Air compressor for installing grips in an apartment

[hoselpalooza]

title is pretty self-explanatory. i want to install some grips (using an air compressor) in my apartment with shared walls and am wary of making too much noise. worst case scenario i just take off time from work and do it during the day. hope nobody's kids are down for a nap. 🤷‍♂️

 

bonus: i didn't re-up my run-flat tires and need something i can use to re-inflate regular tires on the side of the road (just in case 🤞). something i could plug into a 120v wall outlet and my car would be great. not 100% necessary but definitely a plus.

 

thank you in advance!!

[driveandputtmachine]

No air compressor I have ever seen is gonna be super apartment friendly.   That being said, I have a 100 PSI pancake from Home Depot (HDX brand and very similar to one they sell at harbor freight) that I have had since my divorce when I lived in an apartment for 3 years, and then I have had it in my house for the last 5 years.

 

Good thing is, you do not have to have it turned on to use if you are storing air.  If you use it a couple of times at night, just don't refill until later so you don't piss off your neighbors.  I have used it at my house to refill tires numerous times, but I have never tried plugging it into a a 12v to 110 power converter.  Most 12v do not have a tank, and will be of little to no use for blowing on grips.

[hoselpalooza]

1 minute ago, driveandputtmachine said:

No air compressor I have ever seen is gonna be super apartment friendly.   That being said, I have a 100 PSI pancake from Home Depot (HDX brand and very similar to one they sell at harbor freight) that I have had since my divorce when I lived in an apartment for 3 years, and then I have had it in my house for the last 5 years.

 

Good thing is, you do not have to have it turned on to use if you are storing air.  If you use it a couple of times at night, just don't refill until later so you don't piss off your neighbors.  I have used it at my house to refill tires numerous times, but I have never tried plugging it into a a 12v to 110 power converter.  Most 12v do not have a tank, and will be of little to no use for blowing on grips.

 

thanks! was just literally looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/Inflator-Compressor-Rechargeable-Power-Avid/dp/B07CTGM2LD/ref=psdc_155346011_t2_B07H3LP4LL

 

i'm surprised that tankless 12v would be little to no use for blowing on grips. i didn't think it took a lot of pressure or juice to get the grips on? how much do you need?

[Stuart_G]

Ryobi (home depot) has a small portable battery operated 120 psi compressor that's pretty quiet - at least relative to the bigger ones.  It's significantly quieter than my 5 gal porter cable pancake compressor.   I haven't used it for grips yet.  Only down side is that it's only uses a 1 gal tank but dont' think that will be an issue as long as you don't take too long to get the grip on.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Cordless-1-Gal-Portable-Air-Compressor-Tool-Only-P739/305269932

 

Edited October 23, 2020 by Stuart_G

[hoselpalooza]

2 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

Ryobi (home depot) has a small portable battery operated compressor that's pretty quiet - at least relative to the bigger ones.   I haven't used it for grips.  Only down side is that it's only uses a 1 gal tank but dont' think that will be an issue as long as you don't take too long to get the grip on.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Cordless-1-Gal-Portable-Air-Compressor-Tool-Only-P739/305269932

 

 

just checking, is this thing only good for one grip? 😅

[Fairway14]

7 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

title is pretty self-explanatory. i want to install some grips (using an air compressor) in my apartment with shared walls and am wary of making too much noise. worst case scenario i just take off time from work and do it during the day. hope nobody's kids are down for a nap. 🤷‍♂️

 

bonus: i didn't re-up my run-flat tires and need something i can use to re-inflate regular tires on the side of the road (just in case 🤞). something i could plug into a 120v wall outlet and my car would be great. not 100% necessary but definitely a plus.

 

thank you in advance!!

 

If you have a knife, tape, and solvent you can remove grips-install new grips in a bathroom, parking lot, driving range, anywhere you want.

Why do you want to use an air compressor ?

[hoselpalooza]

2 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

If you have a knife, tape, and solvent you can remove grips-install new grips in a bathroom, parking lot, driving range, anywhere you want.

Why do you want to use an air compressor ?

 

yep, i've done the same in my kitchen.

 

for now, i'd prefer to use soapy water and blow grips on instead of using solvent. solvent stinks and i don't have great ventilation here or access to a shop right now.

