At camp, had a tire inflation emergency. The little chinese 12v compressor melted. Want to get a small portable air compressor to use only when a tractor or car tire needs inflated. I have no other needs for it. What size is good? Will a 3 gal work?
Pancake compressor for airing up tires?
- Thread starter Fordiesel69
- Start date
When I moved the big compressor down to the shop, I got this for my garage:
https://www.californiaairtools.com/...compressors/1-0-hp-air-compressors/cat-2010a/
Very quiet. More capable than it looks. Will run nail guns, too.
https://www.californiaairtools.com/...compressors/1-0-hp-air-compressors/cat-2010a/
Very quiet. More capable than it looks. Will run nail guns, too.
Most pancakes are 2-3 gallon, I only have a 1.5 gallon that does just fine with tires. If footprint doesn't matter than opt for a pancake.
I use this, it blows out the lines in my built-in pool also
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWFP5...text&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&gQT=1&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWFP5...text&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&gQT=1&th=1
I have a cordless version of this.
Works great for my use. Runs on 20V or 60V. You get more PSI from the 60V battery.
Lately, I've been using a portable 5 gallon air tank that I fill from the shop compressor. It's lighter to pack around and a whole lot faster to use than the cigarette lighter powered tire pumps we keep in each car.
Steel, I assume?
To what pressure do you fill it? ...300-330psi (like a scuba tank)?
usually 125 to 175psi depending on tank and air compressor
not many air compressors go over 175psi except some specialty models that do a little more.
most common are single stage 125psi to 150psi.
Anything 110V will fill up a few tires. I have a 1.5Gal cheapie that works pretty fast, but TBH most of the time I use a bike pump as I don't have my compressor plugged in and ready to go, and I only need 35-40 psi max in car tires. Even the 5' tall tires on the tractor are fluid filled and it took a surprisingly short time to top up a tire to 15psi after I replace a valve core, with the bike pump.
175 max .
300 to 330 you might make the 1000 ways to die list
If you're only using it for inflating tires, look for a Milwaukee M18 inflator from Home Depot. Google "milwaukee hack."
Both of my portable tanks are rated to 125 psi. They are steel but I would say they are pretty thin gauge as far as air tanks go. You definitely would not want to exceed their rating. Since I keep my shop compressor regulated to 100 psi I'm good too go, pressure wise.
I don't remember where I bought mine, but harbor freight sells similar ones.
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-portable-air-tank-65594.html
If you want something to carry in your vehicle this cannot be beat a pancake is way to large.
https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Po...ocphy=9003674&hvtargid=pla-2281435182138&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Po...ocphy=9003674&hvtargid=pla-2281435182138&th=1
I have a 2 gallon compressor at home that will pump up any tire I've tried it on. My son got me a fathers day gift last year of one of those small battery powered types, the size of a walkie talkie. Air moto is the brand. It's the next best thing to useless. It will go completely dead and shut itself off, while just topping off your tires a couple of pounds each. I don't think it would fill a tire if it was completely flat, before it died. And yes it was completely charged. It might be good for a bicycle tire or an air mattress, or maybe a basketball. It was a gift, so I can't say anything to him about it.,,
^^NO. Return items like that if you can as it sends a message the only way one gets through.
Shame on us when we don't make the effort to voice dissatisfaction in a constructive manner.
Your son can handle the 'rejection'.
Make assessing the value needed to make a purchase at what price level is something two guys can research better than one.
TRUE LIFE ANECDOTE:
After borrowing a neighbor's compressor, I looked around and I bought at HF.
Item #69284, recommended by me.
It's along the lines of the above but with less techie styling and claims 100psi and is remarkably fast.
The price seems fair at ~$30. Similar examples at $45-$75 didn't offer much more.
It has an adorable, snarly purr as it pumps.
I fully realize that someday a reed valve or piston seal will perish and the thing will become unrepairable garbage.
I didn't even look at battery units.
However, I will now as we got a lawn tractor with fat, leaky tires.
Shame on us when we don't make the effort to voice dissatisfaction in a constructive manner.
Your son can handle the 'rejection'.
Make assessing the value needed to make a purchase at what price level is something two guys can research better than one.
TRUE LIFE ANECDOTE:
After borrowing a neighbor's compressor, I looked around and I bought at HF.
Item #69284, recommended by me.
It's along the lines of the above but with less techie styling and claims 100psi and is remarkably fast.
The price seems fair at ~$30. Similar examples at $45-$75 didn't offer much more.
It has an adorable, snarly purr as it pumps.
I fully realize that someday a reed valve or piston seal will perish and the thing will become unrepairable garbage.
I didn't even look at battery units.
However, I will now as we got a lawn tractor with fat, leaky tires.
If all you want to do is inflate you can buy an inflator. You don't need a reserve tank or regulator or 160psi. There's plenty of really good ones, don't let a cheap one sour you of them.
