Digital tire inflator?
- Thread starter quilty
- Start date
AC-WC
Well-known member
After having digital tire gauges over the years batteries die. I always end up double checking with an analog gauge. In reality what's the point of the digital unless it's easier to read.
I have my uncles Milton inflator like yours, the reading was off by 10 psi. Watched YouTube on how to adjust and now accurate. This thing was from the late 60's early 70's from his gas station he used to run. Pushing 50 yrs. Never seen anything digital last 50 yrs. Unless you're doing race cars Milton is a quality brand. Repair parts available direct from Milton.
I have my uncles Milton inflator like yours, the reading was off by 10 psi. Watched YouTube on how to adjust and now accurate. This thing was from the late 60's early 70's from his gas station he used to run. Pushing 50 yrs. Never seen anything digital last 50 yrs. Unless you're doing race cars Milton is a quality brand. Repair parts available direct from Milton.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
ASTRO makes a nice one. Their original version used a thin lithium battery that was a PITA to change the new one uses conventional AAA batteries and you can get it in two colors:
BLUE: https://www.astrotools.com/product/3-5-digital-tire-inflator-with-hose/
GREEN: https://www.astrotools.com/product/digital-tire-inflator-w-stainless-steel-hose-green/
BLUE: https://www.astrotools.com/product/3-5-digital-tire-inflator-with-hose/
GREEN: https://www.astrotools.com/product/digital-tire-inflator-w-stainless-steel-hose-green/
Astro also has the rechargeable one that came out not that long ago. That's what will replace my Milton digital when it dies.
Professional Rechargeable Digital Tire Inflator | Astro Pneumatic Tools
• New solid aluminum design with dual orientation high contrast digital read-outs • Easy access USB-C port, rechargeable for longer run times • Clear poly c ...
www.astrotools.com
65ranchero
Well-known member
I also have the Milton inflator and like a lot of us it's getting harder to read.
The window is clear but it just so hard to read.
I did get a Digital gauge not an inflator so that became frustrating to use (fill, check, fill, check, deflate) you get the picture plus it used 2 different sizes of coin batteries.
So I just bought this and couldn't be happier.
AAA battery
The window is clear but it just so hard to read.
I did get a Digital gauge not an inflator so that became frustrating to use (fill, check, fill, check, deflate) you get the picture plus it used 2 different sizes of coin batteries.
So I just bought this and couldn't be happier.
AAA battery
Last edited:
niget2002
Well-known member
Somebody posted this in recent thread looks pretty nice.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I have two cheap digital gauge inflators. I use one in the shop and one lives in my road tire tool bag, mostly to be used as a deflator.
I tested them both--and my M18 inflator--against a calibrated test gauge this AM. Both of the cheap-**** from Amazon gauges were within 0.1 psi of each other and 0.2-0.3 psi of the test gauge. Both read the same after several trials--so very consistent.
I usually look at tire gauges as being more important relatively than absolutely. Having all four (or five) tires at the same pressure is more important to me than knowing they're at the exact right pressure, if you know what I mean. But it's comforting to know that my cheap-*** gauges are pretty damned close to both.
Anyhow, if you can show me a stick gauge that reads reliably and repeatably to .1 psi, I'll throw out the digital gauges. I have old dials that are almost that accurate, but not quite, and dials are very prone to going out of calibration (hence I have a calibration gauge--that's also digital).
The M18 also passed with flying colors, FWIW. Exactly 0.5 psi high on every trial, so dirt simple to compensate for--if i care to.
I tested them both--and my M18 inflator--against a calibrated test gauge this AM. Both of the cheap-**** from Amazon gauges were within 0.1 psi of each other and 0.2-0.3 psi of the test gauge. Both read the same after several trials--so very consistent.
I usually look at tire gauges as being more important relatively than absolutely. Having all four (or five) tires at the same pressure is more important to me than knowing they're at the exact right pressure, if you know what I mean. But it's comforting to know that my cheap-*** gauges are pretty damned close to both.
Anyhow, if you can show me a stick gauge that reads reliably and repeatably to .1 psi, I'll throw out the digital gauges. I have old dials that are almost that accurate, but not quite, and dials are very prone to going out of calibration (hence I have a calibration gauge--that's also digital).
The M18 also passed with flying colors, FWIW. Exactly 0.5 psi high on every trial, so dirt simple to compensate for--if i care to.
jfleisher
Well-known member
The Ryobi 18v digital inflator/gauge works great for me.
