, you may want to add additional filtration. The stock filters are pretty small and will just barely get you grade E air. If you are looking for OCA, an additional filter stack is definitely called for. Jim already installs a fair size filter on his machines since the Kidde don't come standard with anything. But he can replace it with one of the big dudes if you are having him do you something custom.

How do the Bauer, Coltri, Kiddie, and Bristol compare? The Coltri sure seems like to bargin of the bunch.

 

[frogman62]

I won't respond to the Bauer/Coltri comparison as I am not a dealer for either.
The Kidde military compressors have been the standard of the military weapons business since the early 50's. I have modified these military compressor since building my first one in the mid 50's. They are extremely durable, very reliable but like any other machine -- occasionally a lemon. They can be very trying when not working. BUT that said -- over the years I have sold more than 1000 of these units and have had to eat maybe 25. They are becoming very hard to find and I probably have the largest inventory of parts in the US except military repaiir facilities and they don't sell them to anyone.
Many are coming out of storage because some older person bought it 30 years ago and the kids found it and are trying to sell it or get it out of the way.
They are small, compact and excellent compressors but limited to 2.4, 4.2 and 6 cfm. They easily pump to 4500PSI
American Bristol compressors were fabricated by ABI in California for over 30 years They are a Hamworthy block but now parts are very difficult to find. They came in 3, 5, 7, 10,12, 16, and 25 CFM sizes. They were the standard for fire departments in the 60's70's and 80's and later until Bauer and Mako got serious about service and quality (MY editorial license). The best size compressor is the 4S7-60/70. Extremely well built machine, long lasting and very durable. Recently we have started to make gaskets, rings, valves, and critical parts for this compressor since Bristol/Hammworthy no longer supports the product. I am selling these to scuba and CNG customers.
Jim Shelden

 

[manni-yunk]

How do the Bauer, Coltri, Kiddie, and Bristol compare? The Coltri sure seems like to bargin of the bunch.

All I will say is that I was in the same exact position as you a year ago. PM me as I did a boatload of research.

I ended up with a Kiddie 4.2 from Jim Sheldon and we run the crap out of it. I got it in April (or close to it) and have almost 100 hours already. We fill our doubles at night - then use it to top off between dives on the boat.

I also have a homemade Nitrox stick hooked up to it. Works great.


I had Jim add an extra 16" filter stack and I love the setup. The first is all 13x (as an additional drying agent) and the second is the standard L and F filter. The first pair of filters lasted 40 hours and the indicator on the second filter was still completely blue - which means bone dry. The first filter stack was wet - which means it did its job. I have the air tested after 40 hours and it was better than all standards for Grade E.

You might not need the double filters - I wanted them since I didnt want to be afraid of filling when humidity was high and I knew that could really tear through the 13x part of the L and F fillter quickly.


Im sure the other dealers on here are great to - BUT - if there are any little hiccups - Jim is GREAT to work with. Fast, responsive, and available for all my PITA questions.

I highly recommend him and his compressors!



continuous blending is the way to go - and a lot easier than it is made out to be. I bought the Oxyhacker book and followed Vince's design and it works great. We blend up to 40% and never miss a beat.

The hardest part was setting up and negotiating the O2 contract (best price) - the rest was easy.

 

[BackwoodsGA]

All I will say is that I was in the same exact position as you a year ago. PM me as I did a boatload of research.

I ended up with a Kiddie 4.2 from Jim Sheldon and we run the crap out of it. I got it in April (or close to it) and have almost 100 hours already. We fill our doubles at night - then use it to top off between dives on the boat.

I also have a homemade Nitrox stick hooked up to it. Works great.


I had Jim add an extra 16" filter stack and I love the setup. The first is all 13x (as an additional drying agent) and the second is the standard L and F filter. The first pair of filters lasted 40 hours and the indicator on the second filter was still completely blue - which means bone dry. The first filter stack was wet - which means it did its job. I have the air tested after 40 hours and it was better than all standards for Grade E.

You might not need the double filters - I wanted them since I didnt want to be afraid of filling when humidity was high and I knew that could really tear through the 13x part of the L and F fillter quickly.


Im sure the other dealers on here are great to - BUT - if there are any little hiccups - Jim is GREAT to work with. Fast, responsive, and available for all my PITA questions.

I highly recommend him and his compressors!



continuous blending is the way to go - and a lot easier than it is made out to be. I bought the Oxyhacker book and followed Vince's design and it works great. We blend up to 40% and never miss a beat.

The hardest part was setting up and negotiating the O2 contract (best price) - the rest was easy.

Thanks for the reply!! I would like a newer compressor but the old ones seem to work really well for real divers. I need clean air for Nitrox, I know the filter may be more important than the compressor. Looking for the best overall decision.