Swivel on air tools and air lines

[_brian_]

Does anyone have recommendations for a swivel for use on an air tool at the connection to the air line?

It appears that the most common style is this:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61sKX+ibIyL._AC_SY355_.jpg

but I also read a fair amount of people saying they leak easily. Understanding that you need to take reviews with a few grains of salt, what are the thought of users here?

My use would be attaching to the air tool, then attaching a quick release to the other end. I am not using any leader or whip hoses at this time, I just want the added flexibility. I use 1/4 NPT adapters to attach to the tools with Auto (T/P) style 3/8 connection, like the Amflo CP5, with 3/8 air lines. I mention this because I am aware of plug ends with a built in swivel, but most I see do not use the 3/8 plug.

I am open to any ideas and suggestions. Aside from the bias to the 3/8 vs 1/4 plug and coupler I don't believe I am opposed to anything.

 

[bullnerd]

I have a few of the ones in the pic, from HF.

Does not work so well on certain tools though. The hose hanging down actually gets in the way or drags on whatever your working on.

 

[Elsinore13]

Try one of the Flexzilla swivel whip hoses. Put them on both of my mini ratchets and they work great. Ball type swivel and the hose itself is super flexible. Not having the air coupler right there at the tool helps keep things compact which just so happens to be the reason for mini ratchets...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2GPLYP/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've got this on my impacting air ratchet. The air hammers get lead-hoses, with stedlin quiet plugs to keep the POP noise down. Skip the stedlin swivels, they don't last very long before getting play in the joints, which makes them not bend properly.

All swivels will eventually leak, often they can be repaired with AC o-rings from a generic assortment kit.

 

[ToolPolisher]

Has everyone abandoned Stedlin? There was a lot of interest early on in the offerings. Some of the sales pitches may have been a little aggressive for some but I don't recall hearing any user feedback either positive or negative.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Has everyone abandoned Stedlin? There was a lot of interest early on in the offerings. Some of the sales pitches may have been a little aggressive for some but I don't recall hearing any user feedback either positive or negative.

The quiet plugs are great on my lead hoses, worth every penny. The flex with a built in plug died from use on my impacting air ratchet, the aluminum fitting just couldn't take it. The flex joint on my air chuck is wearing out, and becoming hard to move. Basically they get slop in the joints, which causes them to want to sit in a default position, limiting mobility.


Quiet plug - Thumbs up
Swivel fitting - Thumbs down

YMMV

 

[lis2323]

Swivels have been working fine for me. A drop of lube once a day for the tool most likely keeps the o rings from drying up. Plus they are CHEAP.

 

[jptbay]

http://ariatools-inc.com/product-category/swivels/

Stainless, high flow, and industrial duty.

 

[demarpaint]

Try one of the Flexzilla swivel whip hoses. Put them on both of my mini ratchets and they work great. Ball type swivel and the hose itself is super flexible. Not having the air coupler right there at the tool helps keep things compact which just so happens to be the reason for mini ratchets...

That's what I use, and they work great. It's a carry over from painting with an airless sprayer. Having the paint spray gun on a hose whip makes life easier.

 

[setfocus]

I've got a one of those flexzilla swivel whip hoses on the end of my air line. The line is a HD coiled pull down from the ceiling. Really thick, heavy, and not too flexible. The "stop" on it would also catch on the edge the grill when working under a hood

 

[sberry]

Some is ok,, personally dont use them. It's just extra stuff

 

[_brian_]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I have looked at the Flexzilla a few times, but honestly I always got the TV infomercial feeling due to the name and presentation. I will have another look as it seems they are generally liked.

It is also mentioned here that the u-joint style issue is with the o-ring, which can be lubricated and replaced if and when needed. Is the wear on this o-ring about the same as the o-ring inside of the quick release couplers? What is the best method in determining what o-ring is needed for replacement? Yes, you can remove the o-ring from the swivel or coupler to get the dimension, but where do you look for replacements?

 

[demarpaint]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I have looked at the Flexzilla a few times, but honestly I always got the TV infomercial feeling due to the name and presentation. I will have another look as it seems they are generally liked.

The Flexzilla hoses and whips are the real deal.

 

[MattT]

Yes, you can remove the o-ring from the swivel or coupler to get the dimension, but where do you look for replacements?

https://www.mcmaster.com/o-rings

 

[Elsinore13]

The Flexzilla hoses and whips are the real deal.

Yes they are. They have replaced 4 out of 5 hoses throughout my shop. I can tell you that the few remaining normal air hoses **** in comparison. Not many of the old school Milton brass couplers left either. Replacing them all with Wurth couplers. Simply just push the tool in and go. Pull back to release pressure then push forward to release tool.

 

[vanapplebomb]

I am a big fan of the block and barrel 360 style connectors. I use them on my compact 1/2 impact, air ratchets, and die grinders. Makes moving the tool around effortless, and also makes the air tools much more friendly than cordless tools in tight places. Everything else uses straight connectors.

