Which air fittings do you prefer? Why?

Lu-Max · Jun 23, 2015

I am getting ready to start installing the air distribution system in my shop and I got to thinking that now would be a very good time to decide on one type of connector and go with all that type. Right now I have a mix of both, and it only makes sense to go with one type for standardization and ease of use with my various tools and hoses.

So, which type do you use (L or R from the photo below) and do you find that there is a significant difference in performance between the two? Do you find one to be significantly better than the other?

Thanks.

Axis · Jun 23, 2015

I use the one on the right. 1/4" I/M iirc. All the air lines at work are setup for them, so when I need to bring one of my tools home to use, I don't want to have to switch or use some rigged adapter hose thing.

lightning02 · Jun 23, 2015

i use Milton V-Style Hi-Flo for everything. Plugs and Couplers.

Finky198 · Jun 23, 2015

Left style

woody 73 · Jun 23, 2015

I use the one on the right for the last 20 some years.

They are the Milton brand which hold up well for many years.

383 240z · Jun 23, 2015

Left, my last shop had them, I set my home shop up the same way so I would not have to swap ends when I bring tools home. I prefer the Milton brand, only because I can get them easy, and they last. Keith

kythri · Jun 23, 2015

I just converted everything over to Milton V-style plugs and couplers a few weeks ago.

Tired of cheap leaky I/M stuff, and didn't want to try to figure out which were good (probably about half of them) and which were ****, so I just started over.

Boxed up the other stuff, someday I'll figure out what's what, salvage the good and bin the junk.

theamcaddict · Jun 23, 2015

Milton V style

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

warweapon762 · Jun 23, 2015

I'm running Universal (U) for all my female fittings since I like how the mechanism works in comparison to the other style. It also helps when a friend brings over an air tool to work on something or if I have to borrow a larger impact gun.

For male ends I run a mix but I'm slowly switching over to Automotive (T) fittings since they are a bit more robust and tend to work in the U-style a bit better. I've had some bad experience with the I/M style since they can be easily damaged in my opinion (I've had some get scrapped on the floor or kicked around on accident and then they develop a poor seal). I'm sure you can do the same with the T style, but they seem to be much more forgiving in this regard.

upstateny918 · Jun 23, 2015

Left, I have them on my own stuff, the last 3 shops, and my service truck all were set up that way.

From die grinders and air ratchets to 1" guns

firemanast · Jun 23, 2015

Right I have them on all my tools for at least 34 years.

geartow · Jun 23, 2015

Type I/ m because that is what work buys me.

Buckgnarly · Jun 23, 2015

Milton V for the high flow.

tarmy · Jun 23, 2015

View attachment 454289
I use these and would highly recommend. They are safety disconnects...the first press releases the tool a small amount but retains it while the air discharges...then press a second time( a second later basically) and it fully releases the tool...

Comes in either style depicted...but it is way safer...and my kids and wifey don't get the **** scared out of them filling toys and tires when they drop the air fill tool off the hose end...

Amazon has them for about 25 bucks...I bought one to try it...now on every connection point....

jrobb316 · Jun 23, 2015

Right. I also have a 1/2" hose with V couplers to run my 3/4" impact when I need it. Everything else IMO doesn't need that much air.

kythri · Jun 23, 2015

But it doesn't hurt it, and the parts are cheap.

The Cobbler · Jun 23, 2015

whatever you choose in the end, just to save yourself a lot of agrevation, use good quality couplers... the el china is going to leak... stick with good quality & you wont be disapointed

Rico. · Jun 24, 2015

I use these PCL 1/4" connectors for all my air tools. I think allot of them are off brand with a few genuine PCL ones.

