Review on 🔧 Astro Pneumatic Tool 3018 3.5" Digital Tire Inflator with Hose - Efficient and Accurate Tire Inflation Solution by Ananta Crowley

I work in a small workshop with 2 other technicians and of all the tools I've bought this is one of the few I didn't have. Problems with. For starters, the build quality is very solid, with brass hardware and braided stainless steel tubing. In addition, the stress-free hose includes a rubber strain relief where the hose exits the tool. Even after several months of intensive use, the hose shows no signs of wear. As far as air feeds go, this is the most comfortable and intuitive I've ever used. The sleek yet durable steel lever has a dual purpose. The first 50% of the path will release air. Squeeze it all the way in and it starts adding air to whatever it's connected to. In my opinion this is much more convenient than the vast majority of analog pneumatic chucks which require the pneumatic port to be tilted to the side to bleed air from the Schrader valve. The locking cartridge is a nice touch, but depending on the condition of the valve stem, it may or may not seal without additional pressure on the fitting. It's not so much a lining problem as it is a problem with worn, dirty, or poor quality valve stems on tires. In everyday life this is not a problem for me. The only button turns the tool on with one click. Click it again and the backlight will turn on. Hold the button down and the units will toggle (PSI, KG and BAR). The backlight doesn't stay on for very long (15-20 seconds) but that's normal as our business is on the dark side and I still have no trouble reading the display even with all the compartment doors closed. There's a backlight in case you're casting something in the dark and need extra light. It's not something you'll use all the time. This helps a lot with battery life. On average I use this cartridge about 20 times a day, 5 days a week and on average I use 1-2 months with 2 AAA batteries. In my opinion, this is excellent battery life. Note, however, that this tool will not warn you when the batteries are low. It just goes off completely and won't come back on. Regardless of battery life, there doesn't seem to be a difference in accuracy. In terms of accuracy, this tool is on par with the best of them. I often inflate tires on Alfa Romeos that have sensors that report pressure accurate to within 10psi. After bleeding them to factory specs, I found that the gauges always read within 1-2/10 psi of the pressure I set. And that with over 100 different cars on different days with different sensors. This is excellent and ideal for fussy customers who need accurate pressure in all four tires. Good luck trying to get that accuracy with an old school Milton tire inflator. And if you're worried that this sensor will take some time to update, worry no more. As soon as I release the trigger to check the print, it updates within 1/4 second. Great. Despite my enthusiastic criticism, I see a few areas that could be improved in a later version. First, the hanging loop built into the wellie that goes over the tool is starting to tear a little (I always hang it on a converted hanger on the side of my lift. I prefer a hard molded hanger). be integrated into the body of the instrument for longer life. Second, it would be nice to have a mode where the backlight turns on immediately after you press the shutter button (like some Mac digital sensors). Finally, more contrast could be added to the display itself. With the backlight on, reading looks a little spooky and not as clear as we'd like. Again, this wasn't really a problem when I used it, but people with low vision will definitely appreciate the greater contrast. TL; DR: This device from Astro is absolutely not worth twice the price compared to its convenience, quality, accuracy and reliability. Try an inflator. Once you get used to this sensor, trying to read the analog sensor is like stepping back in time. You will not be disappointed. Eventually, if I encounter any issues with this tool, I will update my review. If there are no updates, then you know it's still working perfectly.