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M12 Air Inflator

joe_pinehill1

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
537
Location
Northern Virginia
Home Depot had a one day sale, dropping the price from $138 to $99 last week. I tried it this morning, works great. One car had its TPMS light on , probably from first day in the 20's here. The hose screws to the shraeder valve. Reads current pressure, you set the inflation pressure, and press go, very easy to use. I'd buy another to keep in my wife's car.
 

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ThatSickRip

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Joined
May 23, 2017
Messages
763
Love mine. After I got it, I picked up another one for the truck and one for the garage.
 

Rarified27

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Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
763
Location
Between PA and NJ
Best part about the attachment I linked is it's short enough to fit on the exiting hose wrap. The clamp is also way faster if you're dodging traffic ;-)6ee268b958e6578b8c9d1f6e61c1b6d9.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

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Git

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May 18, 2008
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6,894
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S Cal
I bought the 'slime' version - it has a 90 degree adapter and I did not need the extra hose length.

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allinon72

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Jul 5, 2010
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3,305
Location
Indianapolis
I bought this thing on a whim because I wanted to buy something. I was pleasantly surprised, being able to dial in a pressure and hit a button is a luxury I didn’t know I needed!
 
OP
J

joe_pinehill1

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
537
Location
Northern Virginia
this is a tool that Milwaukee hit out of park. Its like they polled people that have different 12V inflators in their car and what requirements should the new tool meet. The simple storage for the adapters is one, as someone who coached soccer and basketball for years in our Rec league, I'd always be looking for needles and raft inflators. The hose storage is also good. I love the M18 line and M12 line, but tools Ive bought on the fringe of Milwaukee's bread and butter, I've had mixed results. The M12 hand vacuum was a disappointment , this inflator is awesome.

$139 is a bit high though, but at $99 its a great addition to my M12 tools.
 

loganb

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Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
5,516
Location
Omaha, NE
I love my inflator and it has become a standard addition to my road trip tool bag. Thanks for the links on the adapters as I had been annoyed with the screw on but not enough to look for something different

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dacan23

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Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
2,804
Location
RI
Its great when you first get it, but after time you may get frustrated because its so slow. It also has to be the most broken serviced item since it was released. Mine was off 5lbs recently but then magically is back to 1-2lbs off, my buddy who takes good care of things has a broken one and I know a bunch of guys who burnt it out. Mine seems slower than before but that may have to do with my higher altitude now. Don't run it for more than 20 mins or it will burn up, the manual says if you run it 15-20 mins it needs to cool down that long before using again. I have 2 M12 inflators and almost got a 3rd, but I will buy a M18 one if they ever release one immediately.
 

honcho

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Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
2,289
Location
Near Sodom & Gommorah (aka Wash. DC)
My most used M12 tool. Got mine holiday season 2019 for $99 with the usb M12 battery charger which is definitely better than getting another household current single battery charger. I was hoping for that combo to appear this holiday season to get one for each of my kids but not this year.
 

ChevyEFI

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Joined
Sep 2, 2012
Messages
8,720
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I agree w/ OP; super easy to use. Very easy to read screen at night.

I got a killer deal on tool only.

If 4 tires are neglected and way down on air, you're not going to take them up a lot without some battery. I bet a 4ah is a great match for it. I had 4 passenger car 245/50R16 tires in the 20 to 25psi range. Taking them all up to 35psi was too much for the small (1.5? 2?) AH Milwaukee 12v battery. So if I could find an M12 tool to M18 battery adapter, I'd be happier with it.

