common air quick connect (plug) styles
- Thread starter The Cobbler
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
This **** drives me nuts. No matter which one you use, any rented, new or borrowed tool will have the wrong one.
Our shop is standardized to the T style. For what that's worth--it's probably wrong.
Our shop is standardized to the T style. For what that's worth--it's probably wrong.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Select 1/4"-body coupler plugs: Milton designations.
Note the huge ID of the Milton "V"/Euro High-Flow coupler plug:
Select 3/8"-body coupler plugs compared to "V"/Euro High Flow:
For the record, Milton "M" couplers are also known as "Industrial Interchange" and are probably the most-common design. The Milton "T" (Tru-Flate) couplers are also known as "Automotive Interchange".
I have, over time, used pretty-much every design of coupler plug/couplers. At this point, all my own air tools have been switched-over to the V/Euro High Flow design in 1/4"-body. I have some larger hoses with 3/8"-body couplers for the 3/4" impact wrench, and adapters to go down to V/Euro High Flow from those 3/8-body couplers, though.
The pushbutton "PrevoS1" Prevost couplers are wonderful. Expensive, but wonderful. Take much less effort to push the coupler plug into the coupler, and the pushbutton "safety" release drops the pressure before the thing disconnects completely. The ones with the Green push-button are suitable for the V/Euro High Flow plugs. There are other styles with various color-coded buttons for easy ID.
Example:
Note the huge ID of the Milton "V"/Euro High-Flow coupler plug:
Select 3/8"-body coupler plugs compared to "V"/Euro High Flow:
For the record, Milton "M" couplers are also known as "Industrial Interchange" and are probably the most-common design. The Milton "T" (Tru-Flate) couplers are also known as "Automotive Interchange".
I have, over time, used pretty-much every design of coupler plug/couplers. At this point, all my own air tools have been switched-over to the V/Euro High Flow design in 1/4"-body. I have some larger hoses with 3/8"-body couplers for the 3/4" impact wrench, and adapters to go down to V/Euro High Flow from those 3/8-body couplers, though.
The pushbutton "PrevoS1" Prevost couplers are wonderful. Expensive, but wonderful. Take much less effort to push the coupler plug into the coupler, and the pushbutton "safety" release drops the pressure before the thing disconnects completely. The ones with the Green push-button are suitable for the V/Euro High Flow plugs. There are other styles with various color-coded buttons for easy ID.
Example:
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
I've moved most of my stuff to the Milton 5 in One's...They work with M, V, T, A and L style fittings. All metal and easy to use. They are available in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2".
I started out using the cheaper M or I/M as they are usually listed. They seem to be readily available and I have only wore a couple of them out over the years.
I'm not changing over to something else this late in the game.
I'm not changing over to something else this late in the game.
vavet
Well-known member
The worse thing is some of them will plug in, but air will not flow. I’m embarrassed to say how much time I spent troubleshooting the air, valves, and other devices before I discovered that, .
I used to have an assortment at home including adapters to go between. I switched everything to Milton Vvstyle a few years ago.
I used to have an assortment at home including adapters to go between. I switched everything to Milton Vvstyle a few years ago.
WWheeler
Well-known member
That's one reason why I LUV these Milton 5-In-One Universal Safety Couplers. Also because I like how they exhaust the air pressure first before you release instead of popping it off while under pressure and the hose goes wherever the hose wants until it's released it's stored energy.
Accepts all major interchanges: Industrial (M-Style A), High Flow (V-Style), Automotive (T-style), ARO (A-Style) & Lincoln (L-style)
Accepts all major interchanges: Industrial (M-Style A), High Flow (V-Style), Automotive (T-style), ARO (A-Style) & Lincoln (L-style)
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I use Aro A and I/M. I've got a pair of homemade adapters to swap back and forth between types.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Really depends on what you are doing. My only air use is nail guns, so improved flow over M won't matter.
Back in the 1970's I worked for a company that used 2 styles in the shop, basically the same except for the tip at the end was longer so that it wouldn't engage with the coupler of the other type (may have been A/AA). One style was used for hoses that utilized automatic inline Lubricators for tools such as pneumatic grinders and sanders, the other style was used for jobs such as spray painting or media blasting where oil contamination would be a problem. Air line drops around the shop had both type couplers, one with a lubricator and the other straight compressed air. It also kept hoses contaminated with oil from being used for clean air functions. The system worked pretty well unless someone swapped a fitting with the wrong one, yes there were some people couldn't tell the difference or just didn't care.
