Tire Pump Suggestions

[craracer]

I just broke my 3rd manual air pump last night while inflating the tires on my Honda Element. I've tried both the floor/foot pump and upright (like for a bicycle tire) pumps. They just don't seem to last.

I don't have room in the garage for a compressor.

Anyone have a brand suggestion for me?

Thanks!

[MikeinAlexandria]

Check out the products at Snap-on: Hand Tools, Power Tools, Tool Boxes, Automotive Diagnostics and Shop Equipment. Great warrenties.

[agirls]

I think you linked to the wrong thing. Link goes to a battery charger.

Why don't you use a cigarette lighter compressor? Those are small and less work than a pump. Or am I missing something?

[Vishus_1]

This one seems nicer than most you can buy
12 Volt Air Compressor - Power Tools - Tools - Griot's Garage

[jasper]

I have a small portable compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet. I don't remember the brand, but I picked it up at pep boys for cheap. I've had it for a few years and it works great and I've never had a problem with it. Many similar options exist, unless you specifically want a manual one.

[TimMullen]

you could always get one of these for $10: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Although the ones that plug into your car tend to be slow.

Surely every garage has room for something like this: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices for $130 - I've seen them on sale at other places for less than $100.

Here's a Craftsman one for $120,, complete with hoses and fittings - go to www.sears.com/ and search for "Craftsman 4 gal. 3/4 hp Pancake Air Compressor" (their direct links never seem to work)..

Make that www DOT Sears DOT com - if you try to click the link, the system seems to be trying to send things through some type of filter (at least from the computer I'm using right now

[holmz]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

you could always get one of these for $10: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
[/i]

You usually get what you pay for with tools.

I have went through ~10 bicycle pumps.
The JoeBlow has lasted a couple of years and does both Schrader and presta valves.
Topeak® Cycling Accessories — Products - JoeBlow™ Sport

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by holmz

You usually get what you pay for with tools.

Yep, but $100 for an air compressor to fill up tires is a bargain. You won't be able to use it for heavy duty air tool usage (not enough power/volume) but it sure beats trying to use a hand pump to fill tires. That Craftman one sould last you for at least 20 years of filling tires (we don't all need Snap-On quality tools for everything any more than we all drive Rolls). Of course if you're going to use it for more than that, you need a bigger compressor. But if you "don't have room for a air compressor" you can always find room for a small pancake compressor...

[Green Hornet]

I use a 120v compressor in the garage and a 12v compressor + an air tank at the track.

I have a Bostitch compressor. It is one of any number of small portable compressors used in the construction industry. Personally, I like the "Oil Free" compressor for a residential garage.

It deliver lots of air fast. You have lots of options for other small air tools too. However, don't consider this if you want to eventually get higher consumption air tools like wheel guns etc.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

NOTE - There is no such thing as too much air capacity

NOTE 2 - There are other exercise programs besides a manual pump.

Good Luck...

[craracer]

That was a pretty funny description of the unit from Griots Garage.


Thanks guys! For whatever reason (most likely stupidity), I hadn't considered either of these types. The lighter-plug in-style is a good idea, but I think I like the pancake compressor better.

What do contractors use these small units for? Finishing nail guns?

[Green Hornet]

They are more powerful than you think. They'll drive any nail you want, not just small finishing nails.

There are 2 basic capacities of a compressor
1. How much air will the compressor pump
2. How much air can the compressor hole in reserve

the more reserve air you have at your disposal the longer you can use air at a rate which exceeds the the compressor's ability to pump air.

The nail guns etc. don't need much volume of air to drive a nail, just sufficient pressure to drive the size of the fastener selected into the material you are using. Driving a large fastener into Oak, for example, would require a lot more punch from the unit than driving a small fastener into pine.

I hope this helps your understanding of these things...

[Lancia]

Hella has a high volume and high pressure pump and they will sell them in a set.

I like hand pumps.
I just got a Zefal.

And I have a portable tank with quality fittings and a good clip-on nozzle for the tire with swivel.
It's 60 gallons.

[Valenz]

Originally Posted by craracer

I just broke my 3rd manual air pump last night while inflating the tires on my Honda Element. I've tried both the floor/foot pump and upright (like for a bicycle tire) pumps. They just don't seem to last.

I don't have room in the garage for a compressor.

Anyone have a brand suggestion for me?

Thanks!

If you don't want a solution that could develop a mechanical problem, you could opt for a compressed gas solution. Carbon dioxide cylinders are excellent for inflating tires, they have no moving parts, they're cheap to purchase & cheap to refill. A small 1.5 pound bottle is enough to fix 4 Lotus flats including re-seating broken beads to the rims. A 40 lb cylinder would do an excellent job in a garage unless you also planned to use air tools off it. (BTW, small portable bottles of CO2 are frequently used on remote job sites to power air-tools like nailers etc.) Here's a link with more information on sizes and availability.

Anyway, just a thought ....

[RWLott]

Originally Posted by holmz

You usually get what you pay for with tools.

I have went through ~10 bicycle pumps.
The JoeBlow has lasted a couple of years and does both Schrader and presta valves.
Topeak® Cycling Accessories — Products - JoeBlow™ Sport

+1

I have a JoeBlow Sport I use on my bikes.

Topeak JoeBlow Sport Floor Pump

[milehitom]

Originally Posted by craracer

...I like the pancake compressor better.

What do contractors use these small units for? Finishing nail guns?

Yep, they were originally designed for roofers-lightweight and they wouldn't tip over. They're great for pin nailing, stapling and brad nailing, too.

I use the oil-less Stanley Bostich unit for lots of building projects. It's heavy duty and can handle larger nails and it pumps up my tires in no time.

Tom

[ewalberg]

consider POWERTANK - CO2 Air Systems... the stuff isn't cheap but it's well made and convenient. They've got all kinds of trick little set-ups so you could have a little 2.5lb tank with you on track to tweak tire pressures and they have digital gages that are really acurate over wide pressure ranges. And you can run multiple airtools and can output more flow than most compressed air systems if you care... ...and it's silent so you can use it when-ever.

I bought a "15lb Track Pack, Package B" with digital gage upgrade to serve as portable pressure gage system, tire deflate and inflate system for my g500 (in the snow and offroad) and as a compressed air system for blowing off stuff around the house/garage.

[Sergialized]

Never had any problems with a bicycle floor pump.

I have a compressor at home but when goint to the track this is what I use. (Specialized Bicycle Components : Airtool Comp Floor Pump)

Serge

[aschen]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...5310000P?mv=rr

[RacyTracy]

Any of these do anything for you??


Inflators @ Air Compressors Direct.com - Your Online Inflator Superstore - Air Inflator, Tire Inflator