Looking to get an Air Compressor

[rwix15]

I am looking to get an air compressor (oil-free) for under $100 to make my life a little bit easier with the tubeless tires. Any suggestions? It would be great for some some projects in the house too. And, do I need to buy a separate attachment for the presta valve?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Magic]

If you just need it for bike tires, get the cheapest pancake at harbor freight.

Otherwise, these work great for most things.

 

[shrpshtr325]

ill second the $40 harbor freight special, i got the pancake one, id recommend the hotdog one in case you need to carry it around (they are the same price).

i use mine in the basement for bike stuff and air nailers, i have a 60 gallon beast out in the garage for the heavy stuff.

 

[taylor185]

I am looking to get an air compressor (oil-free) for under $100 to make my life a little bit easier with the tubeless tires. Any suggestions? It would be great for some some projects in the house too. And, do I need to buy a separate attachment for the presta valve?

Thanks,
Rich

a little over your price range but I have this and it works well: https://www.toolnut.com/rolair-ab5-air-buddy-super-quiet-oilless-1-2-hp-1-gallon-air-compressor.html

despite small tank I can still seat tubeless tires up to 2.8". Also use to inflate car tires, power nail guns, etc. Lightweight, minimal maintenance required.

Also you want something like this to make life easy: https://www.prestacycle.com/product/prestaflator-mini-bicycle-tire-inflator/

 

[Patrick]

cheap harbor freight, bring extra 20% coupon, and also the free coupon for a tarp or flashlight.
try not to spend extra $100 on stuff while walking around. unless you need some t-handle allen keys,
and maybe some step bits. and an air brush..see, i'm walking through the store in my mind now....

oh, you'll need the presta air chuck, and a presta valve core tool - works better with the core out.

 

[Mr.Moto]

If your considering using the compressor for tires and maybe light duty nail gun now and then, the cheap pancake ones should do. If your using it for more continuous work or thinking about running air tools, then you'll need to start looking at larger compressors that can put out more scfm.

This is a decent deal for a refurb pancake with a little more scfm:
https://www.cpooutlets.com/factory-...12-r,default,pd.html#xsell=bstrbtfp02012-r--3

If you need any more than that you will have to start looking at the bigger compressors. Also check craigslist if your not adverse to used. You can sometimes get a lot of bang for your buck there.

 

[pygmypony]

sometimes the home depot has this compressor + 2 nail guns + 1 stapler combo for sale at around $100 (ish - i think - maybe closer to $150 - but you are getting the nail guns and the stapler too!)...

i picked one up over two years ago and have used it for so many home projects...and for tubeless...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-...-Stapler-Combo-Kit-3-Tool-PCFP12234/203471431

and @fidodie is right...get the tubeless chuck...i got this one from jeff bezos...it works...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014PXMF82/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Patrick]

sometimes the home depot has this compressor + 2 nail guns + 1 stapler combo for sale at around $100 (ish - i think - maybe closer to $150 - but you are getting the nail guns and the stapler too!)...

i picked one up over two years ago and have used it for so many home projects...and for tubeless...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-...-Stapler-Combo-Kit-3-Tool-PCFP12234/203471431

and @fidodie is right...get the tubeless chuck...i got this one from jeff bezos...it works...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014PXMF82/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I always wanted to pick-up a foot pedal, to go with a clamp on chuck - leaving both hands free to work the tire. that was the easy way in automotive world.

@rwix - don't forget a hose, if the unit doesn't come with one. get light and short.

 

[Ironjunk]

They make quiet compressors now which trade a small cylinder and high RPM for wider/shorter stroke lower RPM. Walmart stocks a quiet Campbell hausfeld one that is probably the best value out of them all and is an 8 gallon so you can pretty much do anything but with limited capacity for high flow tools.

If you get a small one eventually you'll want to fill your car tires and it'll burn up and wear it out faster.

That reconditioned bostitch looks like a good deal too.

