siclick33

Up until now I have been using a cheap handheld battery air compressor and a bike shock pump to fill my air tanks. The handheld pump is leaking and the battery on the handheld compressor has died.

I'm fed up with struggling at the field and want to buy a decent pump/compressor that will last more than a couple of days out.

Has anyone got any recommendations? Please bear in mind that I am in the UK so US brand names might be hard for me to come by.

Cheers

Harley Condra

My Feedback: (4)

I have a pair of these Campbell Hausfeld compressors from Home Depot. They go for about $49.95 including several adapters, and a battery charger.
In the last photo, you can see the "Banana Plug" recepticals I installed to get 12 volts. I have many accessories equipped with Banana plugs.
They have a 12V 7 Ah battery inside.

I'm sorry, I didn't notice that you are located in the U.K. Probably no Home Depots over there. Good luck with your search.

jroth

My Feedback: (60)

I tried several types over the years, I had an all in one with 110v outlet, light, 12v output and air compressor. The compressor piston and cylinder finally fell apart.

Many guys are using the Vectors, there may have been an early model that guys liked and a later model that guys complained about.
http://www.fadfusion.com/selection.p...er=20082405247


I started using the Craftsman with the Lithium battery last year, then I bought the 4 piece cordless tool kit that came with two Nickle batteries. I have been happy with the compressor with either battery.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

Good Luck

John

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

I've been using this for over 3 years, though hunt around you should be able to get it for around £25
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18v-CORDLESS-COMPRESSOR-Brand-New-3-yr-Warranty_W0QQitemZ390003953329QQcmdZViewItemQQptZU K_Air_Tools_and_Compressors?hash=item390003953329& _trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298|66%3A2|65 %3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

ianober

My Feedback: (12)

They have gone up in price but I use this one:

[link]http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=vector+airpro&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=1144918601&ref=pd_sl_8livbmt0p p_b[/link]

jon sykes.1

I have been using a 500 cc divers pony bottle as a source of air for my retracts for a number of years,this i fill from a 12ltr diving cylinder,rated at 300 bar.the major reasons for doing it this wayis to get away from batteries etc,,and it ensures very clean dry air as it is breathing quality air.Has any one else noticed the large quantities of water produced when using an electric pump or a manual pump?This is one of the reasons i stopped using my electric pump,plus it was always flat when i needed it!
Now for the downsides ,using 300 bar or 4500psi inyour retracts is going to be fairly spectacular on the first fill! lol.However with a suitable regulator fitted to say90psi,things become a little safer. I would estimate i get about 75 to 100 top ups from the pony bottle before it needs refilling from my 12ltr bottle,and god knows how many from that!
The cost of this system is quite expensive,but as i already had these things lying about it seemed a no brainer! but it only costs a couple of quid to have the 12ltr bottle filled.

CJ2002

Dave Wilshere stocks an 18V hand held air pump (that looks the same as the one Harry's got). Can't see it on his website but give him a call on 01923 270405 or email to [email protected] and he'll give you the gen.

Cheers,

Dick
England

Ali

My Feedback: (5)

I have used a number of means of filling my air systems over the years. From a Robart hand pump ( How I dont miss those days ) To the mini compressors.
The only hand held units I found worth a bean were the Bosch units. Unfortunetly unavailable now [:@] All the other cheap ones are just that... cheap. Either they leak, or the battery fails or they fail to reach above 80 psi. Whatever the reasons for them to fail, they always seemed to do it when you needed them the most ( Just before a flight )
I gave up and on a trip to the states picked up the exact unit that Harly recommended above. After two years of pretty intensive use ( Especially when you consider some of the air systems that the big models use its going strong. I swapped out the 12v battery for a 4 cell lipo so its lighter and easier to charge.
There must be a way of getting these into the UK.. If not I will look into buying a batch when I am in the states next and sending them over with a container. This probably wont be a short term fix but one that will get done eventually.
Regards Al.
P.S I have that F-16 info for you and will email you in the morning

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

I have been using the Vector unit but the newer models will last only about one flying season and then they seem to lose power.Recently i went back to using the Campell compressor on Harleys post, still the best overall for the money imo.

V..

CJ2002

Al,

It must have been the Friday night version of the Bosch pump I bought a few years back then - it was seriously crap and demonstrated all the shortcomings you describe of the 'cheap' units...including battery failure after less than a season's use...and I paid (was ripped off) £30 for it.

Funny old thing, it was replaced with a 'cheap' version - one of Aldi's special offers at £12.99 - and it's still going strong, pumping 100 psi+, 4 yrs on. Name isn't everything, it seems!

