Build Your Own C02 Tire Inflator

[Strike]

I often wonder why people buy commercial off the shelf c02 tire inflating setups for much more than they are worth. $300 is too much money for something that you can build for about $150 and 20 minutes of your time.

Parts List:

5,10, or 15 lb c02 bottle (can be found on eBay $75 for 10lb)
Two gauge one outlet low pressure (Up to 200 psi max) c02 regulator (eBay: $35)
25’ to 50’ Coiled air hose (Home Depot: $15)
Tire Inflator gauge (Home Depot: $20)
Teflon Tape (Home Depot: $2.00 for a 5 pack)
¼ in female air connector (Home Depot $3.50)
¼ in male air plug (Home Depot $1.50)

Directions:

Remove the ¼ in flare male fitting from the regulator.

Wrap Teflon tape around one end of the air hose. Remember to put it on counter-clockwise.

Tighten the air hose into the regulator where the flare fitting was.

Put Teflon tape around the other end of the air hose.

Tighten the air connector onto it.

Put Teflon tape around the ¼ male air plug.

Tighten it into the air gauge.

Put Teflon tape around the short air hose on the air gauge.

Tighten the clip-on tire air chuck onto the air gauge hose.

Get your tank filled.

Connect the air hose to the air gauge.

Tighten your regulator onto the tank.

That was easy wasn’t it?

Enjoy!!

Note that my tank is empty right now. I need to get it refilled.

**UPDATE** Dec 20, 2006

I've been using this setup for a few months now and I have had nothing but good results with it. With a 5lb c02 bottle I get 6 airups out of it from 15 psi to 34 psi before refilling it. It's not even empty then but I just don't want to risk not having air when I need it. I also cranked the regulator up to 160 psi and it fills much quicker. Good luck to all the do-it-yourselfers out there.

Here are a few pics of my setup.

[Noisycow]

Make 'em - sell 'em.

[MoSun]

I'd say your thread has been jacked.

[Strike]

Noisycow previously said:

Make 'em - sell 'em.

No. I took the time to type up simple stupid directions and add pics. That's good enough for me.

[Noisycow]

Very nice setup though. I've wondered why Powertanks and such are so expensive.

In the 70s my dad's friend though it would be funny to poke his wife in the butt with an air hose at a gas station and pull the trigger when she was bent over in the car. It killed her. It seems internal organs don't mix with 100psi.

So, be safe!

Oh dammit ....

... and on an episode of Beavis and Butthead, Beavis is blowing up girl's skirts as they are walking by at a gas station -- the girls obviously aren't amused ..... Beavis looks over at Butthead and says "I really thought this was going to work" - LOL!!! ... the air shot as a 'pick up line.'

[Strike]

MoSun previously said:

I'd say your thread has been jacked.

It has now. LOL!!

[FJGypsy]

Great post Strike! I was wondering the same thing myself about those pricey commercial tanks. Great inspiration to make my own, as you did! Thanks!!!

[Angry Andy]

Mine is a hombrew setup...works great.

Only thing I changed, was the air hose. Went with a powertank air hose, cause most others just froze up near the regulator.

No more freezing with a powertank hose. Pricey, but worth it ($50).

[the magnetguy]

very good info -thanks alot for sharing!! - just where does a guy get these tanks filled though? how long do they last??

[DrSolar]

Can the bottle be painted or would we have to powder coat it?