I don't know if I've just been lucky or if there something inherently good about this style of fitting, but none of them leak, not even a tiny bit, and I've had them for years.

chris142 · Jun 24, 2015

Left. Never seen any other style in use here

kazlx · Jun 24, 2015

These are pretty awesome for the price. Just replaced all of my fittings with them. Way better than the **** generic ones I had been using. So far, leak free. Plus, they are push-in so you don't have to hold the collar open to push the fitting in. You just push them in and they lock automatically.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000B...on+coupler&dpPl=1&dpID=4199+EAMiWL&ref=plSrch

Shadowdog500 · Jun 24, 2015

I've been using the Milton A style (777) connector for decades.

Origionally got it because it was the connector used in the first shop I worked at. Most people pick thier connector for this reason.

I still use them because I like that I can just shove the coupling halves together without having to hold the outer sleeve back. I also like the fact that they are still working just fine after 30 years of use.

Chris

tarbellb · Jun 24, 2015

Milton will always garnish a lot of love because they build a good product. Some things I believe have been outsourced but the majority is still USA made.

Do yourself a favor and also look at Coilhose products, they are great. USA made and seem to be putting in more R&D to their product line then Milton lately.

As for actual coupler style, theres two methodologies out there:

1) get what everybody has so you can swap..... or

2) get what nobody else has so you dont have to share

Lwel9226 · Jun 24, 2015

The Left style.... When I was younger I changed fittings to conform to my "new" shop every time I changed jobs. When I went to a shop that used the one on the left, my tool supplier told me that was the most popular one he sold, I have not changed since, in over 40 years... Now if I go to a shop that uses something different, I make an adapter to mate my stuff to theirs.

Lynn W

sberry · Jun 24, 2015

Lots of preference. If I was doing it again would look at newer models for ease and safety disconnect.
I am going to back track a second here and mention design. We see a lot of air systems here, worst to best and some in between. Many look great but often have some issues, many are convoluted, most of it is simply excessive but I have been down this road a while, been down it with safety engineers and the last one noticed it immediately when he was by here is the air.
More is not always better but the ideal is a coupler at the end of a fixed hose or hose reel where the operator is disciplined to hook on live air only at the tool, same for disconnect.
There are no hydrants for them to chose from, no sections of hose to move from one to another.
A guy doesn't need 8 or 10 outlets in a 2 car garage,,, a few in the welding area and a few in the machine area and a few in the auto area,,, I have actually heard this for an 18x20 garage.
Air is more similar to water in distribution than electric, you have a hose bib and a sink and not a hose bib every 4 ft. In a 30x40 a fixed whip or 2 and a 50 ft reel is a starting point and another source per additional 1000 sq ft not counting fixed equipment and on occasion is as easy to hook a hose for something occasional.

sberry · Jun 24, 2015

We had one recently bought 6 regulators for a 24x24 and was pricing them to get the best deal. This is a single regulator job for the most part, doesn't mean you cant tailor as you go but tossing equipment at it is just as much of a problem, we will be hearing about 6 leaks.
Same for couplings. 2 is easy to deal with and cheap, 6 or 8 cost a loot and a guy will find himself using 1 or 2 90%. A guy can afford a couple decent ones and get a box or 2 of plugs (male parts) for the tools. Count your tools and buy 2 x as many so you have a couple on hand for new tools or making adapters. Leave the boxes of couplings on the shelf in the store for the most part, I do keep a couple spares to make up special fittings.

Spudland_Dave · Jun 24, 2015

I'm bucking the trend...when doing the shop up I decided to pull the trigger on a hi-flow system. I decided on the Parker RF System, which is interchangeable with Prevost, CEJN, Rectus, etc "High Flow Euro Standard" they also interchange with the Hi-Flow ones sold at Home Depot, and looking at pics, I BELIEVE they also interchange with the Milton V's, but haven't confirmed for certain....LOVE Those couplers with a passion.

