Self-sealing Can Tap for R134?

[Vinny]

I need to recharge my car before summer hits. Its been a long time since I've done any AC work on a car. I dusted off everything and picked up a few cans of R134 at the auto shop to find that the cans have changed. My piercing tap doesn't work on these self sealing cans, so I need to get one. I don't see any that are made in the US, so I'm looking at a million different ones on Amazon and eBay with funny company names.
Can anyone recommend a brand/model that they use that works well?

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Recently had the same issue. Went to NAPA and got an adapter for the newer cans. $11.00 and some change. Good to go

 

[CoogarXR]

Recently had the same issue. Went to NAPA and got an adapter for the newer cans. $11.00 and some change. Good to go

I spotted one of those adapters in the "Clearance" aisle at WalMart for $2. I bought it just in case I'd ever need it. I've used it two times since, and it works just fine.

 

[man-a-fre]

Harbor freight sells one that works fine also.

 

[mikey03]

I picked one on Amazon that had real good reviews so idk the brand even. It punches a hole in the can idk how Hard it is to do that so if figure whatever is fine as long as it got good reviews

 

[Jeepster04]

Oddly enough, I've found that I lose more refrigerant since they 'upgraded' the can than I did before. If I dont use all of the can, a bunch comes out when Im unscrewing my hose before the cap seals back off...

 

[Firebrick43]

Oddly enough, I've found that I lose more refrigerant since they 'upgraded' the can than I did before. If I dont use all of the can, a bunch comes out when Im unscrewing my hose before the cap seals back off...

Then why unscrew the can from its valve until its empty?

It also doesn't make sense. If you removed the top piercing can taps before they were empty you lost everything out of the can.

I have never had a side pierce can tap not slowly leak so they were only good if one was recharging a system that needed multiple cans.

 

[Wine-o1]

Mastercool 85512 may be made here

 

[Vinny]

Mastercool 85512 may be made here

Made in China, but ended up going with it since it was the only brand name I recognized.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Get a side tap like this Robinair 10102.

 

[Hohn]

Harbor freight sells one that works fine also.

Mine failed on the 2nd use, so YMMV.

 

[man-a-fre]

Mine failed on the 2nd use, so YMMV.

I have charged 15 cans with mine and still works great, I must have got a good one ,not trying to mislead anyone but I am happy with mine.

 

[Firebrick43]

Get a side tap like this Robinair 10102.

I have that and its great if you are putting in 4 or 5 cans to recharge, but they don't seal well so that last partial can is likely to have leaked off by the time a DIY guy get to the next time something needs a little something.

 

[Vinny]

I stand corrected on the Mastercool can tap. Well, somewhat. No idea if all the parts are made in China and someone just screwed this all together, but it's not 100% "made in China" as some sites led me to believe.
Also, I flipping hate how fitting sizes are all over the place with HVAC stuff.