Portable Air Tanks

[timb]

I can see it would be very helpful to have compressed air sooner rather than later out in the tractor shed (it will be a more proper shop eventually) - quick air for tires, clean-off with a blow gun, that sort of thing. Not planning to run any air tools there for now.

I've got a medium-sized compressor (125psi max) at another location but that has to stay there for now - and father-in-law is not too far off but not quite close enough with his 5 horse/80 gallon unit that is good for 175 psi.

So - I'd like to find a good 'portable' tank that could be left in the shed (no power out there for now) and relatively easily trotted off and refilled as needed.

There's a lot of 10 gallon, 125 psi tanks out there that are pretty cheap. Is there a pick of the litter? I did see a 15 gallon / 125 psi at Harbor Freight, but that's about it so far. Anyone have anything bigger and/or rated for higher pressure? The more I can stuff in the longer it will last between chargings.

 

[Bird]

Personally, Tim, I'd just buy the best price for about a 10 gallon tank. The one I used on the farm was only 7 gallons and I got it at Wal-mart.

 

[timb]

Yeah, I know the 10-gallon units are everywhere and almost a throw-away at the price. Probably will just grab one of them. I just wondered if anyone had spotted anything else out there worth tracking down. Haven't seen anything too exciting in the usual catalogs so far.

 

[SPIKER]

yep thye 10's are cheap to get, and you can get more than ONE /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif if you know what I mean!


otherwise check with auctions, lots of times old compressors with bad motors or such come up for a few bucks. the tanks usually make good portables, adn many have wheels already attached so no carrying...

Mark M

 

[DiskDoctr]

Tim,

I'd suggest one that has a shut off (maybe all do?) and add a quick connect coupler to it for a hose. Then you can use a longer hose if needed and use different tools at the end. Tire nozzle, airgun/blower, etc. No, not impact wrench or anything... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

-JC

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( suggest one that has a shut off (maybe all do?) and add a quick connect coupler to it for a hose )</font>

I agree. Even the cheap tank I got on sale at WalMart had a shut off and of course, personally, I have quick couplers on all my air and water hoses and attachments.

 

[timb]

Definitely. Actually, I figured eventually I wanted to rig it with a shutoff, tank pressure gauge, regulator (and gauge), and quick connects. Northern Tool (among others) lists a "Coleman" branded "Powermate" 10-gallon tank that is supposed to come with all that and another air chuck (only one gauge though) for $40 - but the actual photo looks like all the rest. Harbor Freight has one 10-gallon they list with a 200 psi max, and a 15 gallon (vertical, on wheels) 125psi unit that might be a little different from all the 9/10 gallon clones.

 

[BigEddy]

How long y'all keep those Air pigs for? I've had mine for years, but I noticed the other day it is stamped "don't use after 1994" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I suppose they're like propane tanks - hydrotested for 10 years or something.

What about the compressor tank? Should it have a best before date too? Never noticed one on it.

 

[Bird]

The only ones I've had, or looked at, came with the shut off, gauge, and a short hose with air chuck. I just added the quick couplers. I don't think I've ever seen one of the small portable tanks with a regulator, and never figured I needed one for the amount of air they hold. And while they're pretty light, remember that everything you add to it adds weight to carry around. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Eddy, the portable tanks I've had or seen have no drain valve on the bottom like compressor tanks have. I think the manuals that come with them do say something about turning them upside down periodically to drain any condensation out. I think the other major difference in the portable tank vs. the compressor tank is that the portable is made of much thinner, lighter metal so it probably wouldn't last as long as the compressor tank. Some compressor tanks may have an expiration date on them, but I don't recall ever seeing one.