People knock I/M as leaky...they can be..the real problem here is there are available in many materials in countless brands and qualities. The good news here is you're never stuck and they are dirt cheap. The Bad news is because they are manufactured to virtually "no standard" quality is all over the place.
IF you go with I/M style, resist the temptation to buy cheap fittings and you'll be leak free... True Milton/Parker/Etc branded high end couplers & ******* will be much more expensive, but will provide a nice user experience.

kythri · Jun 24, 2015

Spudland_Dave said:
People knock I/M as leaky...they can be..the real problem here is there are available in many materials in countless brands and qualities. The good news here is you're never stuck and they are dirt cheap. The Bad news is because they are manufactured to virtually "no standard" quality is all over the place.
IF you go with I/M style, resist the temptation to buy cheap fittings and you'll be leak free... True Milton/Parker/Etc branded high end couplers & ******* will be much more expensive, but will provide a nice user experience.

Oh, I/M is great. The initial ones I purchased (Campbell-Hausfeld brand, I believe), when I bought my first little 5-gallon compressor years and years and years ago? Zero issue with those.

It was, like you said, the cheap, low-quality ones that I have purchased a number of places (including HF).

I will say, though, that's the beauty of the Milton V's - you can use I/M plugs on the V couplers.

I really didn't have an issue with the I/M style itself, it was more the cheap plugs/couplers (and probably more the couplers than the plugs) that made me decide to wholesale replace them, and the V stuff was comparable in price.

Sticky Grips · Jun 24, 2015

The unit on the left is often referred to as an Milton T, or simply "Automotive Interchange"

The unit on the right is a Milton M, or simply "Industrial Interchange"

Depending upon what region of the country you're in, is mostly what you'll find as far as interchanges. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for one being chosen over the other.

Both units will flow about the same, but the automotive interchange seals on the face of the fitting rather than along the barrel/shaft like the Industrial. Both sealing surfaces can be damaged, especially if the units are made of soft material like brass or aluminum, even steel that isn't heat treated correctly.

Once the plug is damaged, it usually ends up damaging the seal inside the coupler, which results in that annoying hiss.

I run industrial interchanges at home, mainly because it is what was run by my father when we were swapping tools back and forth.

I'll probably change to a Euro/Hi-Flow/V series interchange at some point in the future, but my tools run fine the way they are now.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's a unit of decent quality. I'm partial to Coilhose, but truth be told....I also work for them.

Spudland_Dave · Jun 24, 2015

kythri said:
I will say, though, that's the beauty of the Milton V's - you can use I/M plugs on the V couplers.

This is what leads me to believe the V-Series fits the Parker RF...Milton doesn't list any interchange info on the V-Series (Not that I could find) and Parker or any other MFG does not list Milton-V as an interchange. I know the RF and others are all DN 7.2 spec fittings.

Sticky Grips said:
I run industrial interchanges at home, mainly because it is what was run by my father when we were swapping tools back and forth.

I'll probably change to a Euro/Hi-Flow/V series interchange at some point in the future, but my tools run fine the way they are now.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's a unit of decent quality. I'm partial to Coilhose, but truth be told....I also work for them.

Same here...I started with Industrial because Dad worked in a mill and that's what they used there, what he used home, what everyone around uses. I recently borrowed his IR 251 and swapped out the I/M fitting out for a RF-Euro fitting, he's been wondering what all the hoopla was about but I suspect he'll switch to Euro style too once he sees it.

I didn't even know Coilhose made a Euro fitting till your post.. :sad:

but in my defense, even the coilhose spec page lists shady info on interchange...there are multiple Euro styles, and I've never heard of Megaflow until today.. Thanks for the heads up!
http://coilhose.com/index.php/couplers-and-connectors/euro-megaflow-interchange/automatic-couplers/111.html

**Edit** You just made my day StickyGrips... I had a couple ball swivel ******* on select tools (paint gun for example) and I could not find a hi-flow Ball swivel anywhere...until Coilhose... http://coilhose.com/index.php/couplers-and-connectors/ball-swivel-connectors/11-04bs.html

dave89iroc · Jun 24, 2015

tarmstrong said:
View attachment 454289
I use these and would highly recommend. They are safety disconnects...the first press releases the tool a small amount but retains it while the air discharges...then press a second time( a second later basically) and it fully releases the tool...

