WTS: Oxygen Cylinders & Equipment

[smccray]

In 2012 I started looking for a portable oxygen system for my personal use.  I had a hard time understanding what I was buying, and I certainly didn’t understand why it was priced so much higher than medical system components.  I discovered a dirty little secret: almost everything the aviation oxygen brands are selling are bundles of standard products.

 

There’s no reason the parts should be as expensive as they are, so we’re going to introduce an opportunity for pilots to fulfill their aviation oxygen needs at a lower price point.  www.SkyHighO2.com is a no frills retailer.  If you order an oxygen cylinder from us it won’t have our name on it.  In fact, our distributor will have to build your cylinder to order before it ships.

 

These cylinders are compatible with your aviation regulator.  I personally have been using a 15 CuFt cylinder with a regulator from a major brand for the last year.  If you have any questions about compatibility set me a PM.

 

  Low Profile CGA540 & Gauge

6 CuFt/ 170 LITER 79.95

9 CuFt/ 255 LITER 80.95

15 CuFt/ 425 LITER 88.95

22.6 CuFt/ 623 LITER 159.95

24 CuFt/ 680 LITER 95.95

 

60 CuFt/ 1699 LITER 229.95

(Standard 540 valve without an air gauge)

 

 

 

Case Study: why does a 15 cubic foot oxygen cylinder cost $185?  Google “Medical D Cylinder” and it’s not hard to find a 15 cubic foot cylinder for medical use available for sale for $75 dollars.  It didn’t make sense to me.  In truth, the valve on the top of the cylinder is different for aviation versus medical use, but $100 for a valve is crazy.  I now sell a 15 cubic foot oxygen cylinder with a low profile CGA 540 valve for $88.95.  You won’t find a lot of information about a low profile CGA540 valve online, but if you want to see a photo, look for a photo of an oxygen cylinder sold by any of the big aviation oxygen brands.  Note their price, and then come visit us at www.SkyHighO2.com.

[Skypylott]

Be careful it all has to do with DOT (Department of Transportation) approval. You can get away with it until you get caught.

[smccray]

The cylinders I'm selling are all DOT approved.  The stamp is on the cylinder.

[Marauder]

So tell us more. I have an Aerox system. The cylinder is outside of the 5 year limit. I want to be able to refill my own cylinders at home. Tell me what I need to buy!

[smccray]

So tell us more. I have an Aerox system. The cylinder is outside of the 5 year limit. I want to be able to refill my own cylinders at home. Tell me what I need to buy!

 

First, you'll need to get your tank hydro tested.  You don't need to buy a new cylinder.  A call to your local dive shops or welding shops should allow you to locate someone to hydro test your cylinder.

 

To fill your tank you'll need a trans filling system.  I have a 1:1 transfiller on my site: LINK.  I have one of these sitting in my office right now- it's a nice unit.  If you want a 2:1 system, I can sell the fittings to add a second (or more) source tank for $85 per additional tank.  The transfiller in that link should connect to your Aerox cylinder without any problem.  A 2:1 system is a convenience.  You hook both cylinders up to your portable cylinder.  First you fill the portable off of the lower pressure source tank.  Then you close the low pressure source tank and fill from the high pressure tank.  Just remember to fill slowly.

[Marauder]

So tell us more. I have an Aerox system. The cylinder is outside of the 5 year limit. I want to be able to refill my own cylinders at home. Tell me what I need to buy! First, you'll need to get your tank hydro tested. You don't need to buy a new cylinder. A call to your local dive shops or welding shops should allow you to locate someone to hydro test your cylinder. To fill your tank you'll need a trans filling system. I have a 1:1 transfiller on my site: LINK. I have one of these sitting in my office right now- it's a nice unit. If you want a 2:1 system, I can sell the fittings to add a second (or more) source tank for $85 per additional tank. The transfiller in that link should connect to your Aerox cylinder without any problem. A 2:1 system is a convenience. You hook both cylinders up to your portable cylinder. First you fill the portable off of the lower pressure source tank. Then you close the low pressure source tank and fill from the high pressure tank. Just remember to fill slowly.

I have read that I will want a 2:1 system to get to fuller utilization of my cylinder's capacity. Use the lower pressure cylinder to get a lower value and then top off with the higher pressure cylinder. When that tank drops, you begin using it as your first cylinder. I get that right? Are you selling everything needed to do that, including a braided hose?

[smccray]

I have read that I will want a 2:1 system to get to fuller utilization of my cylinder's capacity. Use the lower pressure cylinder to get a lower value and then top off with the higher pressure cylinder. When that tank drops, you begin using it as your first cylinder. I get that right?

Are you selling everything needed to do that, including a braided hose?

