I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

There are multiple sizes and multiple types. I seen many poor quality
couplers of the same size and type fail to couple because they are simply
outside the allowable tolerances.

"Barry S." wrote in message
...
I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with
'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

Barry S.wrote: (clip) Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible
with each other?
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Isn't that a pain? It's not so much that they are different sizes, as
different patterns. When I know I'm going to buy quick connects, I always
bring along one of the males. The females look pretty much alike, but it
you hold up the different males next to each other, you will find (probably)
three different patterns. And, no, they are not interchangeable.

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 00:42:56 GMT, "tomcas"
wrote:

There are multiple sizes and multiple types. I seen many poor quality
couplers of the same size and type fail to couple because they are simply
outside the allowable tolerances.

Is there a semi-universal "standard" size or style for say typical for
a 1/2" impact wrench or automotive application. Auto mechanics move
from shop to shop and take their tools with them. It seems like it
would be really problematic is they couldn't "plug them in".


"Barry S." wrote in message
.. .
I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with
'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4


__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

In article ,
Barry S. wrote:

I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with
'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

Speaking of cheap couplers... when I was a kid, I 'busted tires' at the
local Sears auto center.

They had 4 tire racks, with 2 huge hose reel's over them on the
ceiling... maybe 20' off the floor.

Those couplers were always a mess, racks were lowered on them, they were
driven over, used to fill tires (without a chuck) and on and on.

One day, they put on new cheap female couplers, from where I don't know.
After a week or so they were worse than the old ones, all bent up and
leaking. Then someone popped an impact off one, and the female coupler
didn't close. Of course there was 4 customer's cars, and 4 or 5 people
within range of that flailing (175 psi iirc) line, yours truly included.
I was lucky, and didn't get hit, but 2 others ended up with some nasty
welts, it could have been much worse. All 4 cars took a good beating,
lots of broken glass and body dings, before one 'hit' knocked the
coupler closed. None of the customers were amused.

To this day,I only buy good couplers, and I don't un-couple air lines
unless I have a firm grip on the female end.

Erik

"Barry S." wrote in message
...
I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

Go to http://www.mcmaster.com and bring up page 230.

1/4" "Industrial" is the generic size and style you find at HF, home depot
etc. most common for construction trades and homeowner tools. Lot of
construction folks also use the 3/8" size, looks the same just larger.
Also comes in 1/2" and larger.

"Automotive" / ARO is the other common style that looks similar but does not
interchange. Also comes in different sizes.

There's a bunch more used for air lines, but you're unlikely to find them at
mass-market retail.

One reason for the different styles is to segregate air sources and
equipment e.g. clean dry air, oiled air, breathing air et. al. as the
consequences of a mix-up could be quite high.

In article , Erik says...

To this day,I only buy good couplers, and I don't un-couple air lines
unless I have a firm grip on the female end.

As you say, a loose hose like that can whip somebody very
badly. I know somebody who was done that way with a high
pressure nitrogen line. After that they always used the
wire basket restraint.

Jim

==================================================
please reply to:
JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 02:34:32 GMT, Erik wrote:

To this day,I only buy good couplers, and I don't un-couple air lines
unless I have a firm grip on the female end.

Erik

This might help the OP

http://www.watercop.com/quick.asp

Gunner

"To be civilized is to restrain the ability to commit mayhem.
To be incapable of committing mayhem is not the mark of the civilized,
merely the domesticated." - Trefor Thomas

On 13 Feb 2004 18:34:11 -0600, Barry S. wrote:

I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?
Toolbert gives a good explanation of the different series. As far as
quality - it's hard to beat Cejn. I was a distributor for them for
years and I think they make the finest coupling available - their web
site is http://www.cejn.com/ and if memory serves correctly the "310"
series is the industrial standard (with various sizes available). In
addition to sales, we also did tool repairs and used Cejn at our test
bench (and throughout the shop). These were coupled and uncoupled
literally hundreds of times each week and they lasted for years. We
ran over them with forklifts, stepped on them, dropped them and they
performed like the Energizer Bunny. They also make couplers with neat
features- they are "push to connect" meaning you don't need 3 hands to
connect them - the collar remains back until you push the male into
position and their "vented" line which holds the male and female
parts together until the pressure is reduced which eliminates the
"whip" when disconnected. They may be hard to find and a little more
expensive but how many do you have to buy? I have a couple on my home
compressor that have been on there for over 15 years so the cost per
year is mighty cheap - too cheap to fool with junk couplers.

