Setting up an air powered garage...

[toolfan]

Noob here, got a coupla questions if you don't mind.

I'm a fairly young guy, and I've been building my tool collection since I set out on my own 10 years ago... anyways, just got my first air compressor a few weeks ago. Didn't f around, got a used 5 hp/80 gal Ingersoll-Rand. It's bad a, but now I have a couple of questions on what to outfit it with.

first, I've been having a hell of a time with quick disconnects. They usually don't fit, and I've been having to file/sand the male fitting to get it to work. Is that normal? Should I be buying them in sets or something?

second, looking to get an impact wrench for various automotive and motorcycle related jobs. 1/2" sounds good, but should I get a 3/8" as well? Would a 3/8" handle most of my jobs and a 1/2" do just the big stuff?

Eventually, I'm going to plumb hard lines, but that'll probably be my next garage, so that's a topic for later.

Thanks in advance.

 

[-lecroix-]

Quick connects shouldn't have to be filed or modified. What you probably have is several different "ends" (male & female) from different manufacturers. Make sure all of your "ends" are made by the same company and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[eschoendorff]

Quick connects shouldn't have to be filed or modified. What you probably have is several different "ends" (male & female) from different manufacturers. Make sure all of your "ends" are made by the same company and you shouldn't have any problems.

Yes... those bargain bin quick connects aren't always consistent. I changed to all automotive-type connectors and the problems seemed to go away.

 

[-lecroix-]

Parker Hannifin is my brand of choice. Be forewarned though, being industrial grade, they ain't cheap.

 

[MXtras]

Look on this board for a recent thread about disconnects - everyone chimed in and provided good information.

Personally, I use Milton or Foster. Here's a link, Mr newbie:

http://www.toolparadise.com/pricelist/databasenp_34.html (Milton couplings – cheap and quick ship)

Oh - welcome to the board.

Scott

 

[TNToy]

Buy some Milton quick disconnects. Their price will be higher than home depot ones, but you won't be replacing it every six months, either. I've got one that's 10 years old that works great.

Plus, they're the push-connect style. Instead of holding the collar back while inserting the tool, you just stab it in there and it locks into place with a "click".

Never buy brass (gold) air fittings. If you drop the tool on the floor and it lands on the coupler, it'll snap off and the shrapnel and hose will fly all over the place. Done it twice. It's fun.

Impact gun: You waited until you could get a real compressor. Now do the same with the impact. Resist the urge to go buy one from Sears or Lowes, and watch eBay until you can find an IR 2135Ti or an Aircat Nitrocat at a price you can afford. They'll cost you over $100, but are well worth it. The $50 unit from the local store will beat helplessly on a frozen bolt that either of those will buzz right off effortlessly. You definitely get what you pay for.

Read this:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6118&highlight=nitrocat

EDIT:
Kartracer suggests an Ingersoll-Rand 231 below. That's also excellent advice. It's not as powerful as the polymer guns and not as light, but it will last the rest of your life. And it's still very strong.

 

[kartracer55]

Use Milton or Amflo, something name brand and make sure you buy a few of them from the same bin to hopefully make the consistent.

Start witha 1/2 gun and a set of metric impacts.

I would look at an IR 231 series gun. C or HA (avoid the 231G from lowes... its a downgraded model 100ftlbs less torque). I love my nitro cat, but honestly, I dont expect it to hold up as long as a traditional all steel and aluminum impact.

The 231 is an excellent all around gun, and they are serious workhorses. You can get them for about 120$. I prefer the HA to the C, because the HA uses a handle exhaust, the 231 C uses a front exhaust. The downfall of front exhuast is that you get a face full of brake dust when doing tire work.

 

[toolfreak]

I have been very happy with my IR 231c. I have had mine about 4 years and just replaced a gasket on it which only took about 10 minutes. Tooltopia has them for $108 with free shipping. Here is a link http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10046

 

[kartracer55]

I think that torque is under rated. Thats max working torque. The Actual max torqu is 600ftlbs, or so the box said on my friends. Its definetly a good gun

Jim

 

[kythri]

I had a similar problem with the quick-disconnect fittings I bought. I purchased a combination of I/M type "Industrial" (M = Milton, apparently) and T type "Automotive".

Funny thing was, some of one type fit with some of the other type, but it was by no means consistent.

I've got everything setup on I/M type fittings now - a combination of Campbell Hausfeld and whatever cheap ones Schuck's happened to have that day. They all work great together. The Campbell Hausfeld ones aren't brass, but the other stuff is. So far, I've noticed no issues at all.

I chose to standardize on the I/M type, as all of my father's air tools utilize that style, so when I end up having to borrow something, or have him bring his stuff over to the house and assist with a project, it all fits together.

Out of curiosity, is there any advantage to one particular style of fitting over another? I see there's also an A type (for "Aero") and a U type ("Universal").

I kind of figured that they were all pretty much equivalent, but that at some point, certain industries developed their own style, hence why we have the various types.

 

[eschoendorff]

I chose to standardize on the I/M type, as all of my father's air tools utilize that style, so when I end up having to borrow something, or have him bring his stuff over to the house and assist with a project, it all fits together.

Out of curiosity, is there any advantage to one particular style of fitting over another? I see there's also an A type (for "Aero") and a U type ("Universal").

I kind of figured that they were all pretty much equivalent, but that at some point, certain industries developed their own style, hence why we have the various types.

I have heard taht the universals will slip, but I use only the Automotive type and they work very well. No problems.

 

[bmwpower]

These may help:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6941

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2836

 

[SteveU]

I put Milton type V HVLP fittings on all my tools, higher airflow & all the power possible out of the tool. If it won't do it with one of these on it then it can't be done by that tool.

 

[toolfan]

Wow,
thanks for all the great responses.

Steel? over brass, huh?
Looks like I have some shopping around to do.
Thanks for the advice on the i-guns too, great to get some specific models to look for.
I'll look through the suggested links.
Again, thanks for the great responses.