Let me know if you do bring a load back though...I might get a back-up just in case!

Cheers,

Dick

Gordon Mc

My Feedback: (11)

I use the same Campbell Hausfeld compressor as harley mentioned. I've gone through a couple since they do wear out. Also, their pressure gauges are not always very accurate so I use on-board gauges to check the pressure.

Last time I bought them, I mail ordered a couple for $29.95 each plus $9.95 shipping. Cheapest I can see in a quick 2 minute search right now is $39 at http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...44&ci_sku=3992 but if you hunt around you may find a better deal.

I'm sure one of these stores would ship to the UK. If not (or if the price is ridiculous), figure out how many of you guys are interested and I can buy a batch to pass to Ali when he comes over for CA Jets.

Gordon

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

The one I gave a link to is 18V and has no problem hitting 120psi

Geoff White

On a trip to the states I brought one of the Campbell Hausfeld compressors and brought it back to the UK with me. It must of been a 'friday special' as it lasted 4 months and then the plastic gears stripped [>:] and they aren't cheap. I then went and brought one of the aldi cheapos, in fact I brought 2 of them as I gave one to Dick! Mine is also 4 years old and still going strong. The only change I made was to throw away the nicads it comes with as they are rubbish and replace them with a 4 cell lipo. It will now do two weekends flying on one charge.

Geoff.

k12rc

using 19.2 volt sears craftman pump set lb you want to cut off from 20 to 200 lb think it is 29.99 les batt if you have a sears check it out

Dave Wilshere

The pumps we sell are from Silverline, the pump is OK but the Nicad cells used are poor and take some cycling to work as they should. Mine is a year old and working Ok-though still only good for one days flying on a charge.
My Bosch unit lasted a couple of sessions on a single charge, but the pumps were not that good and I know a few that failed. Changing the cells in the Silverline unit works but it's a chore that we should not have to do.

Dave Wilshere

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

By far the best hand held battery operated portable air pump, and someone else has also recommended, is one from Craftsmen/Sears:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1586000P?mv=rr

k12rc

going on second year with mine charged about three times even pumped up one guys truck tire set pressure lock triger walk off it will quit when set pressure reached

KFalcon

My Feedback: (18)

Same here.

joeflyer

My Feedback: (48)

A lot of guys are enamored with cordless air pumps, then they have a cordless air blower, a refueling station with rechargeable nicads, and then lug a big battery to the field so they can field charge (or spend an extra $200 - $300 on 5000 mah batteries so they don't have to charge at the field).

My solution is to use an automotive jump start with built in air pump. I use it as a 12 volt power supply to start small gasoline and DF engines. I plug my Makita blower into it for cool-downs, power my fuel pump, and charge my receiver & ECU batteries between flights off of it.

I got my first one at a local warehouse Chinese tool sale for $30 and added a mini hobby panel for glow power, and some HD banana receptacles to it. It lasted me three years. I replaced it with a much better quality one from Harbor Freight for $60, and that one is still going strong after two years. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39954

During flying season I need to charge it about every three weeks. I find powering all of my equipment off of a single 12 v. power supply more convenient than having several cordless accessories that need to be kept charged. I've even jump started a few cars and pumped up a few tires with it.

These type of units are sold at most automotive and hardware stores in the USA. It probably wouldn't be hard to find similar units in the UK.

Joe

Jeffpro

My Feedback: (1)

I use the AirPro hand-held cordless pump from Brookstone:

[link=http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=545095]http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=545095[/link]

Life without bicycle pumps has been awesome. And if I get a flat on the way to the field, no problem!

trioval00

My Feedback: (17)

these seem to be popular with the jet guys around here.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39954



Mark

jeteye

I have used them all so to speak. At this time, nothing can touch the Sears 19.2 (C3).

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

my bosch is like having a pet parrot, I will have to find someone to leave it to when I die.

Boomerang1

I had a cordless compressor but some *****h-le stole it at a jet meet! [:@]

I just went back to using a cheap 12 volt ,plug into the cigarette lighter type compressor, which the cordless one was supposed to replace.

The way I figure it you take a 12 volt battery to the field to pump fuel & charge batteries so I give it one more job to do.

Beware the 'jump start' gizmos. I cannot speak for other countries but in Oz they are fitted with crappy sealed lead acid batteries & are stuffed in no time at all. [:'(] - John.

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

I've got the Vector but it has both a battery and a 12v adaptor so if the battery craps out I can just use my trailer battery that I charge RX packs with.