- My RIX SA-3 was bought used for $750. I paid Speedy Delivery $100 to pick it up in St. Louis, MO. AntiqueDiver put me together a 4-Tube filter array and fill whip for $400. And with AntiqueDiver's generous supply of advice, I got it up and running.
- Buying used has drawbacks and pluses. The drawback for me was a cracked 3rd stage moisture separator tower. 1st year I just by-passed it because the filter array has moisture separation. Eventually I replaced the moisture separator at a cost of $300. This Summer my 2nd stage over pressure valve started going off because the 3rd stage head was leaking back into the 2nd stage. So, I had to re-build the 3rd stage head... Which is basically cleaning and replacing O-rings... Not too expensive. Then, in late Summer I started hearing some piston blow-by leakage that went away after warming up. So, just recently I installed new rings, O-Ring expanders, and rider rings at a cost of about $200. So all things considered... I have about $1750 in cash so far invested... But I have a RIX SA3 almost re-built to new that I'd have had to pay $6,000 for if I bought it new!
- Pluses (*for me) are that I made a heck of a good friend in AntiqueDiver and I've learned a lot about compressors... Something I always wished I had when I was too young to afford it. And like SwimJim, I love the independence of filling my own tanks.