2 Milton pencils vs Jaco vs Milwaukee Inflator Test

[JeffKeryk]

All this bad rapping about pencil gauge got me conjuring up a comparison contest!
The participants:

• my old Milton pencil gauge
• my newer Milton
• my new Jaco gauge
• Milwaukee 12V Inflator

Yesterday I aired up the TSX tires in Petaluma to 35 psi using an Amazon whatever cheapo inflator; it was cold in the upper 50's. No other gauge used. Drove home 90 miles.
This morning I read the right front tire...
Jaco 33.4 PSI
New Milton 33+ PSI - just over the line
Old Milton 32.5 PSI
Milwaukee 32.5 PSI

Set inflator to 35 PSI and filled the tire. Battery getting a little tired...

Jaco 34.9 PSI
New Milton 34.5
Old Milton 35
Milwaukee 34.9

They all work. No more bad rapping my old skool Milton pencil gauges. I used to work at the Mobil Station and had one in my sleeve pocket.

 

[JWC86]

Thanks for sharing

 

[samven]

I think pencil gauges got a bad rap from the 99c models that sat on every auto parts store counter. I know I had 2 or 3 of them that were thrown in the glove box of every car I owned. They were not very accurate but close enough when you stopped in a gas station for air.

 

[Creekside]

I still rely for on the Milton S986 for my personal and work fleets. Have one in all the toolboxes and trucks. Never thought to check the accuracy of them. I tell any new guys that borrow one to treat them like a torque wrench. Don't drop it or do anything but check pressure with it.

 

[shortyb]

By and large, all of the Milton pencil types I've had over the years have been very accurate. I still have one in each glovebox. Like @Creekside said, treat em nice and they will do the same.

 

[Hermann]

All this bad rapping about pencil gauge got me conjuring up a comparison contest!
The participants:

• my old Milton pencil gauge
• my newer Milton
• my new Jaco gauge
• Milwaukee 12V Inflator

Yesterday I aired up the TSX tires in Petaluma to 35 psi using an Amazon whatever cheapo inflator; it was cold in the upper 50's. No other gauge used. Drove home 90 miles.
This morning I read the right front tire...
Jaco 33.4 PSI
New Milton 33+ PSI - just over the line
Old Milton 32.5 PSI
Milwaukee 32.5 PSI

Set inflator to 35 PSI and filled the tire. Battery getting a little tired...

Jaco 34.9 PSI
New Milton 34.5
Old Milton 35
Milwaukee 34.9
View attachment 192893

They all work. No more bad rapping my old skool Milton pencil gauges. I used to work at the Mobil Station and had one in my sleeve pocket.

Pretty much the same results I mentioned recently.

 

[72C10]

They look good. I wouldn't hesitate to use a Milton. I believe most of them are still made in the USA as well.

 

[Wrenchturner44]

All this bad rapping about pencil gauge got me conjuring up a comparison contest!
The participants:

• my old Milton pencil gauge
• my newer Milton
• my new Jaco gauge
• Milwaukee 12V Inflator

Yesterday I aired up the TSX tires in Petaluma to 35 psi using an Amazon whatever cheapo inflator; it was cold in the upper 50's. No other gauge used. Drove home 90 miles.
This morning I read the right front tire...
Jaco 33.4 PSI
New Milton 33+ PSI - just over the line
Old Milton 32.5 PSI
Milwaukee 32.5 PSI

Set inflator to 35 PSI and filled the tire. Battery getting a little tired...

Jaco 34.9 PSI
New Milton 34.5
Old Milton 35
Milwaukee 34.9
View attachment 192893

They all work. No more bad rapping my old skool Milton pencil gauges. I used to work at the Mobil Station and had one in my sleeve pocket.

I had one of those jackets too with the sleeve pocket when I worked at the Shell station during my high school years. I remember patrons always asking to borrow it. I would kindly let them use it but also say this phrase when handing it to them "please make sure I get it back". In 3 plus years, I only had one walk off. I am sur that would be a different situation today.

 

[D60]

I've always felt the inflators get warm and warm the air in the line, and seem to end at a questionable reading. But it's just a few pounds and you can compensate by setting it to shut off a couple pounds higher.

I topped off the tires in my non-profit's 3/4t water hauler yesterday, and man the M18 inflator is miles ahead of the M12 as far as speed.

I think some of your test results could be impacted by overall working pressure (Load Range E at 80 psi) and duration of fill. The longer an inflator runs, the hotter it gets. The M12s will nearly sacrifice themselves to pump up a truck tire - BTDT

Would also be interesting to see if a pencil gauge that appears accurate at ~30 is equally accurate around 80. I think we need a PF-esque test to begin to form some conclusions (I'm not volunteering!)

 

[JeffKeryk]

I've always felt the inflators get warm and warm the air in the line, and seem to end at a questionable reading. But it's just a few pounds and you can compensate by setting it to shut off a couple pounds higher.

I topped off the tires in my non-profit's 3/4t water hauler yesterday, and man the M18 inflator is miles ahead of the M12 as far as speed.

I think some of your test results could be impacted by overall working pressure (Load Range E at 80 psi) and duration of fill. The longer an inflator runs, the hotter it gets. The M12s will nearly sacrifice themselves to pump up a truck tire - BTDT

Would also be interesting to see if a pencil gauge that appears accurate at ~30 is equally accurate around 80. I think we need a PF-esque test to begin to form some conclusions (I'm not volunteering!)

Good point.
I also have a high pressure pencil gauge that I never use. Like any other type of gauge, use one that fits the desired target range.