 

[rwix15]

So, I bought the 1 gallon Campbell hausfeld for $50. I forgot to mention I have the Bontrager Flash TLR pump for about a year now, and I am just getting tried of pump that much just for the tubeless. I might sell it now.

 

[02camaro]

this has been on my watch list for a while, not sure about the quality though which is why i havent purchased it yet. i would likely use it wayyy more for car stuff side i do side work so i want it to last.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018TVL4Z...oT&pd_rd_r=WXFQNE1T2DWWZJCV3P7M&pd_rd_w=696vq

 

[rick81721]

If your considering using the compressor for tires and maybe light duty nail gun now and then, the cheap pancake ones should do. If your using it for more continuous work or thinking about running air tools, then you'll need to start looking at larger compressors that can put out more scfm.

Any recos on a larger one that can run air tools?

 

[Patrick]

Any recos on a larger one that can run air tools?

what tools are you thinking? - your favorite battery op tool kit probably has a 1/2" impact driver available.
they probably have the nail guns you want too.
spraying paint is another story.
all my air tools just kinda sit there. of course if you work where a spark would cause a serious issue, air is the wtg.

 

[mattybfat]

Any recos on a larger one that can run air tools?

https://www.tylertool.com/emglo-e81...NkmYuWiezo2wMUCJv4Iq36pauAs94PVMaAqYaEALw_wcB
if its for guns and other air tools though not big enough tank for auto. If construction based tools everything is brushless battery now doe.

 

[Santapez]

https://www.tylertool.com/emglo-e81...NkmYuWiezo2wMUCJv4Iq36pauAs94PVMaAqYaEALw_wcB
if its for guns and other air tools though not big enough tank for auto. If construction based tools everything is brushless battery now doe.

Yeah for years I was happy to have a 220V compressor + big tank. Impact gun, cutoff wheel, impact wrench.

Now? I'd go all electric/battery. More torque, more portability. Less noise * maintenance.

Oh, and my biggest advise on air compressors is NOISE. I have one of the cheap craftsman 120V air compressors and it's way too loud. It's even an oiled style.

I keep meaning to get an air muffler for the intake in the hopes it can get quieter but I think the reed style intake valves make too much noise.

 

[rick81721]

Yeah for years I was happy to have a 220V compressor + big tank. Impact gun, cutoff wheel, impact wrench.

Now? I'd go all electric/battery. More torque, more portability. Less noise * maintenance.

Interesting. Brand reco?

 

[shrpshtr325]

I have the dewalt 1/2 drive 20v impact. It's good for the basics it's about400ftlbs. I still prefer air for heavy work. My air impact is 1200ftlbs.

I suggest getting an impact that matches your existing cordless tool collection so you have extra batteries

 

[02camaro]

this has been on my watch list for a while, not sure about the quality though which is why i havent purchased it yet. i would likely use it wayyy more for car stuff side i do side work so i want it to last.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018TVL4Z...oT&pd_rd_r=WXFQNE1T2DWWZJCV3P7M&pd_rd_w=696vq

I ordered this. nice metal body, long rubber hose, quality presta/Schrader chuck and easy to read display, but holy moly this thing is slow even with 120psi behind it. good for bikes, no good for car tires. I also suspect that it wouldn't have enough flow to seat a tubeless tire either.

 

[Patrick]

I ordered this. nice metal body, long rubber hose, quality presta/Schrader chuck and easy to read display, but holy moly this thing is slow even with 120psi behind it. good for bikes, no good for car tires.

get a generic schrader chuck for cars - i think the cross section of the valves and built in hose look small - cars need volume, not pressure.
there is general confusion about volume, pressure, and velocity - they are related, but not always intuitively.

 

[02camaro]

get a generic schrader chuck for cars - i think the cross section of the valves and built in hose look small - cars need volume, not pressure.
there is general confusion about volume, pressure, and velocity - they are related, but not always intuitively.

yea that's what I have, was just hoping to get double duty out of one tool. this particular tool only has a 1/8in npt inlet which is half the dia that im used to and the reason it doesn't flow too well, I was not expecting this.