High flow air couplers

CRXPilot · Sep 11, 2015

When I worked in a local auto repair shop I bought a Mac awp050 to replace my dead Kobalt impact. Shop air ran it great of course. I wasn't aware of different air coupler types at the time and am still running cheapy harbor freight 1/4" stuff.

Now that I'm at home, semi pro and working with a tiny oilless compressor its noticeably slower. My question is will high flow fittings like Wilton v style get me any extra performance or will i need to move up to a bigger compressor to see any change?

lightning02 · Sep 12, 2015

I noticed a big difference when I changed everything over to high flow plugs and couplers from the junk I was using before that. But you also want to make sure your compressor is set so that the tool is seeing the psi it required at the tool when it's in use.

L.Cheapo · Sep 12, 2015

I was using 1/4" hose (USA) and HF couplers that I bought in a pinch. My IR impact struggled to take the lugnuts off my Ram 1500. Sometimes it couldn't. Anemic comes to mind.

Then I bought a 3/8" Flexzilla hose and Milton 1/4" Hi-Flo couplers and they changed my life. That same impact, with the same input PSI blasts those same lugnuts off instantaneously. Holding a Milton Hi-Flo next to the HF couplers is a very obvious difference. I'd say at least twice the size.

And if your HF couplers aren't leaking yet, they will. Or they'll jam and spray high pressure air when you don't want them to. Ask me how I know.

Edit: Its worth mentioning that you can likely still use your standard flow fittings with the Hi-Flo couplers. I kept the smaller fittings on the blow guns, etc. Also, when inserting a Milton Hi-Flow fitting into a Hi-Flo coupler...there's no need to retract the coupler. It just pushes in. No leaks. Very nice. Buy them.

uglyjacko · Sep 12, 2015

I use these, can't beat it for the price and performance factor

http://m.harborfreight.com/air-tool...e-series-coupler-and-plug-kit-4-pc-68187.html

sberry · Sep 12, 2015

It was the hose not the couple causing problems. or the OP, you were using a good air supply and changed. A better couper will not help that.

On-Wheel · Sep 12, 2015

Don't use 1/4 anything . Use 3/8 hose,3/8 fittings.Longer hose used more pressure needed.
With a 1oo foot hose you'll need 120 psi at regulator to get 90psi at gun.
50 footer ,maybe 105 to get 90 at gun.
Using 1/4 fittings you need more psi ,PERIOD
I heard cheap 3/8 hose now has 1/4 restrictions in fittings.About as lame as reading bar codes to see where food came from.Instead of saying where from not where it was packaged.
The vid I found shows in detail below,numbers above were guestimations.

Aerogt01 · Sep 12, 2015

Something nobody tends to think of -

I'm convinced the regulators on pancake and other jobsite compressors cannot keep up with a high intantaneous or especially continuous demand. I used to have an extra off a compressor. Those things are TINY. There is no way they flow well. This is supported by my experience with 3 different small portable compressors - HF, Porter Cable, and Ridgid.

I have been able to get an impact to work on a Porter Cable, but only get 200 ft/lbs max out of it and can't do a whole wheel before the compressor kicks in.

I would spring for a bigger compressor. I don't think fittings will help a bunch.

On-Wheel · Sep 12, 2015

Good explanation here.

firebox40dash5 · Sep 12, 2015

Aerogt01 said:
I'm convinced the regulators on pancake and other jobsite compressors cannot keep up with a high intantaneous or especially continuous demand.

I've posted yhe same theory here and several members insisted those tiny buggers could flow 80cfm no problem, and running air tools on full tank pressure would be the end of the world... oh well, I still agree with you.

I get surprising performance out of my 120v 20 gallon rollaround. Before I ever fired it up, I pulled all the plumbing from the tank, and upped the 1/4" stem to the pressure switch with a 3/8" tee, with a 3/8" shutoff valve straight to a 3/8" coupler. The pressure switch outlet got the factory 1/4" regulator, and matching valve and coupler, in case I want regulated pressure.

Milton V fittings definitely help, but only if there aren't other bottlenecks. Otherwise you're pretty much just exhausting the pressure in the hose faster. Take a look at what's between the tank and the hose and see if you need to free that up... it's a cheap try, and if you still end up wanting to go bigger, you can take the parts back off and use (most of) them on the next one.

Aerogt01 · Sep 13, 2015

While I may not be convinced to run my tools at tank pressure (or I have yet to find a nut rusty enough), I have considered a similar system with a true full-flow reg more than a handful of times.

