A very handy device

[Mobuck]

Given the number of tires we have on equipment and vehicles, there's always a low tire somewhere. During peak field work times, I usually haul a large (50 gallon size) air tank in my pickup. This takes up considerable space and is always rolling and clanking around plus seems to never be full when needed. Last fall while harvesting soybeans I ran out of air and asked our customer if I could refill at his shop compressor. He said "Here take this and keep it until we get done". It was a Milwaukee 18V cordless compressor about the size of a small suitcase. After a couple days' use, I decided I'd have one of those until I saw the price. Being the frugal geezer I am, I started looking for alternatives. RIGID didn't (at that time) make an actual compressor but RYOBI had one just the right size and price so I found an adaptor that allows RIGID batteries to power the RYOBI and put it all together. I found a storage box with rainproof lid that the whole thing fits in nicely with some foam padding--perfect for riding in the pickup bed.
I've used it off and on over the past few months and although it's not a high output unit, it does inflate tires and it's handy to use in my basement workspace. Fast forward to 4AM this morning when I got a text from Grouch Attack. "Need help, flat tire". I grabbed the box and a battery and headed out the door. I'd flipped the switch on when leaving the house so within maybe 3 minutes after reaching her vehicle the tire was at 35 psi and good enough to return home.
BTW, there is a difference between a compressor and an 'inflator'. The compressor has a pressure tank which the inflator doesn't. This means the compressor can run things like small air nailers or impact wrenches while the inflator can't. I'm well satisfied with the RIGID/RYOBI adaptor so far. It makes good sense if you already have a set of XYZ batteries but want a ZYX tool or have both and want cross compatibility.

 

[Mike J]

I didn't know they made adaptors that would go from one manufacturer's battery to another's tool. That is good information to have.

A portable compressor can be a wonderful thing. I keep an "inflator" that works off 12V in the box on the back of the truck, but I can see where having an actual compressor could better for you situation.

 

[SWR]

Where did you get your adapter

 

[Mobuck]

EBAY-came from an American seller

 

[mistermills357]

You have elements of genius.

 

[protoolman]

I find that small compressors like 3-5 gallon ones that can run an air nailer will not keep up with a 1\2" impact gun even. You really need a bigger tank. In the inflator department you can get bigger heavier high flow pumps that will put out serious air that just alligator clip your truck battery. They would be good for farm use as they are geared to off-roaders who air down off-road and air up their big tires to go home.

 

[blume357]

Dang it Mobuck! Here's a confession, I'm addicted to two things... guns and Milwaukee 18volt tools... this is not a joke.... I have approximately 30 ones just in my work vehicle.... now I got to get that compressor....... if for no other reason I've had 3 cheap 12volt 'inflators' go bad on me in the last year after about 3 or 4 uses....

what in the world was 'grouch attack doing out at 4 in the a.m.? No body should be out at that time of the morning, even a farmer.

 

[Mobuck]

"I find that small compressors like 3-5 gallon ones that can run an air nailer will not keep up with a 1\2" impact gun even. You really need a bigger tank. "
This is very true. For this reason in case I expect to need the 'big gun' or know I have a tire that popped off the bead, I had a handy little widget made from a T-fitting with 2 'ins' and one 'out' quick coupler. Compressor line runs into the 'T' which is plugged into big tank and another line goes to the tool/chuck. This allows the tiny compressor to run, fill a bigger tank, and have the advantages of that bigger tank when needed. I use this on my small 110V barn compressor to run the impact wrench and it works like a charm. I've re-purposed the tanks from a couple of worn out shop compressors into 30-50 gallon reservoirs. If it's a really big job, we have a gas powered compressor with 50 gallon tank on the fuel/oil/air/tool trailer.

 

[Mobuck]

"what in the world was 'grouch attack doing out at 4 in the a.m.? No body should be out at that time of the morning, even a farmer."
She's not retired yet and 4:30am to 1:00pm is her CHOSEN shift. Sometimes it varies from 3:30 to 4:30 depending on number of hogs expected at the plant.

 

[Mega Twin]

Used to see adapters that you could replace a spark plug with to air up tires.
Worked really well til the auto companies started making spark plugs that were hidden and hard to access

 

[GLASSMAN]

Great tip.
I have all 18v Ryobi and the 12v Milwaukee tools now
All my old Dewalt stuff wore out and since I don't hardly do commercial work anymore they do well enough for residential and shop work.
I just got the 2 Ryobi LED lights that are battery/cord combo, the 3"
cuttoff saw and the battery miter saw.
My most used tool is the oscillating cut out saw.
I have 2 Ryobi 18v, 1 Milwaukee 12v, 1 Rigid 110v (this one is the best), and 2 Harbor freight. So far I previously burned out 2 Harbor freight and 1 Roybi 12v.
I'm kind of a tool junkie.
Guns and tools. Whats not to like?

