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DO YOUB USE COIN-OP OR DID YOU BUY A COMPRESSER? How much is too much to spend on a new compresser?

Neither, I use a manual pump.

I just drive into the gas station and say "three bars please". No coins are harmed in this process :)

-Simon

Portable 12V compressor. I think it was about $15, but that was ten years ago.

Coin eating compressor..
I found that not all compressors will give you 60psi.. The one that I use does fortunately.

I require a bit more pressure and since I herniated a disk in my back last year I don't use the hand pump anymore. I've got one of those jumpstart stations you can buy from Pep-Boys that has a compressor built in and runs from an internal, sealed lead acid 12V.

I have a 12V compressor that goes up to 300 PSI. I know a little excessive, but with the higher pressures I go to (not as high as Sean though) that extra buffer helps, and I heard some people with 150-200 PSI compressors have trouble hitting 50. It has a built in dial gauge, but I bought a digital pressure gauge for accuracy since I have found that the higher the pressure the more off the dial gauge is on the compressor.

This is a pic of Hobbit as he gets the pressure to 80psi. I think he told me that he got the pump out of the trash. I use a Bostich pancake oilless at home.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/591/hi_psi.JPG

I've got a pump just like that from my cycling days. Haven't tried it on the car tires, but it'd take a while. I've been doing the lazy thing and carrying a portable air tank to a station to refill. The little portable electric air pumps don't work well when you get up much above 35 PSI.

Mine works fine up to (at least ;)) 70 psi. It's an older version of this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-RP3200-Inflator-Worklight/dp/B000642GAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1275676673&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-RP3200-Inflator-Worklight/dp/B000642GAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1275676673&sr=1-2)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SGFRM4H6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Are you guys kidding ? I thought I was pushing the envelope at 60 PSI ! :D
so 70 and 80psi may be doable eh ? ... hmm... ? : eyebrow:

I use a free air pump when I can find one or the portable 12v it is slow and has no reading but it works.

Mine works fine up to (at least ;)) 70 psi. It's an older version of this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-RP3200-Inflator-Worklight/dp/B000642GAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1275676673&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Campbell-Hausfeld-RP3200-Inflator-Worklight/dp/B000642GAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1275676673&sr=1-2)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SGFRM4H6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

That's what I've got. Cheap ass thing strains to get 44 PSI. Runs out of power before topping up 4 tires if I let 'em get down a few PSI, and the clamp on connector is very difficult to get to seal and unseal without letting a lot of air out.

I've used them all except I would not go near my vehicles with a hand pump. The 12V pumps all burned-up trying to fill 4 SUV tires at one time. Same for the one like Sean has with a jump start battery. I carry a small 12V that plugs into the lighter socket for emergencies only now and got a Sears 150psi 17 gallon 1.1hp 120V in the garage. If I had done that years ago I would have saved a lot of time and money. It has wheels, 75 feet of hose and a air valve like the ones at the gas stations that I got at Home Depot. This compressor can handle air tools so I've been adding them slowly to my collection as Sears runs there 50% OFF Sales. It make a lot of noise so I turn it On and go inside till it turns Off full. I shut it Off to keep in quiet and use the 17 gallons in the storage tank. I have 3 SUV's, one Honda, 4 bikes, a riding lawnmower and a boat trailer to keep air in. It only take a quiet minute at each tire to fill with that pressure and volume of the 17 gallon storage tank so I'm not all tired and sweaty when I'm finished now. Also, if my lawnmower tires go flat during the winter, the volume of air I get can get the tire and rim to seat quickly.

I thought long and hard a year ago and I could have bought a smaller compressor and tank but I jumped up to this size because I could use it for tools also. I'm extremely pleased I made the right choice and went heavy duty. Since then, I also had a screw in my flat tire with a fast leak. I called the Tire Kingdom to let them know I was coming, filled the tire again and made it there with enough air in the tire. I'm finished with those 12V pumps except for the small one I carry for emergencies.

GaryG

I'd like to put in a plug for our local Chevron stations: they seem to be the only (at least the only chain station I'm aware of) that has resisted going to coin-operated air. Air is still free at Chevron.

I have two options I use.

The gas station on base (21 miles from my house, but 5 miles from work and on the way) is free and usually manages 50 just fine.

If I am not heading that far, the gas station that I normally fill from is 3.5 miles from my house (and on the way to anywhere) has a coin op that always, and easily, gets up to 50.

Though sometimes I am at home, and we have a compressor at home as well. We bought it for the nail guns and such.