 

[aczr2k]

The Stedlin orbitals and fittings are working great for my shop, not used everyday but have held up in a farm shop.

https://stedlin.com/

It wasn't his sales approach it was the fact that some complained about "selling" on here. Frank had a lot of good info and called it as he seen it, not much of sugar coater. If a guy was clucking about having to use a 1/2" fittings and hose to get the most air out of his 5 gallon oil less compressor he wasn't having any of it...LOL

 

[Elsinore13]

The Stedlin orbitals and fittings are working great for my shop, not used everyday but have held up in a farm shop.

https://stedlin.com/

It wasn't his sales approach it was the fact that some complained about "selling" on here. Frank had a lot of good info and called it as he seen it, not much of sugar coater. If a guy was clucking about having to use a 1/2" fittings and hose to get the most air out of his 5 gallon oil less compressor he wasn't having any of it...LOL

Those are some nice looking components! Never heard of them before.

That's some funny **** about the 5 gallon oilless...

 

[sberry]

I been at this a while. When I started this I figured I was gonna out do them all and use every fitting they ever invented, when wiring every connector, every box size. My last remodel injvolved removing as much as I added. Stuff I didn't use, took a bunch of connectors out of the welding loom that had kind of grew there.
The most popular air tools seem to float to the top.

 

[toplessHO]

Ive gone to the coilhose universal fittings with safety shut off.
Seems as tho any time I went to connect a tool it was the wrong type fitting.
Making matters worse was my son worked at a GM dealership that made them change all the fittings to that ridiculously long one.They could have just switched to the coilhose universal with shut off and eliminated that problem.

 

[faiee]

i use the ones in the op, work great. work out to about $3 a piece
bluepoint sell the exact same ones, rebranded and marked up by a big margin.
swivels great, haven't had any leaks yet

 

[thefoobag]

I have the ujoint style on all my air tools. Harbor freight has them for 4 dollars. when they start to leak replace the oring with a quality oring and they last forever. So far I have had all mine for 7 ish years. Beats the 35 dollar tool truck cost seeing as i have 8 die grinders at work alone.

I have only had to change 2 or 3 orings as well and that is from really torquing trying to get a gun or ratchet into a tight spot then pulling on the hose with the fitting likely pinching the oring. Abuse for sure.

 

[Firebrick43]

i use the ones in the op, work great. work out to about $3 a piece
bluepoint sell the exact same ones, rebranded and marked up by a big margin.
swivels great, haven't had any leaks yet

We use the blue point ones at work. Maybe 1 in 3 tools have them and we have maybe 2000 air tools give or take in use and like faiee we don’t have much issues. They hire a guy once a month to walk the plant and identify air leaks and it’s rare for them to identify the swivel. More often the tools with whips have leaks.

As to preferring a whip or a swivel it depends on the tool. A die grinder or scribe gets a whip in my box, everything else a swivel except an impact which is just a coupling. Air impacts are slowly disappearing due to the one key Milwaukee fuels

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have one in my stubby 3/8 impacting air ratchet because I need it to get in tight places but other than that I usually don’t use them.

 

[Mr_B]

i use the ones in the op, work great. work out to about $3 a piece
bluepoint sell the exact same ones, rebranded and marked up by a big margin.
swivels great, haven't had any leaks yet

Yeh I use these too, had big brands and HF ones and HF ones do just as good, use daily in my shop and replace or fit new seals as needed .
Love them on my nano impact wrench and reactionless impact ratchet .
They so cheap, flow decent, minimal length and decent movement range it a no brainer .

 

[^&right]

I've put these in the ends of my air lines with zero problems. They don't leak (so far). If you have your own shop I don't understand putting one on every tool, just on the line. I also use Milton V style quick couplers and high flow males. VERY, VERY happy with the performance of my pneumatic tools. Its night and day. Buy the males in a 25 count box and get them on everything you have. Put the quick connects on the ends of these swivels.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DCHQ93F/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Laminar]

There are 7 types of air tool swivels that I know of and have used.

1. swivels that don't pivot
2. pivots that don't swivel freely under pressure
3. swivels that have a fixed angular offset.
4. swivels that don't freely swivel or pivot when pressurized
5. swivels that lock up at certain positions. (gimble lock)
6. swivels that lock up at certain positions and rapidly jump when
passing the lock up position.
7. Stedlin double ball joint swivel (Orbital)

 

[aczr2k]

Stedlins are on sale until the end of March, great time to try something new.

 

[Laminar]

Stedlins are on sale until the end of March, great time to try something new.

I don't see anything about a sale on their website.

 

[Mr_B]

I've put these in the ends of my air lines with zero problems. They don't leak (so far). If you have your own shop I don't understand putting one on every tool, just on the line. I also use Milton V style quick couplers and high flow males. VERY, VERY happy with the performance of my pneumatic tools. Its night and day. Buy the males in a 25 count box and get them on everything you have. Put the quick connects on the ends of these swivels.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DCHQ93F/?tag=atomicindus08-20

because mounting on tool makes fitting protrusion less

 

[Laminar]

Stedlins are on sale until the end of March, great time to try something new.

Finally found the magic word for 20 percent off.