Comes in either style depicted...but it is way safer...and my kids and wifey don't get the **** scared out of them filling toys and tires when they drop the air fill tool off the hose end...

Amazon has them for about 25 bucks...I bought one to try it...now on every connection point....

Don't let them hit the floor too much, they break in half, we used them at work

kythri · Jun 24, 2015

Spudland_Dave said:
This is what leads me to believe the V-Series fits the Parker RF...Milton doesn't list any interchange info on the V-Series (Not that I could find) and Parker or any other MFG does not list Milton-V as an interchange. I know the RF and others are all DN 7.2 spec fittings.

Yeah, the only interchange information I've seen is on the Milton catalog page for the V stuff, where they say that the V couplers will support M and A style plugs.

sberry · Jun 24, 2015

As a side note, just because all this blends together. Piping in general I guess. We see a lot of confusion as to "why" a lot. We size air to 3/4 mains when most of the time it is pretty much or close to totally irrelevant especially with 2 stage use both up and down. 3/8 175 air in to a reg would supply 1/2 out at a lower working pressure just fine. With 1/2 in and 1/2 out there is almost no line loss in the primary, only minor in the 1/2 secondary and almost exclusively in the hose and some minor losses in connections.
I do see a lot of fuss over the efficiency of fittings, often a simple way to cut it in half and prevent a leak is screw the hose direct vs using a connector on each end which is really the way is should be anyway.

rlitman · Jun 24, 2015

warweapon762 said:
I'm running Universal (U) for all my female fittings since I like how the mechanism works in comparison to the other style.

Me too. I use the "right" style "industrial" fittings, and they seem to seal better in the universal female couplers (the seal is of a different design in these). I too like that the universal is a push-in connector (push-in is also available in better industrial connectors, but is not the norm).

I've converted most of my tools to have male ball swivel fittings (a few where the hose engages at a weird angle have full double-swivel fittings). The swivel removes any off-angle pressure the fitting would have to take up, which really cuts down on hissing (and you don't feel the hose tugging on the tool as much either).

My DA sanders use around 16CFM, which is the highest air draw of any tool I have except for a 4-bolt rivet buster. The DA's (and everything else) run just fine on the 1/4" industrial fitting. The rivet buster has my only 3/8" QD in the shop (to heck with tiny, expensive and non-standard hi-flow fittings, when I need more air I'll just go bigger).

Sticky Grips said:
Both units will flow about the same, but the automotive interchange seals on the face of the fitting rather than along the barrel/shaft like the Industrial. Both sealing surfaces can be damaged, especially if the units are made of soft material like brass or aluminum, even steel that isn't heat treated correctly.

Once the plug is damaged, it usually ends up damaging the seal inside the coupler, which results in that annoying hiss.

Yep. Treat the male fittings with care. Keep them clean, and don't get them scuffed up. When they look rough, replace them. If you've got a situation where the disconnected male fitting cannot be kept off the ground, then get a protective cap for it.

When I install a new female coupler, I'll usually lubricate the seal with a dab of krytox o-ring lube on a microbrush. It mates up so much more smoothly after this.

ilovevocs · Jun 24, 2015

I have been very happy with my devilbiss high flow air fittings. Have not really explored other options; I bought them through my auto body jobber quite some time ago and have never used anything else.

Sticky Grips · Jun 24, 2015

I didn't even know Coilhose made a Euro fitting till your post.. but in my defense, even the coilhose spec page lists shady info on interchange...there are multiple Euro styles, and I've never heard of Megaflow until today.. Thanks for the heads up!
http://coilhose.com/index.php/couple...plers/111.html

**Edit** You just made my day StickyGrips... I had a couple ball swivel ******* on select tools (paint gun for example) and I could not find a hi-flow Ball swivel anywhere...until Coilhose... http://coilhose.com/index.php/couple...s/11-04bs.html

The website was a tough project to tackle. There are a lot of trade names, some of which get into funky legal area, so I have to be careful about what we call certain interchanges.

