Compressed Air

[-Ralph-]

Could really do with compressed air line in the garage from time to time, but I don't have an air compressor. It would probably only get used a couple of times a year, for 10 minutes at a time, only for cleaning tasks (ie: I need to clean the carbs on my XT). Doesn't really justify buying an air compressor.

Given that I'm not too worried how long it would take to get to pressure (15-30 minutes would be fine, I'd just go off and do something else), and that I don't think I'd use enough air to need re-pressurising in one sitting...

...could I make my own with an empty calor gas bottle, a pressure gauge and a tap, and just use a 12v tyre inflator to pressurise it?

http://www.fuels4u.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/258x335/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/f/i/file_3_1.jpg

http://www.pbaindustrial.com/uploads/product/20100510130610_PressureGauge.jpg

http://www.toolsparesonline.com/images/thumbs/0007079.jpg

http://images.esellerpro.com/2407/I/131/5/09_!BycmJBg!mk~$(KGrHqR,!iYEw5G!V2)IBMR)zlYKBg~~_1 .JPG

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00ovAEhZGdGJkC/Air-Gun-With-Hose-HV-X17-.jpg

Plus a bit of air line plumbing

[maviczap]

Aldi had a mains powered compressor on sale recently.

perfect for what you need it for, I got one £60 I think

Much better than those cigarette lighter jobbies

They'll still have some sitting in the racks I guess

Would save you a lot of hassle making one

[Sid Squid]

Once you have air you'll use it lots, and then you'll buy more air tools, and then you'll need a compressor anyway.

Then soon you'll need a bigger one.

So just go get one now and save time.

[DJFridge]

Could really do with compressed air line in the garage from time to time, but I don't have an air compressor. It would probably only get used a couple of times a year, for 10 minutes at a time, only for cleaning tasks (ie: I need to clean the carbs on my XT). Doesn't really justify buying an air compressor.

Given that I'm not too worried how long it would take to get to pressure (15-30 minutes would be fine, I'd just go off and do something else), and that I don't think I'd use enough air to need re-pressurising in one sitting...

...could I make my own with an empty calor gas bottle, a pressure gauge and a tap, and just use a 12v tyre inflator to pressurise it?

http://www.fuels4u.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/258x335/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/f/i/file_3_1.jpg

http://www.pbaindustrial.com/uploads/product/20100510130610_PressureGauge.jpg

http://www.toolsparesonline.com/images/thumbs/0007079.jpg

http://images.esellerpro.com/2407/I/131/5/09_!BycmJBg!mk~$(KGrHqR,!iYEw5G!V2)IBMR)zlYKBg~~_1 .JPG

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00ovAEhZGdGJkC/Air-Gun-With-Hose-HV-X17-.jpg

Plus a bit of air line plumbing

Sounds like a building job for




http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/the-a-team.jpg

[-Ralph-]

Sounds like a building job for
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/the-a-team.jpg

LOL! My wife calls me...

http://lstly.s3.amazonaws.com/2010/145/32de6934-b51c-4c79-a9c1-39b75cbc5ec0.jpg

[Bibio]

get friendly with your local pub landlord and get a co2 bottle.

[-Ralph-]

get friendly with your local pub landlord and get a co2 bottle.

Why, do they hold more pressure than a calor gas bottle?

[Bibio]

get a full one you fool. you are not going to get enough pressure in a calor gas bottle without the correct equipment. you have to turn the gas into liquid inside the container if you don't want to use a compressor as it will run out very quickly. a full bottle of co2 will keep say 5 bar for say 4 hours constant use (i'm not saying that's the figures) where something home filled will drop in 10 mins.

there is one other cheep option and that's a spare car wheel but you will for ever keep blowing it up.

[-Ralph-]

Yeah, but at 15 quid a refill, that'd soon pay for the compressor.

[Bibio]

i'll give you a rough idea on how long they last. we never done much cutting in the workshop but when we did it was on for most of the day and an oxy bottle would last around 6 months. so if your using a smaller co2 and only using it occasionally then its going to last a long time say 6 months.

your pizzing against the wind trying to find a cheep alternative to compressed air m8 so just go and buy a compressor which will last years if looked after.

[embee]

I inherited a Machine Mart compressor, Airmaster small model, and it's worth its weight in gold TBH. If you can stretch to it, get a compressor.

Along with the compressor came a spare receiver obviously salvaged from a compressor with a failed unit. It's basically exactly what you were proposing with the gas bottle. A check valve, gauge, snap fit connector, very useful to be able to charge it up off the compressor for take-away air. My mate used to take it to race meetings in the van when he was spannering. If it did run out he always managed to scrounge a recharge from someone.

[_Stretchie_]

I've got to agree with Sid, I'm a prime example of what he said.

I got a Lidl/Aldi (all the same) a few years ago and it's been as good as gold as long as you don't want to paint with it, it runs out of puff quickly with an air ratchet or air impact gun but it does it, then I've been watching eBay for quite sometime and ended up getting a bigger one, 5.5hp petrol one that sits in the corner for £200, I can fire it up for a minute or two and get the 100litres full of air and that will hold air for days.

You know it makes sense, start of with the cheapie LidAldi one

[yorkie_chris]

Buy a cheap sh*t wolfair/aldi/lidl/whatever one.
They're just enough to be useful.

If you're too tight for the £60 they are new, then get one where the manifold has broken. Replace with decent hydraulic fitting (£10), also adds lots more power to rattle gun etc.

Power of a 12V fag lighter compressor it will burn out before it has filled tank once, and take a week to do it...

[_Stretchie_]

I found a place that does the genuine replacements, I think it was £15 delivered for a replacement manifold after I hamfisted it tightening new air couplings on, I found the fitting that came with it and all the tools leaked air

[yorkie_chris]

Why replace crap with crap, the ports are tiny and mine fractured itself with corrosion! Monkey metal, thin walled, dissimilar metals, wet air... lovely mix.

Now got gert lumps of steel hanging off it. Much better.