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All my plug fittings marked "T" are the size of the P style. Not sure how common that is.
SouthernIllinois
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2024
- Messages
- 1,679
Right out of high school I started in a higher end bodyshop. After a couple years as much as I liked bodywork, I decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life and I joined Uncle Sam’s School For Wayward Children (USN) and ended up staying 25+ years.
That bodyshop I worked at 37+ years ago used all L-Style fittings. No idea why, that’s just the way it was.
Now that I am retired am built my own hobby, bodyshop I went back to those L-Style fittings.
That bodyshop I worked at 37+ years ago used all L-Style fittings. No idea why, that’s just the way it was.
Now that I am retired am built my own hobby, bodyshop I went back to those L-Style fittings.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I've never seen these before. Is there an advantage to them?Right out of high school I started in a higher end bodyshop. After a couple years as much as I liked bodywork, I decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life and I joined Uncle Sam’s School For Wayward Children (USN) and ended up staying 25+ years.
That bodyshop I worked at 37+ years ago used all L-Style fittings. No idea why, that’s just the way it was.
Now that I am retired am built my own hobby, bodyshop I went back to those L-Style fittings.
Schurkey
Well-known member
You have Tru-Flate 3/8"-body fittings instead of the more-common 1/4"-body.
No doubt Lincoln thinks so. As I recall, they were one of the first designs for compressed air couplers/plugs. I worked with them early in my career.
My shop got converted to V/Euro High Flow, and all my air tools got more powerful.
yatg
Well-known member
nobody can borrow your tools
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I keep a stash of the RIGHT ones just for those occasions.
That and no one around here stocks the T style anymore.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Most common around here are the M and A style, but I've seen just about all of them at one time or another.....
scooby074
Well-known member
V's and M's are what ive always used, even at work.
Where I first worked, we used either A or M style. then the next place used L style, I hated them because the long end would break off and the air would squirt out. When I got a compressor at home, I used T style because they looked more heavy duty. I used to have adapters for the different styles. Then I used to bring my own hose reel with my own style coupler, When I got a 5in1 It didn't matter which end it had. There were ones before that, but they didn't do L style. I love the 5in 1 couplers.
Shoreline_
Well-known member
These are my favorite. Takes no effort to insert into the coupler. And its true no one will borrow your air tools.Right out of high school I started in a higher end bodyshop. After a couple years as much as I liked bodywork, I decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life and I joined Uncle Sam’s School For Wayward Children (USN) and ended up staying 25+ years.
That bodyshop I worked at 37+ years ago used all L-Style fittings. No idea why, that’s just the way it was.
Now that I am retired am built my own hobby, bodyshop I went back to those L-Style fittings.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
How long does it take to swap the plug out? A minute if you have to look for the compatible one?
OP
I'm an M user myself, but only good brand couplers will last. I also have repair washers for them so I can repair any leaks that may occur.
I got got a bunch of Milton T style couplers for free one time , I drilled them to fit M style plugs, they work great
I got got a bunch of Milton T style couplers for free one time , I drilled them to fit M style plugs, they work great
danielbuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2014
- Messages
- 925
milton V here. but I have a few short adapter hoses that I've made for when my neighbor and I borrow a tool occasionally. Or for a few tools that have a certain style of inlet that I didn't want to mess with.
I've always used the M style because they were cheap and easy to get and most cheap air tools usually come with them, if they come with any fitting.
Every shop I've ever worked in used the L style. It seems like pretty much every shop I've been in and paid attention used L style.
Every shop I've ever worked in used the L style. It seems like pretty much every shop I've been in and paid attention used L style.
That's part of why I finally moved from 3/8 T to V style... the M ******* fit the V couplers.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Pretty sure Industrial/M is most common
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The wrong one.
I bought a bag of fifty T-style plugs from Azon a while back. I think it was around $15. Why worry about what comes on a tool when it's seconds away from being what you need? You have a wrench right?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Whats wrong with M?
I also often swap connectors, but to get M swivels. That said, I can buy a tool or hose and plug it in as-is.
Why bother switching them when M is the most common?
Exactly.
Not enough flow for hungry tools.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Because I have maybe fifteen air chucks scattered around the brewery and they're all type T. A bag o' plugs is much cheaper than a bag o' sockets.
Why type T? because that was "right" thirty years ago on construction sites out here.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There's nothing better than hearing "because we're always done it this way"
Hohn
Well-known member
This. 5 in 1 couplers with Type V fittings. Done.