Toxictom
Well-known member
I had to put air in a tire on my electric Chevy Blazer this morning. The horn beeped when I hit the recommended pressure. Maybe you won't even need a gauge on these newer vehicles.
Wrench97
Well-known member
I've had the Astro for over 5 years now, love it.
Crow Horse
Well-known member
I posted the Power Tank/Ventoso digital gauge. They are pricey but I got a deal when I returned my old Power Tank gauge. The Ventoso gauge is the gold standard of TIG's. It screams quality. Well worth it if you want to splurge. Buy once, cry once.
Completely different league than what you're looking at. I bought the HF Merlin inflator 2-3 years ago. I've compared it to an old stick gauge, another analog dial gauge, and my TPMS readout. All were dead on in agreement. I was pretty surprised and pleased.
I have that Merlin gauge too. I think it was $12 with a coupon. Seems to be dead on with my other tire gauges and the TPMS readouts on the dash. Good enough for me.
zimman
Well-known member
Blue-Point for me.
Zim
Zim
I wouldn't pay the price of the snap one even if it came with it's own pump. These under $20 Canadian Tire ones are my go to, usually around $12Can on sale. Accurate enough to match TPMS but I rarely watch that because metric flips them to kpa which is meaningless to me and most people when you're talking about tire pressure.
35Ford
Well-known member
I have both the Milton and the Snap-on. I use the Snap-on every time. Great gauge.
engineer2
Well-known member
If the manufacturer doesn't have an accuracy specification, be leery. +/-0.5% of full scale +1 LSD is more than adequate for passenger car tires. LSD = least significant digit. The gauge has to round the end digit up or down, hence LSD.
Consistency is the main thing.
As mentioned, try to find one that uses commonly available AA or AAA batteries.
On some of the cheaper models the inflation valve tends to be a bit leaky.
Consistency is the main thing.
As mentioned, try to find one that uses commonly available AA or AAA batteries.
On some of the cheaper models the inflation valve tends to be a bit leaky.
Astro 3018
Uses 2 AAA batteries, backlit display (can run it without the backlight, or toggle the backlight on).
Big but not huge, stainless steel braided hose with decent length, lock-on air chuck that is OK but not super great (I may replace that someday).
Inflates AND deflates with a full squeeze or a half squeeze of the nicely sized METAL lever. So nice. Overshot the desired air pressure? Just half squeeze the lever and bleed out some air. No having to attach and detach the inflator.
Inflates and deflates FAST too. Contributing factors might be that I have high-flow couplings on the inflator and the air lines and am running at higher than 90 psi static most of the time.
Splurged on one after I bent the needle on my previous mechanical dial gauge inflator when I had the air line pressure at 90+ psi static.
The Astro is rated to read from 3 - 175 psi, and to withstand 218 psi incoming air pressure, so I'm good there now.
I like it.
Uses 2 AAA batteries, backlit display (can run it without the backlight, or toggle the backlight on).
Big but not huge, stainless steel braided hose with decent length, lock-on air chuck that is OK but not super great (I may replace that someday).
Inflates AND deflates with a full squeeze or a half squeeze of the nicely sized METAL lever. So nice. Overshot the desired air pressure? Just half squeeze the lever and bleed out some air. No having to attach and detach the inflator.
Inflates and deflates FAST too. Contributing factors might be that I have high-flow couplings on the inflator and the air lines and am running at higher than 90 psi static most of the time.
Splurged on one after I bent the needle on my previous mechanical dial gauge inflator when I had the air line pressure at 90+ psi static.
The Astro is rated to read from 3 - 175 psi, and to withstand 218 psi incoming air pressure, so I'm good there now.
I like it.
I got this Rapid Air automatic inflator a few months ago. Super happy with it. Set it, walk away, especially handy for large volume tires (tractor), beeps when done. The only complaint I read about here (before buying it), was the quantity of batteries it takes (7 AA if I recall)
niget2002
Well-known member
Yeah, but I've yet to have to replace them. It also works really well when I'm filling up 8 tires before we take the travel trailer out.
engineer2
Well-known member
The Rapid Air is +/-1 psig, which is fine for car and truck tires.
BurtEggley
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2024
- Messages
- 846
you have to look at the specs on accuracy if you want correct pressures. I use a 1% wiki gauge. Normally all you really need is the tires on each side of a differential, or all 4 with 4WD to be even so that the differentials aren't constantly spinning due to uneven tire pressure.
ronkz650
Well-known member
I have the PCL Accura 1. Probably no one has even heard of it, but I bought it as it was supposed to be made in England. It was pretty expensive and I still think it's made in China most likely. It leaked air and I had to repair it myself out of the box, The chuck is standard issue garbage as on most inflator. After some mods it works great, but I would never buy again. Uses a 2450 coin cell battery that lasts about a year just using it in the garage at home once or twice a week.