No it's not fast, but I can walk and do other things while it works. Because I've always been a hand pump user and seldom use shop air, it was an impulse purchase. It's convenient. Enough to correct pressures. Air up toys and beach balls. Shop air, it's not.
 

allinon72

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Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
3,305
Location
Indianapolis
Its great when you first get it, but after time you may get frustrated because its so slow. It also has to be the most broken serviced item since it was released. Mine was off 5lbs recently but then magically is back to 1-2lbs off, my buddy who takes good care of things has a broken one and I know a bunch of guys who burnt it out. Mine seems slower than before but that may have to do with my higher altitude now. Don't run it for more than 20 mins or it will burn up, the manual says if you run it 15-20 mins it needs to cool down that long before using again. I have 2 M12 inflators and almost got a 3rd, but I will buy a M18 one if they ever release one immediately.

I don't know what you're inflating, but if it's running for 20+ minutes you need an air compressor. This is a light duty inflator to do minor adjustments on 4 tires or to inflate a pool toy/basketball, not to be a replacement for a 120gal compressor.
 

theoldwizard1

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Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,132
Location
SE MI
I like mine for the convenience of it being completely self contained. I liked it enough that I bought one for my son-in-law for when the go camping (4 tires on the truck, 4 tires on the trailer, 12 bicycle tires).


They claim it will do 100 psi, but when I connected it to a tank that was at 80 it actually allow air to leak out even when running.
 

MikeF2316

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Joined
Dec 29, 2012
Messages
9,605
Location
Thornhill, ON
I bought one of those Slime adapter hoses for mine too. While this is a bit slow, I was able to fill from flat a 245/45-18 tire that had a sidewall leak in exactly 5 minutes.
 

Farmall450

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Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
13,356
Location
Marengo, Illinois
Its great when you first get it, but after time you may get frustrated because its so slow. It also has to be the most broken serviced item since it was released. Mine was off 5lbs recently but then magically is back to 1-2lbs off, my buddy who takes good care of things has a broken one and I know a bunch of guys who burnt it out. Mine seems slower than before but that may have to do with my higher altitude now. Don't run it for more than 20 mins or it will burn up, the manual says if you run it 15-20 mins it needs to cool down that long before using again. I have 2 M12 inflators and almost got a 3rd, but I will buy a M18 one if they ever release one immediately.

Yeah, I thought my DeWalt 20v was slow until I tried my brother's M12. :dunno:
 

wafrederick

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Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
6,045
Location
Holton,Mi
I love mine,easy to set up after turning it on.Used to carry a heavy air tank and this beats carrying it around.Does go through batteries although I upgraded to the 6.0 amp batteries on mine
 

matt_i

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Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,725
Location
SE Michigan
I wish they had a comparable mini inflator unit that simply used/accepted M18s. I don't wish for any more performance to match the higher voltage, the light & small unit is perfect, however I avoid it just so I don't have to dip into a different battery platform and could just use what batteries I already own.

I realize they have an M18 inflator but its more of a mini air compressor at significantly higher price. My specs probably put me into a tiny untapped purchasing sector and I'll be waiting a long time ...
 
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jshillin

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Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
5,594
Location
PA
It works great, mine gets used often. The kids even use it to air up basketballs, bike tires, etc. I picked up one for dad for Christmas last year and he keeps it in the vehicle, but my mom grabs it to air up the mower tires, etc. Definitely easy to use and super convenient.
 

Canyon56

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Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
46
I love my M12 Inflator! It is easy to use and extremely convenient. So far it fills my car tires very accurately.
 

Git

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Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
6,894
Location
S Cal

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dacan23

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Apr 15, 2014
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RI
Yes sure, but it will take 10-15 mins to inflate a tire from 0 to 40 psi. The 20 mins is what the manual says, which no one reads especially all the plumbers who got it when it first came out and ran it way too long pressurizing systems and blew it up.

Thing is we waited forever for Milwaukee to make an inflator and they gave us a light duty one, instead of.... a heavy duty one... at least come out with a M18 Fuel bada$$ one afterwards, maybe in a couple more years.... but by then I will have the M18 compressor which is on my short list.

I don't know what you're inflating, but if it's running for 20+ minutes you need an air compressor. This is a light duty inflator to do minor adjustments on 4 tires or to inflate a pool toy/basketball, not to be a replacement for a 120gal compressor.
 

