Exploring the Outback
The Outback Air System
Dr. Steven Snyder

Have you ever had a job to do around the house or garage and you really wished you had an air compressor to make the task a little easier? Unfortunately air compressors can be pretty expensive, bulky, and even some of the smaller inexpensive units pull enough electricity to pop the circuit breaker in many homes and apartments. There is now a solution for the weekend warrior who occasionally needs an extended supply of compressed air.

Let me introduce you to the Outback Air system. The Outback Air system is NOT compressed air at all. It's actually liquid CO2. Carbon Dioxide gas is as harmless and safe as compressed air. CO2 is non-corrosive and, more importantly, non-flammable. The Outback system was originally designed for off-road enthusiasts to carry in their Jeeps. The intended use of the system is to air-up flat tires and run air-powered tools to quickly make trail repairs to their vehicles.

Normally, I would have simply aired her tires back up but I had a thought…of course, this frightened my wife. I asked her to get the Outback out of the garage, attach the hose and explained that she'd be able to fill the tires herself. Being a good sport, she donned a pair of gloves, got out the Outback, hose, and pressure gauge and starting airing up her lame Suburban. I, of course, stood around and took pictures while timing her (she was only slightly amused). From beginning to end, it took my wife less than six minutes to get out the Outback, connect the hose, fill two tires from 0 psi to 33 psi and put the tank away. I thought that was pretty amazing. I'm seriously considering adding the Outback to my list of things to take on every road trip.

More Testing
To further test the CO2 system I decided to move indoors. I already own a large garage compressor and several pneumatic tools including a finishing nailer. In the past, I have had to unplug my large compressor, drag it to the backdoor and run a long hose from the tank to whatever room in the house I was working in. With the Outback Air system I simply picked up the CO2 cylinder and carried the entire unit into the room where I was working. I plugged the pneumatic nailer into the Outback's coiled hose and went to work. No problem. When I was finished nailing I attached the blower attachment to the end of the hose and cleaned up my mess. Again, no problem.

Future Testing
Another job I have in store for the Outback system is to clean the drain hose from the drip-pan on my HVAC (air conditioner) located in my attic. Several years ago our AC quit working so we called a service company to come and fix the problem. Fortunately, the only problem was a clogged drain which caused a float-switch to kill the compressor until the water was cleared from the drip pan. The service technician simply took a small tank of compressed air and blew out the drain line. The 15 minute ‘repair' resulted in an $80 service call. I plan to take the Outback up in my attic every spring to clean the drain line and make this part of my annual home maintenance ritual.

• The Outback System comes with the following items:
• 10 pound aluminum CO2 tank
• Heavy duty integrated tank handle
• Built-in safety pressure relief valve
• 150 psi static regulator
• Professional quality 20 foot polyurethane coil hose.
• (Swivel connection supply end – fixed tool end)
• All brass couplers/connectors
• Air chuck included

Filling the Tank
Most welding supply shops or fire extinguisher service/supply shops can fill the tank. You can also check with local beverage service companies. Some vendors will fill the tank while you wait and others will ask you to leave it to be filled. I took my tank to a local fire extinguisher service/supply store and left it with them overnight. According to the manufacturer, filling costs range anywhere from $8 to $14 depending on where you go. I spent a little more than this but you should shop around to find the best price.

Conclusion
The Outback is an excellent blend of good looks, power, ease of use, and cost whether you are a weekend do-it-yourself warrior or avid off-road enthusiast. As with most tools, the Outback is not flawless. This type of system has pros and cons and it may not be for everyone.

Pros:
The Outback is less expensive than many garage compressors. Since there is no motor to compress air it is virtually silent – only the sound of escaping gas (and whatever tool you are using). The entire unit is small and lightweight, weighing in at approximately 25 pounds with a full charge (~13 pounds empty). Its size and weight make it extremely portable.

Cons:
The biggest disadvantage of the Outback system is its limited ‘air' supply. Once the tank is empty you will have to pay to have it filled. Under heavy use (large air tools) the regulator can partially ‘freeze' temporarily restricting air flow.

Check out the Outback web page at http://www.outbackequipped.com . They have additional information regarding other accessories, places to have your tank filled, recommendations on mounting your tank, and safety precautions anyone with a high pressure tank should be aware of.