Can airgun compressors like the GX C4i be used for other things, like car tires?
Potentially stupid compressor question
- Thread starter kwaping
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It might could be used for car tires, but it's really designed for FAR higher pressures. It's also going to take a LONG, LONG time.
I'm not even sure you can set it for about 35 psi cutoff, and a CS4I can easily inflate a tire to exploding pressures.
Also, I'm not even sure there's a foster fitting to Schrader valve connector.
I'm not even sure you can set it for about 35 psi cutoff, and a CS4I can easily inflate a tire to exploding pressures.
Also, I'm not even sure there's a foster fitting to Schrader valve connector.
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No, not really...
BUT! If you get a little buddy-bottle and put a schrader valve on the end of the valve fill hose, I dont see why that wouldn't work?
Anybody done this?
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Given the low cost of compressors that will do the job of inflating vehicle tires (under about $25 or so for a 12V one), I don't think it would be worth it, but yes, with the right additional fittings and such.
First, you could make your own "adapter" that would connect a foster to a hose chuck, but you'd need to be very careful not to let the line pressurize before connecting it to a valve or will likely blow up - it would be slow and hard to use. I'd want a chuck that clamps onto the valve so that it won't stop flowing, and then I'd control the flow by turning the compressor on and off.
I think the best way to do this would be to fill a tank, and then regulate the pressure down to the right level for a shop compressor or less. A regulator that would do that could cost upwards of $500 or so . . . .
First, you could make your own "adapter" that would connect a foster to a hose chuck, but you'd need to be very careful not to let the line pressurize before connecting it to a valve or will likely blow up - it would be slow and hard to use. I'd want a chuck that clamps onto the valve so that it won't stop flowing, and then I'd control the flow by turning the compressor on and off.
I think the best way to do this would be to fill a tank, and then regulate the pressure down to the right level for a shop compressor or less. A regulator that would do that could cost upwards of $500 or so . . . .
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I used a foster with a check valve in it,,, it does not run away filling as the volume of my small bubble tank,,, takes my coltri a couple of minutes
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I have a rig that allows me to fill tires from my SCBA TANK in an emergency if I very slightly & slowly open the valve. I'm sure our compressors COULD do it but, as said before, it would be time consuming. Unless you have a Schrader fitting that locks on, hands free, to the tire stem you'd have to hold the inflator in place (fighting time & back pressure) for who knows how long. NOT at all practical!
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Revisiting this topic. Now that I'm a compressor owner, I'm thinking instead of directly filling tires I might fill a tank and then use the tank on the tires (or for whatever else shop air is used for). But maybe the same issues as directly filling... One thing is for sure, I won't do anything stupid with pressures like this in play.
EDIT: Did some quick research and shop air runs around 150 psi, my compressor is wayyyy too much for that. Oh well.
EDIT: Did some quick research and shop air runs around 150 psi, my compressor is wayyyy too much for that. Oh well.
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You can get a SCUBA tank and fill it to 3000 PSI then use a first stage of the scuba regulator set. The first stage may be 90 to 150 PSI depending if it’s for recreational diving or deep diving. Then you can buy a Schrader valve hose that connects to the first stage manifold. This will cost more than a small car tire compressor. If you already SCUBA dive it wouldn’t cost much.
It will quickly fill even diesel truck tires.
Hunter
It will quickly fill even diesel truck tires.
Hunter
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You can find **very** cheap and effective battery-powered car/bicycle tire pumps on Amazon.
I have a slow leak in one of my car tires. I keep a pump like this in my car:
It takes my car tire from 20psi to 35psi in about 10 minutes. Then I just put it in the car and plug it into a USB connector in the car. The next time I need the pump, it's ready to go.
I don't recall but I think the pump cost about $30 USD when I bought it. This one has an auto shut-off, too.
I have a slow leak in one of my car tires. I keep a pump like this in my car:
It takes my car tire from 20psi to 35psi in about 10 minutes. Then I just put it in the car and plug it into a USB connector in the car. The next time I need the pump, it's ready to go.
I don't recall but I think the pump cost about $30 USD when I bought it. This one has an auto shut-off, too.
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While I still don't think it is worth it to do so (why put the wear on our expensive compressors when regular ones are so cheap), your idea of doing it via a tank is probably not a bad way to go. I have an aluminum 10 gallon portable tank, which translates to about 37 liters in volume - so about 4 times as big as a 9L / 88 CF SCBA tank. You could hook it up via a foster fitting and run it as long as it would take to get to 120 psi or so and be good to go, at least for a few fills. For your K2 the fill time would not be too bad either - you'd have to baby sit it, but it should work well.
Honestly though, I would think it better to just put the money into a shop compressor, as they are such a useful tool on their own. I have had one almost all my adult life, and will likely never be without one. If you don't think you'd use it much, buy small or used, but you will be surprised at what you can use them for - my favorite off-the-wall use that I have found over the years is drying off paint rollers when I need to change paints . . . I wash out the roller, then put it back on the frame and head outside with it and point the blower tangentially over the roller, and the air flow makes it spin at a very high rate, throwing off all the water from the centripetal forces, drying it in under a minute.
Not air gun related, but still kind of cool stuff in a nerdy kind of way. . .
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Yeah I'll probably just get a dedicated compressor+tank at some point, instead of trying to be cheap and ending up making a very expensive mistake.
I race my car and adjust tire pressure down as the heat in the tires build up. I was hoping to get a nicely-portable solution to quickly refill all four tires trackside at the end of the day. I already have a small compressor for tires, it just takes quite some time.
I race my car and adjust tire pressure down as the heat in the tires build up. I was hoping to get a nicely-portable solution to quickly refill all four tires trackside at the end of the day. I already have a small compressor for tires, it just takes quite some time.
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I’m sure it could be cobbled up to work but have no clue why you would want to bother. Like others have said 30 dollar Amazon 12v inflator. Way easier. Plus doesn’t everyone have at least a small shop type compressor??
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The portable tank might be the way to go if you want speed - the 10 gallon one should hold enough air to top off all four. Here is the one I have - the aluminum is nice and light compared to the steel ones, but steel is cheaper. https://www.amazon.com/California-Air-Tools-CAT-AUX10A-Lightweight/dp/B01G75OVII/
I'd think since you are "trackside" that there would be air available somewhere nearby . . .
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Thanks for the recommendation!
In my case, "trackside" is an empty airstrip in the middle of nowhere - autocross events.
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Thank you! That's good to know about, but definitely more expensive than this minor convenience warrants.
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