Ilikeike

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Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Messages
2,452
Location
Northern Ca.
I bought it to take to the track to adjust tires a couple of PSI when needed.

I found it real handy when I need to air up the air bags on my truck when hauling something or hooking up the car hauler.

If I thought I would be using it more than just adding a couple PSI to a tire, I'd want something more robust, at home I'd grab shop air.
 

DeeKay

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Joined
Nov 25, 2020
Messages
448
Location
Colorado
those who have these things, help me understand the benefit vs something that runs off of your vehicles battery?
 

MikeF2316

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Dec 29, 2012
Messages
9,605
Location
Thornhill, ON
those who have these things, help me understand the benefit vs something that runs off of your vehicles battery?

Primary advantage is no cord to untangle or trip over. And unlike any corded one I've owned, you can preset your target pressure then walk away, although there's no reason a corded one couldn't have this feature as well.
 

loganb

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Dec 29, 2011
Messages
5,516
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Omaha, NE
Primary advantage is no cord to untangle or trip over. And unlike any corded one I've owned, you can preset your target pressure then walk away, although there's no reason a corded one couldn't have this feature as well.
I also like the ease of use functionality for my wife. Yes she could easily handle a plug in 12v one, but this is easy, simple and self contained without excess cords to get tangled up

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AJHD

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Joined
Jan 4, 2020
Messages
3,013
Location
AZ
I picked one up awhile back, last year I think, to add to my Milwaukee arsenal. Works great. I got it for $99, it may have also included a battery. A bit expensive, but the convenience is worth the cost and you get over it quick.

I don't keep mine in the car, Arizona weather is way too harsh for that. And this would not last the day in a professional shop either. But for occasional at home use, can't beat it. Portable, small form factor, light weight, no hoses or cords to be tethered too...

The only nit picking complaint I have, is it's loud and can take a few minutes to fully inflate a tire. It does get warm, but I've not had to use it continuously for that to be a problem yet.
 

DeeKay

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Joined
Nov 25, 2020
Messages
448
Location
Colorado
I also like the ease of use functionality for my wife. Yes she could easily handle a plug in 12v one, but this is easy, simple and self contained without excess cords to get tangled up

Sent from The Garage Journal mobile app

That's a good point, I'm not sure what my little Viair compressor would do if someone unknowingly hooked it up backwards.
 

gtsgarage

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 31, 2017
Messages
482
Location
California
Love my inflator. I’ve just gotten used to the screw in valve. I like it so much I bought a spare one for our cabin.
 

RCL

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Joined
May 29, 2011
Messages
344
Purchased one of the Slime extensions and it leaks so bad I took it off.
 

Crazyjake8493

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Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
3,953
Location
Upstate NY
those who have these things, help me understand the benefit vs something that runs off of your vehicles battery?

Cordless. I can top off a car tire, riding mower tire, wheelbarrow tire, and inflate a basketball and some pool toys all without ever needing to plug and unplug a cord, or worry where the next power source is.
 

Git

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Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
6,894
Location
S Cal
I got my garden cart out the other day to haul off some dirt. Gave the tires a glance and they looked ok, but after loading the cart... the tires looked flat. M12 Inflator to the rescue
 

bushmechanic

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Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
4,820
I bought one, but haven't used it yet.

It looks and feels well-made, but in my opinion it doesn't actually have to be fast, or even exceptional in any way. It just needs to work and last.

A normal unit needs to justify it's *** in speed. For a cordless unit, I'll stand around for a few minutes and wait. It's already ahead of the game enough to get away with taking as long as it wants.

I prefer Schrader valves in relation to clip-on stuff. That tiny little gnat fart that comes out is not even worth considering. Hell, your gauge is farther off than that to begin with.

You just have to get used to spinning quickly instead of wiggling a clamp around. Neither is more tedious than the other.
 
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