Small Portable Compressors

PeteS · Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:22 am

I tried a cheap one from Harbor Freight and it was a complete joke. The gauge read 120 when it topped out, but actual pressure was 50 and it is claimed to do 220 psi. Basically it is a piece of junk.

Later I tried a little 120v one from Home Depot. It was a Husky Inflator http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-120-Vo ... /202871788 This one worked great! I have an inverter in my car so it works well there. I have not topped out the pressure because I didn't want to wreck the gauge, but have had it well above the highest number on the gauge (130 PSI). I estimate I had it at about 160 psi and speculate it can go a good bit higher. It is pretty fast too. It is faster and easier than my track pump.

They also sell a 12v one that looks similar, so maybe there is also an affordable 12V solution.

I would be nice to find a decent cordless one about the same size. Anyone used a good one that they recommend? Worst case I might adapt the Husky 12v one to cordless or look into driving the compressor from the 120v one with a cordless drill.

Gun Freak · Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:23 pm

Viair makes great 12v compressors for onboard air systems. You could run one off a 12V battery for a portable version. They run at about $150 though...

1nxtmonster · Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:31 pm

i guess a c02 setup isn't a compressor, but you can do it for $50.
regulator:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spyder-Vertical ... 4618fee24e

Technician1002 · Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:00 am

On any of the small compressors, check the duty cycle. Some will melt down if you try to keep an air cannon filled for an afternoon of launching starches. I use a small nailer compressor on an inverter. Limited to 100 PSI though..

For duty cycle, check the owners maual. This is gleaned from the Husky comprssor in the original post.

19. Allow the inflator to cool down for 10 minutes after
each 10 minutes of continuous operation.

PeteS · Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:14 am

Technician1002 wrote:On any of the small compressors, check the duty cycle. Some will melt down if you try to keep an air cannon filled for an afternoon of launching starches. I use a small nailer compressor on an inverter. Limited to 100 PSI though..

For duty cycle, check the owners maual. This is gleaned from the Husky comprssor in the original post.
19. Allow the inflator to cool down for 10 minutes after
each 10 minutes of continuous operation.

Depending on the chamber size this may or may not be an issue. I found it takes well under a minute to pump up my golf ball piston valve gun and it cools pretty fast. Any of my hybrids would be about the same. It keeps up fine without overheating during indoor testing with back to back fills and outdoors it has been WAY below freezing so cooling was fast. It may of may not be an issue in very hot weather and I am sure it would be a problem with multiple users and multiple guns going back to back on the fills.