Free air?

3930dave · Feb 8, 2014

Bird said:
I received one of the 12 volt compressors as a gift back about 1989 and used it one time only. A cousin had a flat on his pickup and we sat in the shade and drank 2 beers each while it aired up that tire. From what I've read, some of the newer ones are vastly improved.:laughing:

Bird - sometimes new technology isn't better.

A faster compressor would mean less time for drinkng beer ! :drink:

Rgds, D.

crazyal · Feb 9, 2014

Most times I can't be bothered to wait for my 5hp 60 gallon compressor to get enough air in it. Besides why pay for the electricity to turn my pump when a local company is willing to pay for me. I assume the cost to own and operate it can't be too much since it's still there. If they do remove it I'll probably stop less often.

Diamondpilot · Feb 9, 2014

My shop compressor is 33 gallon and it has not been shut off in over 10 years except to drain. I I have two hose reels in the shop each with a hundred foot hose. When we built our barn we plumbed air back to the house. I have a air fitting upstairs in a closet, one downstairs in a closet, and a small hose reel in the attached 2 car garage. The compressor only runs when needed to cost me very little to operate. No waiting around for it to air up.

Chris

SPYDERLK · Feb 9, 2014

timswi said:
The air isn't really free. Someone has to pay to run and maintain the compressor. Just surprised by how many here don't even have a small home AC...Shocked really. I have always had a 60gal upright 220v. I always saw it as an absolute necessity.

Agreed! ... I grew up without it but went to having air as soon as I had my own place. Soo many uses - pre assembly cleaning among the highly convenient.
larry

Diamondpilot · Feb 9, 2014

I flew to Chareleston today. Saw a guy at a gas station airing up a trailer tire with a bike pump.

Chris

timswi · Feb 9, 2014

SPYDERLK said:
Agreed! ... I grew up without it but went to having air as soon as I had my own place. Soo many uses - pre assembly cleaning among the highly convenient.
larry

When I built the new house I left my 60gal at the last house (I pretty much wore it out and the new owner was more than happy to try and rebuild)..Once we moved in I didn't have a compressor. When I had to do vehicle maintenance it was really painful seeing toolbox drawers full of air tools that I couldn't use...Needless to say, that deficiency didn't last long.

ENC · Feb 9, 2014

Those bike pumps are handy. The one they sell at Walmart says it will pump to 50 psi which is enough to get someone with a slow leak out of a jam. They take up little space they are maintenance free and they are cheap. I gave up on the 12 volt jobbers they never work fast enough or long enough. I work in construction. And there is usually more than one compressor anywhere I am headed and I still have a pump in all my vehicles.

powerpace · Feb 9, 2014

I buy all my tires from Les Schwaub tires. A chain of tire stores located mainly in the Northwest. If I need air I pull into the tire bay, they check the air on each tire and do a quick physical on the brakes and running gear. No charge, no heavy sales pressure. They repair tires (bought through them) no charge.
I rotate my tires every 10,000 miles also no charge and the quick gear check-up.
I can also get my tractor tires filled with Calcium Chlorate or Beet juice. The local John Deere dealer and Kubota dealer have their tractor tires filled at Les Schwaub.

I do have a air compressor at my shop but it's more convenient to go to the dealer for the road tires.

MESSMAKER · Feb 10, 2014

Diamondpilot said:
My shop compressor is 33 gallon and it has not been shut off in over 10 years except to drain. I I have two hose reels in the shop each with a hundred foot hose. When we built our barn we plumbed air back to the house. I have a air fitting upstairs in a closet, one downstairs in a closet, and a small hose reel in the attached 2 car garage. The compressor only runs when needed to cost me very little to operate. No waiting around for it to air up.

Chris

I get having air in the garage, but I don't recall using that much air in my closet?:laughing:I got you know what you use it for.

Diamondpilot · Feb 10, 2014

MESSMAKER said:
I get having air in the garage, but I don't recall using that much air in my closet?:laughing:I got you know what you use it for.

Super handy. I use it at least once a month. Just last month we did crown molding in our master bed room. Used the brad nailer and finish nailer. It was minus 13 the day we did it. No running hoses all over and having open doors or windows. Also used it to blow out dust from computer key boards, tv's, ect. Used it in December to run a die grinder up in a chimney flue to cut off a broken damper. No way to do it with anything but a die grinder or possibly a dremel.

It was a no brainer. I was running air 200' to the garage anyway. It only took another 25' of pipe and and a few chucks plus a 50' hose that lives in the house.

Ran everything with 1/2" pex. My compressor is 175 psi unit and I put a regulators at each fixture with a gauge. Got them on line for $5 each back when I did it so I can set the pressure as needed.

Chris