hangfirew8
Well-known member
A GuardAir air coupler (left), Milton V-Style (center), and a standard air coupler (right), with internal diameters (0.30", 0.28", 0.20" respectively).
Last year I solved all my air tool problems by switching from motor oil to air tool oil, and replacing standard HF and Lowe's air couplers with GuardAir High Flow couplers. GuardAir's are a bit pricey, converting one of the two air compressor outlets and a hose and several air tools came out to ~ $100, the female quick connects being the most expensive part.
Recently I ordered the Milton V style to see if they were the same. They appear to be compatible (they couple and uncouple OK but I haven't checked to see if they leak yet). I measured the internal diameter and they are both significantly larger than the standard, but the GuardAir is .02" larger. While this is not huge, remember that cylindrical volumes go up by a factor of 4 as size doubles.
What I haven't compared is the size of the air passage in the female side and/or airflow. What I found on the standard (M style?) connectors is that different brand female quick connects have very different flow impedence. Hopefully the GuardAir females have comparable larger flow as the males to justify their price. Both the GuardAir and the Milton are COO Taiwan, while the M style could have been from anywhere.
Last year I solved all my air tool problems by switching from motor oil to air tool oil, and replacing standard HF and Lowe's air couplers with GuardAir High Flow couplers. GuardAir's are a bit pricey, converting one of the two air compressor outlets and a hose and several air tools came out to ~ $100, the female quick connects being the most expensive part.
Recently I ordered the Milton V style to see if they were the same. They appear to be compatible (they couple and uncouple OK but I haven't checked to see if they leak yet). I measured the internal diameter and they are both significantly larger than the standard, but the GuardAir is .02" larger. While this is not huge, remember that cylindrical volumes go up by a factor of 4 as size doubles.
What I haven't compared is the size of the air passage in the female side and/or airflow. What I found on the standard (M style?) connectors is that different brand female quick connects have very different flow impedence. Hopefully the GuardAir females have comparable larger flow as the males to justify their price. Both the GuardAir and the Milton are COO Taiwan, while the M style could have been from anywhere.