Hi, Gary — cool down time is absolutely critical for the 12V compressors. I went through two of the cigarette lighter powered ones in quick succession, went through two foot pumps that just disintegrated after enough torsion flex to the flimsy frames, two hand pumps that eventually inverted the sealing leather disk on a regular basis, and one of the jumpstart stations. The last went because I filled 6 tires one after another. :o

The last one soldiered on for a good 2.5yrs and still filled tires to over 40PSI even after the damage so I got another one and I'm more diligent about cool down times. It works well for me and is a bit more portable than a big tank, but I like your solution, too. :)

I've got a pump just like that from my cycling days. Haven't tried it on the car tires, but it'd take a while. ...

It takes a long time only the very first time. After that, for periodic topping off, I find the bicycle floor pump faster than my 12V electric pump.

Hand pump: each 1 psi takes 7 strokes, about 5 seconds. Then toss pump behind the mower.

Electric pump: each 1 psi takes 15 seconds, plus the time to move the cord to a different door when changing sides. Then add 2 to 3 minutes to stow the cord back into its very cramped storage compartment.

IOW, I use the hand pump because I've become too lazy to use the electric.

I'll have to give it a try. I need the exercise!

I use that red hose hanging on my wall , but I just don't air up tires anymore. Well, maybe once per year I check them and add air if they need it at the start of the winter season.

A 30 gallon 125 psi air compressor is what I use.

I have a black maxx 5HP 30 gallon compressor that has a 155psi capacity. Does a nice job of running an impact gun and an air ratchet, as well as a nice blow gun for keeping my lawn tractor clean. Pumping tires is no problem..LOL:D

I use a portable compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter for my monthly checks. If I have a tire that's more than a few pounds low I use the electric portable compressor in my garage for a quick easy reinflation.

30 gal, 150 psi compressor. I use it to pump my bike tires too, so I put a regulator on it. Like the others have said, an ability to run air tools has been a great benefit.

Keith

In California, state law says that gas stations must provide free compressed air to their customers. So I fill up, walk into the station, and ask them to turn on the compressor for me. No problem at all.

I may eventually get one of the small compressors for home use, as they come in handy for a lot of automotive tasks...

-soD

I think for car tires or any tires, either a hand pump or a 12 volt variety works the best. Don't get me wrong a big compressor does the job much faster, but you have to watch especially at gas stations and truck stops. I have found alot around here that do not drain their tanks properly of condensation. You are liable to get just as much water as you are getting air. I know not many people run steel rims anymore so I don't guess the rusting is a issue, but it surely adds some weight and I had rather know that my rims aren't full of water.

I still have steel wheels, and I don't like getting the water. Don't like it even without steel wheels. The only place around here I can get free air always sprays water out of the hose.

They also add some additives sometimes in the winter to keep the lines from freezing, none of which I"m sure is good for the life of your wheels or tires. I do have a small 3 gallon compressor at home and even it collects water and must be drained frequently. The bigger the tank the worse the issue. It's pretty stupid for these stations to not drain the tanks, as it eventually leads to failure of the tank alot of times in a spectacular and dangerous explosion, the thing simply rusts until it is too weak to withstand the pressure.

I just use my bicycle pump to air up my tires. Kind of like the one in the pic that Hobbit is using. It gives me a pretty good workout getting around 60-65psi. I use to go to the gas stations, but the free one in town isn't very good and all the other ones you have to pay for. I find the bike pump as the most convenient option.

What I have used before on trips for a source of "free" air is truck stops. If you are out at the consumer/car pumps, the air is not free. I pull into an empty diesel bay and fill up quickly. That supply has a high storage pressure so you get what you need quickly.

have a pancake compressor at home that seems to do the job nicely. i air up to about 42-45 psi and it gets there just fine. Its just a cheapy harbor freight one.

My 12V pump works well (nice and fast) if it doesn't burn out the cigarette lighter fuse upon initial start up.

I'm thinking of getting a smaller (cheaper) pump that will go slower, but (hopefully) won't kill the fuse.

I wish I could stick a 20A fuse in there instead of the 15A (I mean, once it's going, it doesn't burn the 15A fuse...it's only for the 1/4 second startup time...about a 40% chance of killing the fuse. I can't see that being a problem for the wiring) but the fuses look like they're different sizes, and therefore won't fit. Or maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

-Mike

I have no idea if this would actually work, but...

You might try starting the car, starting the pump, then turning off the car. With the engine running, you're getting ~14V instead of 12. For the same wattage at the pump, that means fewer amps through the fuse. Since it's only a problem at startup, you can shut the car off immediately after.

Nahhh, the problem occurs with or without the car running. I tried both.

I bought a new pump the other day. Didn't get a chance to try it, because the fuse was still blown! I bought new ones, but was too hot out for me to change it. I'll try soon.

I actually got an underpowered pump. Seems kinda silly, but maybe that will help. Plus, this has a cutoff too.

I saw another one that was very small, was called a "top off". Yes, it said it worked very slow, but was leery if it would be durable.

So we'll see what happens with this new one.

-Mike