gems

Can you guys/girls recommend a solid compressor, mostly for pumping bikes usually max psi is 120 on the tires.

I need one that will allow me to pump around 25 bikes in a few hours.

Basically I want one that works, won't break, isn't too noisy, and won't take up a huge amount of space. Second hand is ok too...

sknhgy 

The little pancake ones are handy, but they can be loud and they don't have much volume.

oldskoolwrench

I've been thinking the same thing, mainly for airing tires and for parts cleaning. I'm leaning towards a basic pancake style compressor job, mainly for the cost and size of the unit. After working with many different small size compressors in the Construction biz I think a basic one would fit the bill.

Do all of you use a compressor, and how big is it? Do any of you use the double horizontal tank units, or are the smaller ones adequate for your needs? For me, I think the bigger ones might be a little overkill...

Alan

gems

Unfortunately I bought one of those cheap pancakes ones a while ago but it didn't have enough power--pumping took forever.

oldskoolwrench

gems,

Did you find that the tank ran out very quickly when pumping tires and stuff? I was thinking for just airing tires and short bursts that a pancake would be big enough, but maybe not, huh?

Don't get me wrong; I like the upper body workout using a floor pump an all, but trying to clean a chain with air from a floor pump can get pretty frustrating at times...

Thanks for the input!

Alan

fietsbob

Saw a picture on bike radar/cycling news of the team mechanic inflating the tires
with an air compressor the size of a rechargeable battery hand drill,
.. same battery..

https://www.bikeradar.com/road/galler...ix-33673?img=7


love to track down a source of those.

to the OP, have you dropped by Sears stores lately?

HillRider

For bike tires, almost any 1/4-HP or larger compressor capable of reaching the pressure you need and with nearly any size reservoir should be sufficient. Bike tires need relatively high pressure but very small volume. Sure, a very small compressor/reservoir won't let you air dry stuff or run air tools but for tires it should be plenty

sknhgy 

My little harbor Freight pancake compressor works fine for car or bike tires, and it's good for blowing things off with air. It won't, however, run an air tool worth a darn.

DMadro

Stay away from the evolv from Sears. Mine lasted two years. Sears quoted me $95.00 to repair a compressor that I paid $69.00 for. I am now using a Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake style compressor. It is on the heavy side at 35 lbs. but it does a good job of inflating tires and is quieter than the Sears compressor.

wrk101

I use a HF pancake, and it drives my pneumatic air guns just fine, including a Paslode framing nailer. I was surprised it worked, and its easier than dragging around air hose from my big compressor. Now I highly doubt it would run a good sized air impact wrench, but I have a large compressor for that job.

If I was going to buy another one, I would probably get one of the small oil free compressors HF puts on sale continually, although really, my pancake compressor is just fine.

I did splurge on a air filling adapter. I'll look for a link. Note, I bought my used. Looking at the price below, I got a deal.

The reason I got this adapter is that when I filled directly from the air compressor, it was too fast on racing tires, and if I was not careful, bead wasn't seating right, and I had a few pinch flats. This unit below solved the problem. Its all a matter of how many bikes you work on, as to whether such a tool is "justified".

https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...s-Air-Bob.html

Bill Kapaun

Most compressors aren't rated more than 100 PSI. It won't do a lot of good if you need 120 PSI or so.

IF all you do is fill bike tires, you don't want a large reservoir size because it takes too long to get up to pressure. You then basically "waste" the air remaining in the tank unless you have a VERY air tight system.

The little 12V automotive compressors work pretty good for high pressure/low volume needs. All you need is 12V. Works if you can roll the bike next to your open car door and use the cig lighter.

oldskoolwrench

I'm leaning towards the Porter Cable 6 gal. pancake compressor. I won't be running any air tools, and I plan to keep it in the shop. I like the compactness of it a lot; stick it in the corner and she'll stay there!

Alan

bobn

My Craftsman 18 gal 4 hp plug in which I bought eons ago will top out at 125 psi. It can run power tools and pump up truck tires if necessary. It is noisy as hell. I don't think you will find a quiet compressor.

gems

It just took forever to fill a tire.. I think I got what I paid for though, it was really cheap. I forgot which one it was, its sitting in my parents basement now.

ultraman6970

If you are going to put air to those bikes every day then a compressor works, but sincerely if it is something that will happen once a week and you are not a shop just get a good pump. The noise and if it fails (pretty much the faith of small compressors) will hunt you big time.

a77impala

A diaphragm style pump is very noisy, to get a quiet one you need a piston style. They are also more expensive.

dedhed

+1 My old 4HP Craftsman oilless has served me well for many years, but is noisy as all get out.

3alarmer 

I don't think the compressor you want exists.

25 bikes in a few hours is pretty easy with a floor pump.
They are very quiet, take up hardly any space, and will
usually pump to 160 psi at least.

ultraman6970

There are airbrush compressors that are silent but those will cost a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooottt....

Other option is an airtank... 10 to 20 gallons... that will give you enough air for the bikes you want. You can fill them up with a car compressor or in the gas station. No noise, only the tank.

Humpy

The little Senco PC1010 is pretty small/light, and has a 120 psi regulator on it.

It's definitely the quietest compressor I've ever used. I think a regular manual pump is more convenient for bicycle use though.

chet31

I have a Porter Cable 6 gal 150 psi pancake style. Paid $140 including a finishing nail gun, owned it for 5 years, no glitches. Takes about a minute to charge, then I can fill the tires on all 4 of my cars (I have wife and kids who drive) - usually. Easily handles 120 psi on a bike tire. Also, drives finishing nails through wood like butter, with no need to countersink or fill. Small and light. Comes with a crappy hose and is loud as hell. Still, wish I had bought one long before I did.

bnb69

Home Depot has a tire inflator for about $30. Works well for bikes and isn't too loud. It's a Husky, model HY120.

ratdog

https://www.silentaire.com/silentaire/index.asp

One of the quietest air compressors on the market, I recently put one in an office setting because noise was a major factor. But it cost close to $4,000....

gems

Actually not so easy, I currently have blisters from pumping 25 bikes in a day manually (floor pump)... thats what prompted me to look for a compressor.

reptilezs

what you are looking for is a belt driven piston compressor. a 110 unit new is about 3-400. to get low noise you have to go belt drive not direct drive. wont break means going to piston driven and oiled. less space is taken up with a vertical vs horizontal tank. get good air chucks too. https://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...sor-68127.html https://www.lowes.com/pd_221495-14989...r|1&facetInfo= https://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardw...&storeId=10051