IR Gas wheelbarrow compressor opinions

[RedneckWelder]

Well, I need an air compressor, and one that's available of doing a bit more than the pancake style...

Unfortunately I do not have a shop or garage. I have some storage space on my porch for a compressor when not on my truck but no permanent area for it. What I do need with this compressor is the ability to be somewhat portable...I'm a part time mobile welder, and having an air compressor with me would be real nice. I currently work out of a 6' box '99 Silverado. I have a Lincoln Ranger welder/genset (9kw) mounted in the box, offset to the right to provide a little room for an air compressor to the left side (working on getting a flat bed or service body but out of the question for now).

I am strongly looking at the IR gas powered wheelbarrow compressor as something I can still manhandle on/of the truck at 175lbs (and additionally, that weight won't utterly kill my MPGs). Would this be a good compressor for general purpose use? I will need to use a 1/2" impact some (but not continuous duty) and other air tools (die grinder, air ratchet, needle scaler, cutoff tool, shears, air chisel) , plus fill tires and so forth...nothing critical like paint spraying or anything. And is there a cheaper option that is worthwhile of my consideration? The wheelbarrow is $1000. I do not want to go more expensive than that as it would be out of my budget at this point.

What I'm looking at: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...-2-hp-8-gallon-gas-wheelbarrow-air-compressor

 

[crewchief888]

that will work for what you intend to do.

i have the speedaire version in my service truck

 

[RedneckWelder]

Good to hear, thanks for the feedback.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I did not expect to buy this until sometime next year but I stopped by a Tractor Supply for some other supplies and they had a new one marked down $300 off normal price so I about threw out my elbow pulling out my wallet.

Full review to follow in the near future after I get down to using it. I also acquired an IR 236G Impact Wrench. Need to get sockets for it.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have the gas power IR you speak of in my service truck to fix skidsteers. Outside of airing tires, completely useless. 1/2 impact, it would take a week to take 8 lugnuts off. Forget anything like a die grinder or a drill, it can't run them full speed for 10 seconds. I don't even bother carrying air tools on my truck because the compressor can't run them. My sister company sells van air compressors and wish the cheap bastards I work for would have put one of those on the truck.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I have the gas power IR you speak of in my service truck to fix skidsteers. Outside of airing tires, completely useless. 1/2 impact, it would take a week to take 8 lugnuts off. Forget anything like a die grinder or a drill, it can't run them full speed for 10 seconds. I don't even bother carrying air tools on my truck because the compressor can't run them. My sister company sells van air compressors and wish the cheap bastards I work for would have put one of those on the truck.

After I crank it tomorrow I'm gonna test it. If it doesn't do what I expect I will return it. I've briefly used an impact with one of those small 4 gal twin stacks (had to wait between bolts to air up) so I'm expecting this one to be better.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Well after fooling with it for a few hours last night and early this morning I cannot get it started and running. Got her running briefly for about 30 seconds but then died. While I could probably get it running through more involved work I will not go through this for a new tool. Hell no. That ***** should fire right up after setting it up to start...its not below 50 deg today. It's going back to the store today. And will be replaced probably by an electric air compressor if I can find one that's suitable (I will power it off the welder, which starts every time dammit)

 

[bobcatdan]

One tip if you haven't taken it back yet. There was is an air bleed valve of some sort on it. I think it relieved pressure on the compressor. Mine is almost impossible to get started if I don't flip the valve. Once running, if left open, it will only build about 40 psi. Hope this helps.

 

[upstateny918]

I have 2 of the older Emglo Versions of the IR. One is still all original with the Briggs (like I said older!). The other has been canabalized for the pump/fittings and the mount for the engine and pump. I put the mounting plate on a 30 gallon horizontal tank and mounted the pump with a Honda gx160 gas engine. Works great and with the extra volume of air it helps with the lack of pure air power.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Couldnt get it running even with the valve open. Good news is that TSC took it back without any issues. We couldnt get it to run longer than 30 seconds at idle. Would not idle up to operating speed.

Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk

 

[RedneckWelder]

Well that was disappointing. Back to the drawing board. Dunno what I'm going to do now to put air on this truck. Might end up just going with a cordless impact since the IR and Milwaulkie offerings look to be pretty boss and forgetting the die grinders and ratchets and cutoff tools (might get a pancake or twin stack to air up tires). We'll see. I'm gonna hit up craigslist and see if I can get a 30 gal electric horizontal compressor and throw a good cover over it when not in use.