[solved]Use the Shoebox Vent or the Tank Vent?

I have it all hooked up. Do you use the vent on your tank rather than the vent on the Shoebox most of the time? It also ments unhooking the 1st stage compressor line before venting? Do you have to do that?

Thanks

StubExt wrote:I have it all hooked up. Do you use the vent on your tank rather than the vent on the Shoebox most of the time? It also means unhooking the 1st stage compressor line before venting? Do you have to do that?

Thanks

Personally, I use the vent on the tank. You CAN use the vent on the Shoebox but it's easier for me to get to the one on the tank and for that reason only I do that.

Yea, you do have to disconnect the feed in from the first stage compressor, in your case, the Porter Cable (PC) (We all know at this point but newcomers may not get the acronym)

You could install a check valve, I guess but to me, it over complicates the simplicity of the machine in doing that. Abda likes simple.

If you don't disconnect it you'll lose air from your air reservoir on your PC, it will kick on after you've forgotten to turn it off and it will scare the bejeevees out of you when it does kick on.

And yea, the PC is obnoxious in noise but it only stays on for a little bit. Mine will kick on for 30 or a little bit more in seconds.

On your first fill from zero pressure it will take a loooong time to fill up the tank. I don't know your size yet but I have the Air Hog at 88 Cubic Feet. Took a LONG time to fill it first time around and I don't suggest you fill it, or try to, if you have one this size, all at once. Do it in stages, check your new equipment, keep it lubed but not OVER lubed (if you do you'll get grease backing through the cylinders and check valves). Just a dab will do you. Check out the how to videos in this Range at Quick Check and Lube Link. I strongly suggest this even if you've watched it before.

A lot of people, including me, always want to do just a little bit more than what is recommended. It's just human nature to think more is better but please do follow the instructions and resist that temptation to do and/or add more than what you really need.

I'll get to your other posts on this shortly.

Thanks. I am only topping off tanks. I went from 2800 to 4500 in about 2 hours and 15 minutes at 95-98 psi on the booster in a 44 cu ft SCBA. I thought it filled really fast - roughly 700 psi per hour.

Well, there ya go! Great start!

I always use the tank bleed valve, it is a much sturdier bleed system than what is on the Shoebox.

But before I do, I turn the pressure off my shop compressor so it does not bleed thru the Shoebox and also so that it will not come on all day long like you have pointed out. However I do not disconnect it from the Shoebox.

On a side note, I usually in the summer use my Shoebox in the early morning while it is cool for two reasons, one of course is to keep running tempture down, the other reason is becuase I run my shop compressor coiled line thru a cooler of water, and the water is cooler in the early morning.

Running the shop compressor line thru the water helps it to condence closer to the shop compressor so that my water trap system works a tad bit more effeciently. Nothing high tech there, just theline thru a camp cooler with water in it and a rock holding it down. I might add my shop compressor is 40 inches beneath my Shoebox.

I am going on 11 months now with my unit, and have probably used it 15 to 20 hours per week.

I usually figure on 950 PSI fill per hour on a 44 cuft tank, just because that is what my three are on my cascade system,. If I have other stuff to do, I open the valves on all three tanks so they equalize and fill slower and I do not have to check them as often to make sure they shut off on time.

One thing you will notice on this Shoebox adventure is how inconsistant air pressure gauges are. I used to think it was just the little gauges on the guns that were inaccurate, but the big ones are commonly 200 PSI off. The ones on the scba tanks may be more accurate or perhaps they are just not as precise to read and I just think they are more accurate. At one time I had 5 or 6 of the large gauges and none of them read the same.

Regards,

Roachcreek

Gauges are most accurate and will last longer reading at mid range by design. I'm using 7500 psi on my gun fill setup and a 6000 on my compressor, will trade them when I get a chance. Also changing to 4000 psi on 2000 fill guns and 5000 on 3000 fill guns as time goes by. Tom

Same here, 7500 and 6000 PSI gauges, the 7500 PSI being the newest of the two and the most accurate.

I have also had them stick and I have had a couple leak on me, it was big mystery where all that oil was coming from on my bench for a few days. One I successfully refilled and repaired with JBQuick and the little disposable glyserin enema containers and the other I tried but it leaked air out still and broke the seal. The gauge I had that stuck, would go no higher than 2300 PSI, so I tapped it and it has worked fine since.

I recently sold most of my gauges when I sold my Booster pump, and a fill set up. There were four on those all told.

The little gauge that was on my Short Etac for my Condor, was off by 450 PSI, so I replaced it with a 1/8 injch plug and count the shots in my head.

Regards,

Roachcreek