Specialized Air Tool Blast Tubeless - real life experience

[weisan]

https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/products/17920/photos/21091/s1600_Specialized_Air_Tool_Blast.jpg?1476726834

Works well?

[AngryScientist]

it's just an air tank that you fill with a pump. i dont know how much spec charges for them, but you could get basically the same exact thing for about $20...

https://atdtools.com/images/pics/ATD-9895.jpg

[weisan]

true, angry pal...except it's a bit more portable and doesn't require electricity to operate out in the field.

[AngryScientist]

true, angry pal...except it's a bit more portable and doesn't require electricity to operate out in the field.

you wouldnt need electricity for the tank above either. nothing stoping you from filling that one with a floor pump.

actually, i should take a picture of my set-up. a long while ago a company i knew was tossing out a few old SCUBA tanks because they were old. i took them, kludged a scheme to fill them with compressed air, and carry in the truck. still have it in the garage. never used it for tubeless bike tires, but would definitely work.

[weisan]

I see your point now.

http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/851/851738/things-that-make-you-go-kaboom-20080213013200283.jpg

[AngryScientist]

yea, those "pony" tanks come in all sorts of sizes and can be had quite cheap. i'm sure the spec one works great, in my experience everything i've ever used that specialized was well engineered and worked fantastically, just wanted to point out that there are other options too.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qt4LoYO9zpk/maxresdefault.jpg

[weisan]

gotcha!

What initiated this discussion was...I got a $20 gift card that expires tomorrow that I need to spend at a local bike shop. Trying to decide what I want to spend it on...

[R3awak3n]

I have one. Can confirm it works well, at least before the bead stretches. I inflated my WTB horizons with it and they went in first time. Pretty nice, happy with it.

Can't comment on after bead stretches though and am most certain that an air compressor will be better but for $50 I am happy with it.

[weisan]

thanks R3 pal.

[bigbill]

I've got one of these and it's been great. I can pump it up to 130# to seat a 37mm WTB Riddler or a 25mm Panaracer. It fits in a Thomson stem bag to protect the finish. I keep it in the bottom of a Park toolbox.

https://www.schwalbetires.com/node/19

[joosttx]

I have been using the airshot for the last 2.5 years. I am really pleased with it and its construction. It costs around $60 which is high and cause me to hesitate buying it but in the end I am really happy I bought it.

http://www.airshotltd.com

[Tickdoc]

Or you could always use ether ;)

https://youtu.be/Jhu-8ASc0gQ

[hobbanero]

I bought a compressor for about $120 at Home Depot and now it fails to turn off when it hits max pressure, instead activating the blowoff valve with an exciting whoooosh. Also does not have enough air pressure to seat really difficult tires, so I still end up having to go to the bike shop sometimes (and yes, I remove the valve core). So a cheap compressor may not work as well as you think.

[marciero]

I recently inherited both a 20-gallon Porter Cable compressor and one of these 5-gallon auxiliary tanks and have been putting off sorting out the fittings I need to actually use them for bicycle tires. There was a thread a while back...it seems that many people have fabricated their own fittings for presta. Or maybe can simply use a presta-to-schraeder adapter on the valve stem.

[sokyroadie]

I recently inherited both a 20-gallon Porter Cable compressor and one of these 5-gallon auxiliary tanks and have been putting off sorting out the fittings I need to actually use them for bicycle tires. There was a thread a while back...it seems that many people have fabricated their own fittings for presta. Or maybe can simply use a presta-to-schraeder adapter on the valve stem.

Just buy a presta to schrader adapter - at most a couple of bucks - works great

[p nut]

I’ve never needed seating the tire using a regular pump, if the rim and tire are tubeless. Only exception being fat bike tires. So for that, I’ve been looking this as well. Air compressor was considered, but I like the portability, and (assumed) reliability of the pump. I just haven’t found whether this will be enough to seat gigantic 4” tires.

[weisan]

Ended up spending my $20 gift card on this.

[simplemind]

Ended up spending my $20 gift card on this.

And you could just make one yourself! DIY inflator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtmatxJG_zg)

[weisan]

Simple pal, yes thank you, I have seen that, you are a pal after my heart, like gunner.