Yes. It will be two separate parts. The first is the 1:1 filler hose I linked to above. The second is a package that adds a CGA 540 T fitting and an 18" hose to connect the two cylinders together. This second package isn't on the website yet. I'll send you a PM.

 

Edited to add: To clarify, I'm selling all of the hoses/fittings to hook up your cylinders.  You'll want to source the cylinders locally.  I can sell the large steel cylinders empty if you're interested, but you'll probably be better off buying/renting them in your local area..  If you need a cart to move the cylinders around you'll also want to think about sourcing that elsewhere.  I can sell you a 2 cylinder cart, but by the time you pay shipping on that it will be more than the transfiller.  Personally I'd look at harbor freight understanding that the HF cart is light duty.  If you don't plan to buy a cart and you don't need the cylinders to be mobile, please secure them so they don't tip over.  I have 1 and 2 tank brackets you can attach to the wall.

[garytex]

I just bought a system from Precise Flight, and knew that if I had more information I could have bought the pieces cheaper and assembled the system. 

Smccray has done the homework for us, and isn't hosing us on price.

Good Job!

[smccray]

Thank you sir!  I hate to pay more than I have to for a product.  Hopefully I can bring the opportunity to save a little $ to my fellow pilots.

 

Scott

[N601RX]

I've been refilling small oxygen and CO2 cylinders for my welder and torch for the last 20 years with no problems.  Be careful if doing this, there have been people killed with oxygen tanks.  The hose has to be clean, no oil at all.  Keep it stored in a clean bag.  I also place the cylinder being filled in a can of water.  This will keep it cool, and if something did go wrong contain the mess somewhat.  You will see most SCUBA and welding supply shops doing this as well.

[carusoam]

How hot does the O2 get while compressing?

I am assuming ignition temp of oil in an O2 atmosphere is lower than Most would suspect...

Best regards,

-a-

[larryb]

I have a transfill system purchased elsewhere. I do it for convenience and cost. I have two 125cu-ft tanks. To fill one of them is about $50 and lasts me a year. The portable tank gets warm to the touch while filling. I do not put it in water. Instead, I leave the valve open on the fill for a few minutes as the tank cools. The reason to cool the tank is to get more gas inside it. When not in use, I keep the rig and wrenches in their own dedicated Rubbermaid storage container in the hanger.

[N201MKTurbo]

I bought a Haskill Gas Booster on ebay for $300.00. With it I can fill my portable bottles to 2300 PSI with only 400 PSI in the supply tank. I looked for almost a year until I found a good deal on one. The one I got looks brand new. They usually go for more like $2500.00

[Onetoothatatime]

What is the status of the company? Website said unavailable...

Thx

D

[M20F-1968]

I just purchased some transfilling parts from a welder's supply.  The parts will be the same as you will purchase from the aviation sites.  I am using 4 330 cubic Ft oxygen cylinders for transfill which cost me $100 each, cleaned for oxygen, painted with new CGA540 valves.  You can PM me for infor.  I am not selling anything, just sharing experience.

Took a little bit of homework.

John Breda

[StevenL757]

N201 - am interested in your Haskel booster.  I've been looking for one also for over a year, but found nothing really close to what you found, unfortunately.  Anything you can offer or any guidance on where I might find something similar?  PM me if able to shed some light.

Cheers, Steve

[N201MKTurbo]

I'm not selling mine, I looked on eBay for over a year till I found this one. Just go to Haskell's website and find which models will work and check eBay every few days till you find one.

[StevenL757]

Yep, understood you're not selling, so I should've phrased that differently.

What Haskel model do you have?  I have a 2-tank transfill setup now (T-size cylinders).  Will the Haskel allow me to use more of the capacity in my T-cylinders as well as enable me to fill my onboard 115cf bottle closer to the recommended max?  If so, then I'm interested.  Never worked with one, honestly, so appreciate the guidance.  Let me know if I'm misunderstanding.

Rgds, Steve

[smccray]

Shut down. What are you interested in and I'll point you in the right direction. Supplier was Cramer decker medical- they have an industrial decision as well if the parts aren't available in the medical catalog.

[N201MKTurbo]

The haskel is just a compressor that is driven by compressed air. It has an oxygen comparable compressor stage. It has a big piston on the air side driving a little piston on the oxygen side. Mine will make 15000 PSI with 100 PSI of air pressure. It isn't very fast, but you can make as much pressure as you want. I can fill my portable bottles to 2300 PSI with 250 PSI in my supply cylinder. It takes a long time at that pressure but it will do it. You need a big air compressor to drive it.

[StevenL757]

Understood.  So is there is a particular model that works better than another?