Portable compressed air solution

[rumatt]

I hate using cigarette lighter air compressors at autox's. They're a PITA, and they're slow. I have a battery powered one and it's slower, and the battery's dead already. I ended up with the following solution for a total of around $100.

I bought This tank (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00915200000) at sears for $18.99.

http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00915200000?layer=comp&wid=190&hei=190&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=norm&op_usm=0.5,1.0,0.0,0


But then I needed something to fill it with air. I considered getting a big comrpessor that would also run air tools, but I have a tiny garage and will really use it only for tire air, so that's a waste. Instead, I bought this compressor (http://www.toolsdirect.com/presentationpage1.cfm?pagename=productdisplay&manufacturer=Campbell%20Hausfeld&productid=FP2052&finish=NA) from Costco for $67.00.

http://www.toolsdirect.com/imagebase/CampbellHausfeldimages/FP20525in0704.jpg

It's small enough that you can hang it on the wall, up out of the way.

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=653&stc=1&d=1140665470

Oddly, the nozzle that comes with the Craftsman tank doesn't work well at high pressures. Pressing the nozzle against the tire valve does nothing because there's too much pressure in the tank for the valve to open.

Fortunately, the Costo version of the compressor came with a "bonus" attachment. It's a tire inflator nozzle with a tire gauge built in! I hooked this up to the craftsman tank (using the the blue air hose from the Costco compressor) and it works great! It's SO much faster than the electric compressors, and having the pressure gauge attached is awesome -- you just keep tapping the trigger until the pressure is where you want it.

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=654&stc=1&d=1140665771

And finally, I bought this orange air hose and some quick disconnects, so I can easily plug the tank in to fill it up. It takes a few minutes to fill up (maybe 4 minutes if both tanks were empty, a minute or so if the portable tank is part way full) but I don't need to hold onto it while it runs, and it automatically shuts off when the pressure reaches 135 PSI (the max pressure of both tanks is 135).

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=655&stc=1&d=1140666054

Who knows how long this cheap compressor will last, but at $67.00, who cares.

The craftsman portable tank is big relative to an 12-volt compressor, but the ease of use should make it worth it.

[BahnBaum]

I don't have a problem with my portable plug in compressor. I pump up the pressures prior to the event while in the paddock (and it's relatively quick), and then usually it's a matter of bleeding air between runs.

Alex

[rumatt]

Most of our autocrosses have two sessions, so I have to pump them up again after lunch.

I don't know why, but dealing with cigarette lighter compressors always pissed me off. Even when checking the cars at the house, I hate having to deal plugging in the cord, passing it through to do the other side, getting brake dust in the interior, picking my nose waiting for the damn tires to fill up, etc.

Now I don't even need to unlock the car, nor do I need a separate tire gauge. Just hook up the nozzle, check the pressure, and tap the trigger until done. I like it. :p

[John V]

I used to have a portable air tank that I would fill at the local gas station and take it to events.

Only problem with that plan was the occasional gas station that had their maximum air pressure set to 35 psi or something ridiculous. Didn't happen but once or twice though.

[Pinecone]

Yeah, in teh good old days, every gas station had 175 psi hose. :)

I am lusting after the Longacre aluminum tank. :)

http://www.ogracing.com/eshop/itemdetail.asp?ses=575l8jywtff1xt9urs&itemid=919&showbrake=1

Price includes Longacre tire filler with guage. I have one of these already for the garage and they are NICE.

[bren]

I've thought about buying one of those portable tanks for a while, but instead I just top off the R tires with the compressor before loading them in the car...the times when I forget to do this I just borrow Alex's compressor :p

[rumatt]

Only problem with that plan was the occasional gas station that had their maximum air pressure set to 35 psi or something ridiculous. Didn't happen but once or twice though.

Yeah, my original plan was to fill it at a gas station, but the two near me only went up to 60 psi. Oh, and they required quarters. :ack:

[John V]

Yeah, my original plan was to fill it at a gas station, but the two near me only went up to 60 psi. Oh, and they required quarters. :ack:

We call those "beverage tokens."

[Sharp11]

I use the little cigarette lighter model - it's slow and noisey but it's light and self contained in its little box, I hate carrying a lot of junk around, so I put up with the compromise.

Ed

[Terri Kennedy]

Price includes Longacre tire filler with guage. I have one of these already for the garage and they are NICE.Splurge and get this one:

http://www.longacreracing.com/images/products/tires/50390.jpg

[rumatt]

So this compressor is pretty slow. :speechle:

[lip277]

So this compressor is pretty slow. :speechle:

Well... Being you got it at Costco... You can always return it if you don't like it - even five years from now (presuming you kept your receipt).

:? :lol:

[rumatt]

Well... Being you got it at Costco... You can always return it if you don't like it - even five years from now (presuming you kept your receipt).


I'm thinking that for $150 I could buy a used "real" compressor instead.

You'd think that by this stage in my life I'd stop obsessing over a $67.00 purchase. :ack: :banghead: Ah well... we all have our issues. :)

[Pinecone]

Many digital ones are less accurate than analong ones. You just THINK they are more accurate, becasue it gives you 32.145829034 psi. :)

Yes, good ones are very good. But I prefer analog for many thaings, and tire pressure is one.