AirShim Pro XL Inflatable Pry Bar and Leveling Tool that Holds up to 500 lbs.

Product pretty much does what it says it will - at least in my experience. Used it to level up my goat chateau, after building it in place. Bag expands to 3", and I only needed to bring it up around an inch and half. Normally would have dragged my wife out, to foot a pinch bar. Made of pressure-treated, I have no doubt it was approaching the 500-lbs stated capabilities of the bag. One of those items that you may not use very often, but could indeed find yourself very thankful that you had handy.

For years I have used a much smaller inflatable pry bar for things such as lifting dressers so that I could put cups under the legs, or breaking the seal of the feet of a washer against the floor so I could slide it out. It worked well, but I often needed to combine it with pieces of wood or other spacers to deal with larger gaps or thin lifting surfaces. This Airshim Pro XL model works much better for me. It is longer, inflates higher, and the material is sturdier so it doesn't tend to bend around the thing I am lifting. The inflation bulb is also more secure than on my older one. The lift is strong and I was able to raise my dryer without any add-ons. I am somewhat amused by the instructions saying that you are not supposed to use this to defeat locks. That hadn't occurred to me, but it makes me curious...

A new MUST HAVE for my toolbox! Amazing how often I need this now that I have it. The Air Shim Pro XL is a simple concept, but very well executed. It's not just a "blood pressure cuff" - it incorporates a thin, stiff polymer sheet which helps wedge it into tight spots. From there, squeezing the pump bulb precisely inflates the wedge to your needs. I shot a quick video showing how I used this to find out exactly how much I needed to adjust an office door that wouldn't catch properly, then show how I used it to mount a keyboard slide drawer under a table. When I was leveling the door, I realized how strong this air shim is: it took a lot of human force to lift an already-mounted door enough to catch, but the Air Shim did it with no difficulty. And it was easy to do with my foot while I focused on the door strike plate. Super handy when you don't have an assistant easily available. There are so many uses for this, I'm going to pick up a second one!

This airshim is very well constructed. The material is heavy duty and the seams are strong. The seamed side makes it easy to slide under tight spaces. As someone who lives alone, its very frustrating when I need another pair of hands just to hold something for 30 seconds during a DIY project. This shim saves me the trouble of rigging something up or calling someone over to help. Its great for hanging doors or leveling appliances or furniture. The pump works surprisingly well, even when the shim is under weight. Between the pumping and the air release button, you can get the exact height you need. Definitely recommended for any DIYer.

I have a 36 inch solid core fire door that is very heavy whose upper two hinges became loose to a point that I needed to remove them and insert match sticks into the holes and re-install them. With this air bag lift, I was able to lift it up by myself and hold it up and level it while putting the screws back in. After it was all installed, I found that some of the jamb was not square to the door anymore and this bag made it easy to push the jamb back where it needed to be while I moved the wedges.

I have been a builder and remodeler for 49 years. I often install windows and doors. And I often have jobs where I need to build and install cabinets. That’s where a “tool” like the CALCULATED INDUSTRIES AIRSHIM PRO XL INFLATABLE PRY BAR AND LEVELING TOOL THAT HOLDS UP TO 500 LBS comes in really handy. I also have the smaller version, but sometimes this one is the better choice. With either one, you are able to adjust a cabinet or window in very small and controlled increments to exactly set a component where it needs to be before fastening it permanently in place. An awesome addition to my tool arsenal!

I was concerned that this would be flimsy, but this is made out of really tough material, and, based on my testing, should last a very long time. I haven't tested it to anywhere near 500 lbs yet, but it is awesome for installing a door. It is so frustrating trying to hold a door high enough with the toe of your shoe to set the hinges, and this makes that job a piece of cake! It's small enough to just keep in a toolbox (but keep it away from sharp edges that could damage it), and just have available whenever you need a helping hand.

CALCULATED INDUSTRIES AIRSHIM PRO XL INFLATABLE PRY BAR AND LEVELING TOOL THAT HOLDS UP TO 500 LBS. I like using this as my extra hand; it stays in place so I have both hands free to shim things up instead of using one hand to hold a pry bar. I have not had this long enough to give it a thorough workout but I have tested using it on a computer desk and an entertainment center and it had no problems lifting them.

Excellent 2nd set of hands! Like some other's that bought this "blow up" shim tool, I totally agree, it's must have for the tool box! I was using it for hanging few doors inside a house, and when blown up to almost full blown, it did start to round out on edges, but just a little. It somewhat allowed one of my doors to start to walk a little bit, just a little. No problem for me, just pointing it out. And it's minor imho, def not any sort of deal breaker!! This air shim tool works ex for me! Especially when I don't have somebody to hold something that I need held for whatever reason! I love it. I've always used my shoe or a 5way or try to maneuver a pry bar to install doors, it's a pain most of time, believe me! For the things I do, this tool is a must have for me. I really needed this YEARS and years AGO! Wish the air pump hose was just a little longer. But again, not even close to deter me from purchasing again if I have to. In fact, I want that other sized one. They make a 200 lb capacity air shim. Home D sells it as well. I'm just thinking that personally, with all the things I do, two of these would allow me to do even more things without that dreaded need for a 2nd person! For these low prices, this one and the other sized one, well worth it! Can't beat it. All in all, if you're like me and do a lot of things alone, if you happen to work alone a lot at a regular job or just hate the times when you needed that 1 other person to "hold this or that up" or things like that, don't second guess this, go ahead and get you one, or both sizes. You wont regret, I know that much!

This is one of those tools that makes you kick yourself and wonder "Why didn't I own one of these years ago?" I think back to every time I was trying to balance a hammer, shims, a level, and a pry bar in my two hands (and sometimes feet!) and just shake my head. This tool gives you the convenience of not only achieving level of some difficult-to-hold item (I really wish I had this when installing the 250-lb sliding doors last spring), but it lets you hold level - hands free. Works just like a blood-pressure cuff - pump the bulb to inflate, push the button to deflate. The bladder seems to hold air, and it is quite heavy-duty. I'm not sure I want to use it on 500-lb loads all day long, but for doors, windows, cabinets - it's just what the doctor ordered.