My new favorite toy: air!

C

Chuckmotor

New member
I went over to a friend's house who has a nice, big air compressor. I must say, it is my new favorite piece of equipment! I sprayed a little vinyl cleaner or 303 in the cracks inside my console area and blew all the dust and dirt away that no q-tip or toothbrush could ever reach. It's also great for blowing all the hard to reach junk under the seat away.



It's such a handy tool, but unfortunately, they're expensive to use for simply detailing, not to mention they are not the least bit portable. Is there any air compressor that is small enough so I could transport it in my car and plug into someone's electricity at their house? If so, how much would a machine like that cost? I want one, but they are pricey and stationary. But they do so much for the interior of a car, and they can blow stuff out of the cracks in the outside of a car, too. Does a portable and cheap air compressor exist?
 
I would suggest a portable air tank. Just fill er' up in the morning and get yourself a blowgun and coil hose for it. I think they are around 30 bucks or so, and available almost everywhere.
 
I use air to blow out vents, seats, seams in leather, rear parcel tray in cars where the 3rd brake light is, stains, drying, starting a stalled car by drying out distributor , clean out shop, etc. By the way , I was on Harris Blvd. yesterday evening, I havnt been that way in a while, alot of growth. I went to Rooms to Go. Jason
 
laynlow said:
I would suggest a portable air tank. Just fill er' up in the morning and get yourself a blowgun and coil hose for it. I think they are around 30 bucks or so, and available almost everywhere.
Click to expand...



Can you provide us an image of how these things look like? Thanks...



Also, is there anyone here who uses a air-powered buffer? Coleman sells air sanders and DA buffers for under $50...
 
<img src=http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=494976&uid=26805>



BTW, air powered buffers require ALOT of air. I have a 5.5 hp 25 gal vert tank, and that would not be sufficient to power a air buffer over a couple minutes.
 
Actually, Target carries a new 2 gallon air compresser that is nothing more then a portable air tank with a pump on it. It also comes with attachments...sports ball needle, tire filler-upper, and a sprayer. Not a bad gig for $99....
 
As an ex-mechanic, I'm familiar with the power and joy of using air powered tools, etc. I love my air compressor!!



Anyway, the only problem with using air is moisture and/or oil spray. I have several water traps on my compressor, and I still get water droplets every once in a while, so be careful when spraying air on a freshly cleaned/waxed panel.



Laynlow is also correct with the volume issue - air buffers use a *ton* of cfm, so you'd need a very large tank to keep up with the demand.
 
Has anyone used an air powered DA polisher or rotary?



It sounds great since it's so light...



I'm thinking of getting one of these when I get an air compressor...



P024-0112SP_100.jpg
 
I recently got a decent 2-hp, 8 gallon air compressor from Harbor Freight Tools (harborfreightusa.com) on sale for $99! The flow rate is high enough to run impact wrenches, and I use a blow tool daily to blow the dust out of the tail light crevaces and license plate opening on my Corvette. Moisture was initially a problem, but I've since installed an in-line moisture filter and my water problem is all gone.



Heck, I could go through $99 worth of canned air in short order! My compressor is pretty portable, too, with wheels and a handle. If you have a Harbor Freight store close to you (one just opened up by me), it's hard to pass a deal like this up!



One thing worth mentioning...this small compressor doesn't have nearly the flow rate to run a pneumatic buffer. It's okay for wrenches because they don't have to be powered continuously, but you'd need a much higher CFM rating to run a buffer with any degree of success. Although, for $200, you can get a compressor that will run virtually any air tool AND get a PC!
 
I have a DA just like that one, I use it for body work not polishing. Like the air rotary polisher it too uses a-lot of air, they can require 20 CFM or more. You would need a 5 HP@220, 80 GAL, two stage compressor to pump out 20 CFM's.



This is a $2,000 compressor.
2475N5.jpg
 
my dad bought a acme one from back in the 80's. Still workin just fine and its a BIG one, I'm 6'2 and its about as tall as me, definetly comes in handy. especially with airtools and impact wrenchs.
 
I am trying to sale my compressor. It is a year old Devilbus 4 hp 12 gallon horizontal. I am selling to buy a vertical unit to take less room in basement.



I will take $100 for it. It is in PERFECT condition. Was $189 at lowes about a year ago.



I live about 75 miles of NE of Atlanta Ga.
 
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