90zcar · Sep 13, 2015

I get whatever the 1/4" fittings are off the snap on truck. I use a 60 gallon compressor and 3/8 flexzilla air hose....no problems here

Someone told me tho that the Milton high flow couplers work with the normal fittings that I have. If that's the case and I wouldn't have to convert everything over...I may look into this for my impact gun. Where/what is the cheapest way of obtaining these?

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404 · Sep 13, 2015

One fix for the flow problem is an extra tank between the gun, and the pressure regulator on the compressor. This extra tank will provide an unrestricted supply for short bursts. Will be more effective if the hose between the gun and new tank is short.

Might use a portable air tank, or an empty unused propane tank with a Tee for this purpose.

ovrrdrive · Sep 13, 2015

uglyjacko said:
I use these, can't beat it for the price and performance factor

http://m.harborfreight.com/air-tool...e-series-coupler-and-plug-kit-4-pc-68187.html

I use the same... No complaints.

I might need to look into some of the 1/2" line in the vid posted above though. Everything that runs on air runs better with higher flow rates.

dnschmidt · Sep 13, 2015

The cheapest source of Milton V's is JBtoolsales.com. The Milton V coupler will enable the use of the normal M and TruFlate stems but they leak. They work, but they leak. They are simply too small to fit the hole in the V coupler.

Don't get the idea that the V coupler and plugs will make up for an undersized compressor. That ain't going to happen.

toddacimer · Sep 13, 2015

uglyjacko said:
I use these, can't beat it for the price and performance factor

http://m.harborfreight.com/air-tool...e-series-coupler-and-plug-kit-4-pc-68187.html

I use the larger ID HF fittings as well. I have a few others fittings in the air system that I have bored out to the same ID as well. They work, but eventually the couplers begin to leak (about a year)

uglyjacko · Sep 13, 2015

toddacimer said:
I use the larger ID HF fittings as well. I have a few others fittings in the air system that I have bored out to the same ID as well. They work, but eventually the couplers begin to leak (about a year)

No leaks on mine after 8 months of using them, also I have compare them to the milton hi flo V, the HF has a bigger ID of .308 vs milton V ID of .275

Mikefromcny · Sep 13, 2015

Check out the Oetiker full flow fittings, pricey but they work great.

99LeCouch · Sep 13, 2015

Milton V-style couplers made my cheapy Craftsman composite 1/2" impact run noticeably better. Upgrading was cheap, about $20.

For whoever said to check the rest of the system for bottlenecks, that's one that will happen sometime this winter when I need a project to get out of the wife's hair.

hangfirew8 · Sep 14, 2015

CRXPilot said:
When I worked in a local auto repair shop I bought a Mac awp050 to replace my dead Kobalt impact. Shop air ran it great of course. I wasn't aware of different air coupler types at the time and am still running cheapy harbor freight 1/4" stuff.

Now that I'm at home, semi pro and working with a tiny oilless compressor its noticeably slower. My question is will high flow fittings like Wilton v style get me any extra performance or will i need to move up to a bigger compressor to see any change?

If you're running 1/4" hose, moving up to 3/8 hose (with 1/4" NPT fittings) will help.

If you have a constricted system, usually the quick connect is the main suspect, and high volume fittings will help. What you'll find is the tool will work well for a few moments and then your tank will need refilling and you'll wait. That is OK.

Here's a pic, I went with GuardAir High Flows, they are compatible with standard fittings such as the one seen in the pic. If I had to do it over again I'd go with Milton V's because they are cheaper and more than good enough.

On-Wheel said:
Don't use 1/4 anything . Use 3/8 hose,3/8 fittings.Longer hose used more pressure needed.

3/8 hose has 1/4" NPT fittings, which is more than OK for all air tools rated for 3/8" hose use, such as any 1/2" drive impact ever made.

ovrrdrive · Sep 14, 2015

Interesting pic... This is of the HF large connector and I measured it at .30" ID as well. The rusty one (bottom of the drawer) beside it is one of their run of the mill variety and I measured it at .18" ID. Their 1/4" x 3/8" connectors are a little more expensive but I think they're worth it. they're also compatible with the 1/4" x 3/8" connectors at HD and Lowes too as I've bought from all interchangeably.

I didn't price guardair but I bet they are quite a bit more.

90zcar · Sep 14, 2015

So those 2 different ends shown above can share the same coupler?

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ovrrdrive · Sep 14, 2015

The one's from HF can not. I should have specified more clearly.

hangfirew8 · Sep 14, 2015

I was impressed that a swivel nickled automotive male from Lowes worked in my GuardAir High Flow quick connect without leaking. That is about the extent of my compatibility testing.