We make the ball swivels in-house..when you see what goes into them during production, you'll start to get a little discerning with your taste when compared to the big box store branded stuff. There is a difference.

I do see a lot of fuss over the efficiency of fittings, often a simple way to cut it in half and prevent a leak is screw the hose direct vs using a connector on each end which is really the way is should be anyway.

In some situations, that works very well. It doesn't complicate the situation at all...especially if you're only using one air tool.

If you do need to change from an impact, to an air ratchet, to a die grinder, then at the very minimum, just have the coupler at the working end of the hose. Direct thread the hose right to the drop in the wall or at the work bench.

Some people working in large shops or dealerships want to disconnect their hose and stow it away for security in their tool box though...i can't fault them after reading some stories posted here.

sberry · Jun 24, 2015

I use a fitting I wouldn't likely use today if I was starting over. Its a problem especially as everyone gets older and they are fussy. I brought what I saw from my perspective at the time and everyone wants to feel heavy duty,, as well as the fact anything else wasn't that much better and I could use same connector for it all.
A lot of things good for industrial not so good in other places. In a factory or construction type environment may hook the tool a single time in a day, in automotive and maintenance it can be constant. Blow gun, chuck, grinder sander body tools etc.
This is an upgrade I am considering, not for performance but ease. I could get the math down a lot by replacing the business end and leave a few service things or fixed stuff with the old connectors. Wouldn't need to replace items like a plasma or sand pot. The only reason they are there is a service disconnect, my tire machine has one but it wouldn't be a stretch to screw and clamp it.

sberry · Jun 24, 2015

If you do need to change from an impact, to an air ratchet, to a die grinder, then at the very minimum, just have the coupler at the working end of the hose. Direct thread the hose right to the drop in the wall or at the work bench.

Right, this.
Its a rare day I need to use an extension or move a hose, if we need it the thing is plumbed. I see a tire store with the college boy owner who paints the outside but the shop is dismal to the point there is a 100 ft hose across the whole building every day for water and since there is no hose or hydrant to reach the place they do a few tractor tires they bring a pickup around with off the engine comp, run a V* for hour and a half a time to fix a fukkin tire.
The plumbing would be free in a month as the added labor is astronomical in this place for a lack of basic plumbing. Its pathetic one can get an advance business degree, 15 yrs experience and never figure out how much not buying a few basic tools is costing, could have bought a second boat with the extra by going to HF on occasion.
They share a socket about half the time.

Lu-Max · Jul 2, 2015

After doing a bit more research I decided to give the Coilhose Megaflow couplings and connectors a try and I must say that so far I am quite impressed. They seal very tight (I have yet to hear a hiss), are easy to connect and disconnect, and the ball-swivels are awesome. I am not one who raves about something as innocuous as pneumatic connectors, but I am so happy with them that I have now swapped out 100% of my fittings with them and bought one of their hoses. I even made two short "adapter" hoses for those times when a buddy will bring a tool over with a different connector, this way he can quickly connect to my air setup without having to swap connectors. The airflow through these things is far better than what I was using before, my "floor sweeper" just about flew out of my hand the first time I pulled the trigger on it. I had to turn down the pressure before I could blow off the shop floor.

I also had a need to contact their customer service when I could not find one of the parts I wanted in stock anywhere. They really came through for me, found the parts and I was quickly up and running. Excellent!

Will post a shot of most of the Coilhose stuff I bought below.

FYI I do not work for or with Coilhose in any capacity.

Fluxion · Jul 2, 2015

I have Milton V on all my shop hardlines and a couple 3/8" hoses. My impact wrench, blast cabinet and air hammer are all that I have put type V male ends on, everything else is still type M.

L.Cheapo · Jul 2, 2015

lightning02 said:
i use Milton V-Style Hi-Flo for everything. Plugs and Couplers.

This.

I recently purchased Milton hi-flo couplers and flexzilla hoses. They've changed my life. :beer:

Which air fittings do you prefer? Why?

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