 

you can also remove grips without ruining them with an air compressor. makes it easier and less costly to test grips and shafts imo. i'm frugal. would probably feel differently if i had a tour van. 😉

[Fairway14]

1 minute ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

 

 

for now, i'd prefer to use soapy water and blow grips on instead of using solvent. solvent stinks and i don't have great ventilation here or access to a shop right now.

 

 

If I want to save a grip I use GolfWorks $20 grip removal tool.

Last month on the putting green, before our round of golf, I installed a grip to my friend's putter. The only tools-materials needed are knife-solvent-tape. 

[driveandputtmachine]

23 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

If you have a knife, tape, and solvent you can remove grips-install new grips in a bathroom, parking lot, driving range, anywhere you want.

Why do you want to use an air compressor ?

As often as some people change shafts installing and then removing with an air compressor is a way to save a tone of money and reuse the grips over and over.

 

Removing a grip installed with tape and solvent is a PITA and much more time consuming.  With air I can remove a grip and install a new one in one minute total.  I have watched piles of videos, but it has never taken me less than 5 minutes to remove one grip with tape and solvent.  I am not a club builder nor do I want to spend the time to get better at removing grips that way when it is so much easier with air.

Edited October 23, 2020 by driveandputtmachine

[hoselpalooza]

4 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

If I want to save a grip I use GolfWorks $20 grip removal tool.

Last month on the putting green, before our round of golf, I installed a grip to my friend's putter. The only tools-materials needed are knife-solvent-tape. 

 

i had no idea, thank you for sharing! 

[hoselpalooza]

1 minute ago, driveandputtmachine said:

As often as some people change shafts installing and then removing with an air compressor is a way to save a tone of money and reuse the grips over and over.

 

Removing a grip installed with tape and solvent is a PITA and much more time consuming.

 

solvent is a big non-starter for me right now. i just moved and until i find a more permanent place am stuck in a studio in a high-rise with windows that don't open. different story if i had a garage i could open up and air out...

 

didn't know this was a thing though: https://www.golfworks.com/the-golfworks-v-groove-grip-remover/p/vggrv/

 

wonder if there's a youtube video of two people racing to see who can get grips on/off more quickly: air vs traditional method 😁

[Bad9]

39 minutes ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

thanks! was just literally looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/Inflator-Compressor-Rechargeable-Power-Avid/dp/B07CTGM2LD/ref=psdc_155346011_t2_B07H3LP4LL

 

i'm surprised that tankless 12v would be little to no use for blowing on grips. i didn't think it took a lot of pressure or juice to get the grips on? how much do you need?

You can certainly use a 12v tankless compressor for blowing on grips. I have been blowing on grips for 20yrs and started using a 12v tankless and a B&D Workmate as my clamp. I see guys saying you need to use lots of air pressure but I find 30-40psi is more than adequate. I blow over painters tape and don't use soapy water, etc and don't have a problem. On .600 butt shafts without a lot of taper(FST were always good for this) I used .580 grips on the bare shaft with no slippage issue at all. 

[driveandputtmachine]

1 minute ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

solvent is a big non-starter for me right now. i just moved and until i find a more permanent place am stuck in a studio in a high-rise with windows that don't open. different story if i had a garage i could open up and air out...

 

didn't know this was a thing though: https://www.golfworks.com/the-golfworks-v-groove-grip-remover/p/vggrv/

 

wonder if there's a youtube video of two people racing to see who can get grips on/off more quickly: air vs traditional method 😁

there is no competition.  Air wins every time.  I have seen videos of qualified club builders with tons of experience removing tape and solvent grips.  I can remove a grip installed with air in under 10 seconds.  I put all of my grips on with air and remove them all with air.  Less than 30 seconds to remove and install a new one.

[hoselpalooza]

1 minute ago, driveandputtmachine said:

there is no competition.  Air wins every time.  I have seen videos of qualified club builders with tons of experience removing tape and solvent grips.  I can remove a grip installed with air in under 10 seconds.  I put all of my grips on with air and remove them all with air.  Less than 30 seconds to remove and install a new one.

 

i'm temped to say it's case closed.

 

 

[driveandputtmachine]

1 minute ago, Bad9 said:

You can certainly use a 12v tankless compressor for blowing on grips. I have been blowing on grips for 20yrs and started using a 12v tankless and a B&D Workmate as my clamp. I see guys saying you need to use lots of air pressure but I find 30-40psi is more than adequate. I blow over painters tape and don't use soapy water, etc and don't have a problem. On .600 butt shafts without a lot of taper(FST were always good for this) I used .580 grips on the bare shaft with no slippage issue at all. 