I bought the HF $9.00 or so anaolog inflators, pulled off the 200 psi gauge and installed a 1/8 mpt x 1/4Fpt adapter and installed a digital gauge on it. I made a 60 psi gauge and also a 200 psi gauge for truck tires to keep the reading within the middle of the gauge ranges. I also just bought two milton inflatiors anolog wth the magnifing window from a daily deal from Northern Tool. I don't like them as i still cannot see the 2psi graduated lines very good even with readers on. I thought the sights would be bigger. My homebuilt gauges are pretty well dead on with the tpms monitors in the cars that show actaully show the pressure. I can get each one dead on and within a tenth of a psi without having to squint. i also put a 90deg Milton chuck on the 60 psi for motorcyles and a Milton truck tire chuck on the 200 psi inflator. I also used them at work and my home for setting badders on expansion tanks, that was actaully what set me off to make my own.
cbracer
Well-known member
Money no object, use what the pro's use. My preference for teams is this one:
www.summitracing.com
There is a newer less expensive model:
www.summitracing.com
But many teams also use this one:
www.summitracing.com
Racesense FM RACESEN SET GP RaceSense Tire Gauges | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - RaceSense Tire Gauges with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Tire Pressure Gauges and Inflators at Summit Racing.
Racesense FM RACESEN PKT G RaceSense Pocket Tire Gauges | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - RaceSense Pocket Tire Gauges with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Tire Pressure Gauges and Inflators at Summit Racing.
Intercomp 360049 Intercomp Racing Digital Air Pressure Gauges | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - Intercomp Racing Digital Air Pressure Gauges with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Tire Pressure Gauges and Inflators at Summit Racing.
Junkman
Well-known member
I have 2 MAC digital inflaters. When the battery dies, I give it to a friend who has a MAC truck stop there every week, and the guy changes the battery. I finally learned to change the battery a few months ago, so I do it myself as needed. I bought one used at a swap meet, and I got the other from a friend who had 2 of every tool, just in case. In case of what I once asked him, and he told me that they used the second one to check the accuracy of the first one. Said that it was always the same so I bought it from him for $50.
John Timmins
Well-known member
Following. Yes, I'd like a new tire pressure measuring/filling tool that's easier to read than my stick version. I'm already wondering if my air hose fittings will screw onto or into it? Watch my new selection have some kind of thread that isn't NPT.
Years ago my wife's dad had a Dupont auto paint business selling Dupont paint and paint guns, hoses, and air hose fittings. He said there were a hundred hose connector SHAPES in the USA, male and female. Now I wonder if I get a new digital tire gauge/inflator and then have a new project trying to put my hose on it.....
Years ago my wife's dad had a Dupont auto paint business selling Dupont paint and paint guns, hoses, and air hose fittings. He said there were a hundred hose connector SHAPES in the USA, male and female. Now I wonder if I get a new digital tire gauge/inflator and then have a new project trying to put my hose on it.....
danielbuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 916
the only digital gauge I have is the one built into a M18 battery powered air pump. One nice thing about it is that it stops at the psi that you enter, so you can just turn it on and walk away if it's going to be a few minutes.
The rest of my gauges and chuck inflators are all analog. I prefer analog for most things, If I have an option I will generally choose analog.
The rest of my gauges and chuck inflators are all analog. I prefer analog for most things, If I have an option I will generally choose analog.
I have two of the Blue Point digital that Zimman has pictured.
I think same as the Snap on the OP is asking about. Maybe a little updated
each to his own, but I love them
well…
except for the price
always dead nuts & personally the battery hasn’t been an issue. Like the light feature for at night.
Have them in different locations, but when I purchased the second one, I compared readings between them a few times. Always the same…
I think same as the Snap on the OP is asking about. Maybe a little updated
each to his own, but I love them
well…
except for the price
always dead nuts & personally the battery hasn’t been an issue. Like the light feature for at night.
Have them in different locations, but when I purchased the second one, I compared readings between them a few times. Always the same…
I've had this one for three years now; never changed a battery, very easy to use. I like it.
DrinkMan
Well-known member
I've had this one for three years now; never changed a battery, very easy to use. I like it.
I have the exact same one. 2 years of use. Original battery. Works fine.