-HF

uglyjacko · Sep 14, 2015

ovrrdrive said:
Interesting pic... This is of the HF large connector and I measured it at .30" ID as well. The rusty one (bottom of the drawer) beside it is one of their run of the mill variety and I measured it at .18" ID. Their 1/4" x 3/8" connectors are a little more expensive but I think they're worth it. they're also compatible with the 1/4" x 3/8" connectors at HD and Lowes too as I've bought from all interchangeably.

I didn't price guardair but I bet they are quite a bit more.

They're not expensive at all! They are the cheapest for hi flo 1/4 npt coupler set you can buy anywhere, the only other 1/4 npt coupler & plug that comes close to it in price & performance is milton hi flo V

RAYJAY · Sep 15, 2015

CRXPilot said:
When I worked in a local auto repair shop I bought a Mac awp050 to replace my dead Kobalt impact. Shop air ran it great of course. I wasn't aware of different air coupler types at the time and am still running cheapy harbor freight 1/4" stuff.

Now that I'm at home, semi pro and working with a tiny oilless compressor its noticeably slower. My question is will high flow fittings like Wilton v style get me any extra performance or will i need to move up to a bigger compressor to see any change?

your problem is in red ..... buy a real air compressor

90zcar · Sep 29, 2015

I want to get a clear answer on this. If I get this style coupler

And these *******

Will my original ******* work on the high flow couplers aswell?

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Olafur · Sep 29, 2015

Aerogt01 said:
Something nobody tends to think of -

I'm convinced the regulators on pancake and other jobsite compressors cannot keep up with a high intantaneous or especially continuous demand. I used to have an extra off a compressor. Those things are TINY. There is no way they flow well. This is supported by my experience with 3 different small portable compressors - HF, Porter Cable, and Ridgid.

I have been able to get an impact to work on a Porter Cable, but only get 200 ft/lbs max out of it and can't do a whole wheel before the compressor kicks in.

I would spring for a bigger compressor. I don't think fittings will help a bunch.

Agreed.
On smaller compressors the regulator is THE great bottleneck for airflow.

90zcar · Sep 29, 2015

Anyone?

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tshetter · Sep 29, 2015

90zcar said:
Anyone?

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Yes.

I use Milton Type-V high flow couplers on all my hoses and Milton fittings on my demanding tools.

My non-demanding tools are standard I/M fittings from Lowes and Harbor Freight.

The I/M plugs fit into the Milton Type-V couplers with no problem.

90zcar · Sep 30, 2015

Awesome!! Thank u very much. Now I can be at ease ordering some!

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lightning02 · Sep 30, 2015

90zcar said:
Awesome!! Thank u very much. Now I can be at ease ordering some!

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You can get them at northern tools as well. That's where I buy mine since it's only 5mins from my house.

90zcar · Sep 30, 2015

lightning02 said:
You can get them at tractor supply as well. That's where I buy mine since it's only 5mins from my house.

The Milton high flow style??

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lightning02 · Sep 30, 2015

90zcar said:
The Milton high flow style??

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Yes those. I meant northern tools. Both are next to each other so I get them mixed up lol

90zcar · Oct 8, 2015

Got them today from my local air supply store. Will test them tomorrow

Old vs new

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jptbay · Oct 9, 2015

These are my favorite hands down. http://www.ariatools.net/

Hi-flow, stainless, easy one hand use, and tough as nails. Drive over them with a transport truck and they just laugh.

90zcar · Oct 9, 2015

HOLY ****!!! that's all I got to say. I had the air compressor running and used my impact today. I'm not kidding when I say I just pulled the trigger and let it free spin and even felt a difference!! Wow. I am very satisfied with my purchase.

Also have to add that I can simply just push them into the coupler. I don't need to pull the sleeve back to install them. Also my old industry standard ******* that I have on everything else work perfect with the new couplers so I don't need to convert everything to the high flow *******.
Best $26 bucks I spent in awhile

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lightning02 · Oct 9, 2015

good to hear the high flows workout for you.

90zcar · Oct 9, 2015

lightning02 said:
good to hear the high flows workout for you.

Yeah thanks for your help

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sabercatt · Oct 9, 2015

i use prevost for the female side
http://www.prevostusa.com/SAFETY-QU...male-thread-coupler,us,c-c243-epc1000003.html

lightning02 · Oct 9, 2015

90zcar said:
Yeah thanks for your help

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No problem. Everyone that I recommend high flows to as felt the difference right off the bat like I did. I wish I found them sooner lol

High flow air couplers

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