I have a 100 PSI pancake air compressor.  I have it set at 50 or so PSI I believe and have using it for the last 8+ years for grips.  I bought the one I have because I could also use it for other thangs than just grips.  I have used it for tires on my Jeep and truck.  I have used it with a paint gun, I even used it with a brad/nail gun.  I think I paid 40 or 50 bucks for it and it has paid for itself 30 plus times over in the cost of grips or with my time.

[hoselpalooza]

4 minutes ago, Bad9 said:

You can certainly use a 12v tankless compressor for blowing on grips. I have been blowing on grips for 20yrs and started using a 12v tankless and a B&D Workmate as my clamp. I see guys saying you need to use lots of air pressure but I find 30-40psi is more than adequate. I blow over painters tape and don't use soapy water, etc and don't have a problem. On .600 butt shafts without a lot of taper(FST were always good for this) I used .580 grips on the bare shaft with no slippage issue at all. 

 

this is great to know! my next project is putting .600 JMX ultralites onto c-tapers with .600 butt OD. so i'll probably have to build up a little bit for a snug fit. 

 

my current grips are great but a bit of a pain to install. i'm really looking forward to a quick and painless grip install and removal. 

[Bad9]

2 minutes ago, driveandputtmachine said:

I have a 100 PSI pancake air compressor.  I have it set at 50 or so PSI I believe and have using it for the last 8+ years for grips.  I bought the one I have because I could also use it for other thangs than just grips.  I have used it for tires on my Jeep and truck.  I have used it with a paint gun, I even used it with a brad/nail gun.  I think I paid 40 or 50 bucks for it and it has paid for itself 30 plus times over in the cost of grips or with my time.

What I use now is a Porter Cable Pancake unit that was part of a finish nail gun combo. It changed my whole world in two parts of my life, blowing on grips and installing trim in my house.😂

[llewol007]

I watched my buddy pull and install a grip with the air compressor. It’s amazing. As an owner of an air compressor myself, the thing that creates the most noise is when you fill the talk . Once it is full, the noise made to actually remove the grip is very minimal as you will be using less pressure than if using a nail gun. I’m purchasing the adaptor myself and giving it a go. Like others have said, it does save grips which you can in turn sell again or reuse.

[Nessism]

Everyone is free to do what they want but no grip of mine gets installed without double stick tape.

 

That aside, California Air Tools makes some amazingly quiet compressors.  As a bonus they are quite durable and not overly expensive.  Check Amazon for options from tiny to large.

[Socrates]

I had a smaller compressor 1.5 gallon and it ran all the time when I was doing grips.  I bought one with a larger tank and a compressor with more horsepower.  It is actually quieter and it fills the tank very quickly because the compressor is bigger.  With 5 gallons I can do a lot before it runs again.

 

One drawback with using compressed air is that you need a vise to hold the club (unless you have 3 arms) whereas I can put on a grip without a vise using solvent and tape.

 

As for using the grip removal tool... it requires solvent and can get real messy if the grip is stubborn.  For me, it's a tool of last resort.

[e-man]

I use a tire inflator I got from Home Depot.  Works great.  I wouldn’t say it’s low noise but doesn’t sound like a freight train either.  

[hoselpalooza]

1 hour ago, Nessism said:

Everyone is free to do what they want but no grip of mine gets installed without double stick tape.

 

That aside, California Air Tools makes some amazingly quiet compressors.  As a bonus they are quite durable and not overly expensive.  Check Amazon for options from tiny to large.

 

do you use double-sided tape with air to install? or are you using solvent? thanks!

[hoselpalooza]

7 minutes ago, e-man said:

I use a tire inflator I got from Home Depot.  Works great.  I wouldn’t say it’s low noise but doesn’t sound like a freight train either.  

 

this is good to know. i need a tire inflator anyway and was hoping it could do grips, too. i'm heavily leaning toward getting one from HD this weekend or amazon prime. 

[driveandputtmachine]

1 hour ago, Socrates said:

I had a smaller compressor 1.5 gallon and it ran all the time when I was doing grips.  I bought one with a larger tank and a compressor with more horsepower.  It is actually quieter and it fills the tank very quickly because the compressor is bigger.  With 5 gallons I can do a lot before it runs again.

 

One drawback with using compressed air is that you need a vise to hold the club (unless you have 3 arms) whereas I can put on a grip without a vise using solvent and tape.