 

[blume357]

I looked up the Milwaukee compressor and went cheap with just the inflator.....Interesting thing is they are it seems 'on the way' at every online place I checked. the problem is that another item on my list to get was a 2nd inverter in case the house power went out. Our new Kitchen Aid gas stove will not work unless it is hooked up to 120 volts and I figured out a way to reverse engineer the power with an inverter and 12volt battery so that at the very least the top burners will ignite.... in my search for the inflator yesterday I discovered that Milwaukee makes an inverter for their 18volt batteries.... of which I have about 12 or 14 I think.... not as much stored power as a 12volt car battery or booster battery but still will run small appliances well.

 

[Mike J]

Dang it Mobuck! Here's a confession, I'm addicted to two things... guns and Milwaukee 18volt tools... this is not a joke.... I have approximately 30 ones just in my work vehicle.... now I got to get that compressor....... if for no other reason I've had 3 cheap 12volt 'inflators' go bad on me in the last year after about 3 or 4 uses....

what in the world was 'grouch attack doing out at 4 in the a.m.? No body should be out at that time of the morning, even a farmer.

We use the Milwaukee battery tools at work. Mostly impacts, sawzalls, hammer drills, & drills though on occasion others pop up. We have been using Dewalst lasers lately they are nice & save a ton of time. I remember when we did all that stuff with a chalk box & a plumb bob. I also remember when we would roll out & get up hundreds of feet of drop cords every day.

I've got some of the old DeWalt XRP 18 volt battery tools I use at home. I won the drill & sawsall at a top out party years ago. I bought an impact to go with them later. Someone told me that you could use the new lithium ion batteries with the older tools if you had an adapter so I bought a DeWalt drill with 2 batteries & a charger from Lowes & an adapter. The tools themselves are fine but I wanted to get away from the old nickel cadmium batteries.

 

[eveled]

I have the write up somewhere, one of the common air conditioner compressors, can be converted to compress air, belt driven off the engine. I always wanted to do that on my jeep.

On my pickup truck I used the compressor for a Hadley air horn, with a tank to inflate tires. Id charge the tank manually with my big compressor so I wouldn’t over tax the mini compressor needlessly. It worked well.

The Milwaukee tools are really unbelievably good, but they are expensive. I’d love to get the m18 chainsaw.

As far as running an impact gun, The Milwaukee m18 impact gun is more portable.

 

[bobski]

dont cars have spares anymore?

 

[jimbo1096]

no spares to save weight on newer cars

 

[Jeepnik]

My work, before I retired, often required using power tools where no power was easily available. Years ago I used a small generator. But when battery powered models becam available I jumped on board. After buying several brands I settled on Milwaukee. Expensive but you do get what you pay for.

For occasional tire top offs the inflators work okay. But to fill tires rapidly only an appropriate compressor will so. There are a number of them designed to be mounted in a vehicle. Speed and efficiency vary. One of the the best are ARB. I’ve had one on my Jeep for years.

I installed one on my Tacoma just after I bought it. It’s a dual model and mount s right under the passenger seat.

 

[Selena]

"I find that small compressors like 3-5 gallon ones that can run an air nailer will not keep up with a 1\2" impact gun even. You really need a bigger tank. "
This is very true. For this reason in case I expect to need the 'big gun' or know I have a tire that popped off the bead, I had a handy little widget made from a T-fitting with 2 'ins' and one 'out' quick coupler. Compressor line runs into the 'T' which is plugged into big tank and another line goes to the tool/chuck. This allows the tiny compressor to run, fill a bigger tank, and have the advantages of that bigger tank when needed. I use this on my small 110V barn compressor to run the impact wrench and it works like a charm. I've re-purposed the tanks from a couple of worn out shop compressors into 30-50 gallon reservoirs. If it's a really big job, we have a gas powered compressor with 50 gallon tank on the fuel/oil/air/tool trailer.

As long as you don't try my uncle's little trick of taking the air compressor of a junk Mack truck, attaching it to a pick up engine then bolt 4 or 5 air tanks from a semi trailer to the frame. While I admit it comes in handy I have to keep "Old Red" under lock an key for fear a certain unnamed idiot (who shall remain my brother) doesn't use the other accessories the tanks power.

 

[Hvymax]

I have "Inflators" on all of my vehicles including motorcycles and tractors. Everything from the Starter motor ones to tiny ones. That, plugs and patches have gotten me out of many situations.

 

[eveled]

Milwaukee just came out with a battery powered generator.

It takes 4 large 18 volt batteries and converts it to 110. It can run relatively large things like table saws.

They are constantly coming out with something new.

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