HF Merlin High Flow Couplers

[MrGiggles]

Anyone tried these?

I've had the Milton high flows, my last one unscrewed itself and blew its innards across the driveway, which is also what the first one did a few months ago.

https://m.harborfreight.com/4-piece-high-flow-aluminum-coupler-connector-kit-63546.html

 

[larry4406]

Interesting. The reviews on HF say they are also backwards compatible with non high flow couplers.

 

[Stedlin]

Interesting. The reviews on HF say they are also backwards compatible with non high flow couplers.

The Merlin coupler appears to be identical to the 4 couplers to the left of this picture.
These couplers only function properly with the European high flow plugs. They accept common M style plugs but tend to leak and don't open the valve all the way thus cutting off most of the air flow.

 

[GrayEngineer]

Go to Walmart and buy the Tru-Flate kit. It's $7.84 and is the same kit, just different color. It's a good kit, but I like my Stedlin fittings and couplers better.

 

[eschoendorff]

I just use 3/8 fittings. As for Milton vs Merlin... I bought a $40 inflator by Milton that leaked. Swapped it for a $15 Merlin and it’s been working fine. Go figure.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have always used the cheap HF couplers. I don't use them hard so I have no problems.

 

[MoonRise]

I have been replacing my air fittings with the gray/blue ones (#4 from the left in stedlin's picture). Found them at Advanced Auto for less than at Walmart.

Previously I had brass fittings (from various places). They were all starting to fail after just a few years use (home, not industrial! ).

So far, I like the high-flow ones. The female high-flow couplers will accept a brass/steel male fitting just fine, but the high-flow male fittings will only fit in a high-flow female coupler. I made up a short 5 ft whip with a high-flow male fitting and a 'standard' female coupler to use with the air tools that I haven't changed the fittings yet. The compressor has a high-flow female coupler on it.

As to the Harbor Freight Merlin version, no idea.

 

[PT Doc]

The Merlin coupler appears to be identical to the 4 couplers to the left of this picture.
These couplers only function properly with the European high flow plugs. They accept common M style plugs but tend to leak and don't open the valve all the way thus cutting off most of the air flow.

When you say most, how much do you mean?

 

[PT Doc]

Prevost Hi flow will sort you out.

 

[Stedlin]

When you say most, how much do you mean?

Judge for yourself. Too time consuming for me to test scientifically.


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[Stedlin]

Just because I'm curious I took apart the 4 high flow couplers sold by 4 different companies under their own brand.
They are as I suspected, identical. The only difference being material, anodizing color and collar design. Probably manufactured in the same overseas factory.

Any one want to bet on the Merlin being any different?

 

[mike5511]

There is more air flow thru the high flow coupler. Could it be you are getting just as much air thru your M fitting that you would get thru a normal M coupler?

 

[Jland]

I have the harbor freight milton coupler on my main hose and a hiflow ****** on my impact... all my nail guns, inflator, blow guns have the standard ******* of who lnow what manufacturer and the work fine in the merlin coupler.. no leaks

 

[Stedlin]

For the record the Stedlin QuickCoupler with full flow plug has virtually identical flow properties as high flow couplers and high flow plugs up to about 50 ft.³ per minute.

 

[RRich]

The Merlin set in the first post looks identical to the set Lowes has on clearance for about $4.