 

As for using the grip removal tool... it requires solvent and can get real messy if the grip is stubborn.  For me, it's a tool of last resort.

I have used air for 8+ years, and while I have a vice I have never used it to put on my grips with air.  I have a Pure Grip tool attached to my air compressor.  Put the tip of the grip over the end of the shaft, put the tool in the butt of the grip.  Then grasp the end of the grip, give it air and push it on.  Club head on the ground against my leg.   Would it be easier to put it in a vice?  Probably, but I've done it this way for so many years no reason to change.

[hoselpalooza]

4 minutes ago, driveandputtmachine said:

I have used air for 8+ years, and while I have a vice I have never used it to put on my grips with air.  I have a Pure Grip tool attached to my air compressor.  Put the tip of the grip over the end of the shaft, put the tool in the butt of the grip.  Then grasp the end of the grip, give it air and push it on.  Club head on the ground against my leg.   Would it be easier to put it in a vice?  Probably, but I've done it this way for so many years no reason to change.

 

i absolutely had to use a vice when gripping with lots of build-up tape. makes sense it would make gripping with air easier, too.

 

have one really similar to this and also use the rubber insert you can get from any golf equipment store. makes life a lot easier imho and is really fast to set up/take down.

 

PSA: i've also heard from others that flexible reinforced tubing is good for installing with air. i.e. put it over the grip as a protective measure. some people do it with hard PVC pipe which is a terrible idea. despite how rarely a grip might explode i just don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[llewol007]

2 hours ago, llewol007 said:

I watched my buddy pull and install a grip with the air compressor. It’s amazing. As an owner of an air compressor myself, the thing that creates the most noise is when you fill the talk . Once it is full, the noise made to actually remove the grip is very minimal as you will be using less pressure than if using a nail gun. I’m purchasing the adaptor myself and giving it a go. Like others have said, it does save grips which you can in turn sell again or reuse.

I have used the  V groove tool before and it does do the job. The great thing about the air compressor is less use of grip solvent. It really all depends on the age of the grip. Old crappy grips, just take a hook blade and get those things off. If its a newer grip, either option will work. The only really loud thing about the compressor is filling up the tank, once it is full, it really wont take that much air and the tank wont have to power on maybe once or twice to refill its tanks. 

[golfortennis]

31 minutes ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

i absolutely had to use a vice when gripping with lots of build-up tape. makes sense it would make gripping with air easier, too.

 

have one really similar to this and also use the rubber insert you can get from any golf equipment store. makes life a lot easier imho and is really fast to set up/take down.

 

PSA: i've also heard from others that flexible reinforced tubing is good for installing with air. i.e. put it over the grip as a protective measure. some people do it with hard PVC pipe which is a terrible idea. despite how rarely a grip might explode i just don't think it's worth the risk.

 

 

Why is PVC pipe a bad idea?

 

[hoselpalooza]

Just now, Bluefan75 said:

 

Why is PVC pipe a bad idea?

 

 

hard plastic shrapnel.

 

i've been told the grip can explode with such force that the hard PVC pipe people use to "protect" themselves basically becomes a pipe bomb 2' from your crotch. i haven't tried to bust this myth but it makes sense to me so i don't want to mess around with it. 😅

 

apparently something like this is supposed to be much better:

 

[Bad9]

I use a piece of orange plastic hollow driveway marker tube. I have blown up 3-4 grips and it has been fine. The amount a grip would have to expand to blow it apart is 3-4 times than what is needed to take a grip off.

 

One of the old Shoptalk email list guys, TFlan, used a piece of leather with velcro strips to secure it on the club and never had any issues.

Edited October 23, 2020 by Bad9

[NRJyzr]

5 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

 

yep, i've done the same in my kitchen.

 

for now, i'd prefer to use soapy water and blow grips on instead of using solvent. solvent stinks and i don't have great ventilation here or access to a shop right now.

 

you can also remove grips without ruining them with an air compressor. makes it easier and less costly to test grips and shafts imo. i'm frugal. would probably feel differently if i had a tour van. 😉

 

Just chiming in to say there are odorless grip solvent options.  GolfWorks sells a professional grip solvent, which is really Bramptons HF100, or so it's said.

 

With that said, I'm contemplating grabbing a compressor moving forward.  In part because I'll be installing leather grips on at least one set of irons in the very near future.