Ive been thinkin about this (not that i'll need it any time soon) But ive seen people seal their bumpers air tight to use them for air tanks for an OBA system, Could this be used on rollCages and Frame rails as welll ? ive heard stories of using them on frame rails but it's extremly hard to get them 100% Sealed ! obviously u'd wana put some releif valve on the cage so if it gets compressed from an impact the valve will just blow off instead of the tubing welds busting..
Not really u just gota know how to weld :stan: Besided i already told u smear some JB weld over all those little pin holes and paint it. it'll be fine..
I've seen lots of bumpers converted. A little less cages done, but still quite a few. Frame rails, I'm still not sure I'd bother with them, too much flex unless you beefed the hell out of them, and they have lots and lots of holes.
Welding for strength (or just keeing 2 pieces of metal together with a smooth, even, consistent bead) is different than welding for pressure (or so I'm told). If just laying a decent bead down and it's good and sealed was all you had to do, few should have any problems with it - with any application. I've heard alot of stories of welds not holding pressure, even from (so called) professional welders (was a really high pressure application). But I'm not saying it can't be done with patience. I suppose if you were good at welding it wouldn't be a problem for a small air tank like a bumper.
Bumpers and Roll cage are ok, I still would recommend not bothering with the frame rails. If you want the extra air, just get a secondary, smaller air tank and mount that.
obviously u'd wana put some releif valve on the cage so if it gets compressed from an impact the valve will just blow off instead of the tubing welds busting..
Actualy 337CI is account for wall thickness consuming space and it becoming not a true 2x5x50 So it's not worth the hassle.
I did that to my rear bumper when I built it. But when I put air in it, it leaked out of a lot of tiny pinholes in the welds. I tried welding them up and sanding them down but new one were created. Finaly after doing the math on the bumper capacity i realzied it's wasn't going to be much at all and this wasn't worth my time :miff:
I never had to worry about draining it when I was done with a ride :stan:
I only turned the compressor on when I needed it anyway. I had less than 2 gal capacity but it still made me able to seat a bead which is harder to do without a tank IMO
That seems like it would just run out. even if you kept it filled, if you had to use it a bunch, once it's gone, it's gone. and then you have to get it refilled.
A compressor seems like a more permanent modification, with very little investment afterwards.
Like fr3d said, if you have a little pin hole, so what. Compressor and a tank, even if it is only 2 or 3 gallons will run an impact, or fill a tire faster than just a compressor, or any range of other air tools. Plus, if it does not leak, you can hook up air horns, use it for ARB air lockers, etc. If it does have a little hole, only run the compressor when you need air.
As for all the comments about it being hard to seal a bumper, no, its not. Maybe I am a better welder than 99% of you, but I have never found it very difficult to seal up a bumper. Fr3d did his with a 110v Flux core mig welder, a few other guys I know have done it with arc (stick) welders. I have a Milermatic 210, run .035 wire and use 25/75 argon/co2 mix and have no problems sealing up stuff. Just my .02
As for all the comments about it being hard to seal a bumper, no, its not. Maybe I am a better welder than 99% of you, but I have never found it very difficult to seal up a bumper. Fr3d did his with a 110v Flux core mig welder, a few other guys I know have done it with arc (stick) welders. I have a Milermatic 210, run .035 wire and use 25/75 argon/co2 mix and have no problems sealing up stuff. Just my .02
and about 300 bux poorer <(is that even a word?)
I like the idea of running a compressor better if i could get one of those tanks for free Im there !! but i dont see paying the money they cost.. id rather have a unlimited source of air with me..
The way to bypass the $300.................find somebody who can get you a CO2 tank they use for soda machines :thumbsup:.....add a $30 regulator and a hose........(like Taco Bell) good to go.
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