Speaking of cheap couplers... when I was a kid, I 'busted tires' at the
local Sears auto center.

They had 4 tire racks, with 2 huge hose reel's over them on the
ceiling... maybe 20' off the floor.

Those couplers were always a mess, racks were lowered on them, they were
driven over, used to fill tires (without a chuck) and on and on.

One day, they put on new cheap female couplers, from where I don't know.
After a week or so they were worse than the old ones, all bent up and
leaking. Then someone popped an impact off one, and the female coupler
didn't close. Of course there was 4 customer's cars, and 4 or 5 people
within range of that flailing (175 psi iirc) line, snipped

Did they use 175psi on lug nuts?? that would explain why I had a hell of a
time getting those off by hand! (dont carry impact wrench and compressor in
my truck, although it would be handy!)
walt

In article ,
"wallsterr" wrote:

Speaking of cheap couplers... when I was a kid, I 'busted tires' at the
local Sears auto center.

They had 4 tire racks, with 2 huge hose reel's over them on the
ceiling... maybe 20' off the floor.

Those couplers were always a mess, racks were lowered on them, they were
driven over, used to fill tires (without a chuck) and on and on.

One day, they put on new cheap female couplers, from where I don't know.
After a week or so they were worse than the old ones, all bent up and
leaking. Then someone popped an impact off one, and the female coupler
didn't close. Of course there was 4 customer's cars, and 4 or 5 people
within range of that flailing (175 psi iirc) line, snipped

Did they use 175psi on lug nuts?? that would explain why I had a hell of a
time getting those off by hand! (dont carry impact wrench and compressor in
my truck, although it would be handy!)
walt

They sure did... busted/stripped lugs were a daily thing too. They had
1/2" drive, long anvil CP impacts, and as I recall, they were almost no
trouble, even though they looked as if they'd been used as rototiller
tines. Each one had a double ended 3/4 X 13/16" wheel lug socket on it,
the ones with the square drive in the middle (you just pull it off and
flip it over for the other size). The sockets were Snap On, and looked
to be many years old by the time I started, with no hint of ever once
having a black oxide finish on them. Think they did though.

Erik

On 13 Feb 2004 18:34:11 -0600, Barry S. brought
forth from the murky depths:

I was in Harbor Freight today and they were having some sort of huge
sale as it the line was so long I refused to stand in it. But they
had a couple of displays of quick couplers for air tools. I grabbed
a male and female and tried to stick them together. Wouldn't go.
Noticed they had a couple of different sized on the male side, but the
female side of the connection appeared to be the same size.

How does this work? I thought there was only one size for quick
connects. Are their multiple sizes and are some compatible with each
other?

In 1/4", there are two styles: Automotive and Industrial.
I used to use Automotive because I was in that field. Now
I use Industrial because more people use/stock them. I've
had no problem with the HF parts so far. (Light duty)

Automotive has the fat end, Industrial has a narrow flange
up from the end.


--
Impeach 'em ALL!
----------------------------------------------------
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Larry Jaques wrote:
... I've
had no problem with the HF parts so far. (Light duty)
....

The problem that I've had with HF couplers is their leaking. I buy
"universal" C-F couplers at HD for about what the leaky Industrial-only
cost at HF. The "universal" accept both ARO and Industrial. I use some
ARO plugs (it's a long story), so universal is an advantage.

I'm careful to buy solid brass couplers and plugs since I found rust
inside one of my couplers. If your air is really dry, this won't be a
problem for you.

Bob

On 15 Feb 2004 00:13:07 -0600, Barry S. brought
forth from the murky depths:

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 01:15:56 GMT, Larry Jaques
wrote:
In 1/4", there are two styles: Automotive and Industrial.
I used to use Automotive because I was in that field. Now
I use Industrial because more people use/stock them. I've
had no problem with the HF parts so far. (Light duty)

Do most auto shops use Automotive, Industrial, or both?

Yes. (I haven't worked in the automotive field since I hurt
my back in '86, but I see more and more of the industrial
style nowadays.)


Automotive has the fat end, Industrial has a narrow flange
up from the end.

Good to know, I'll have to take a closer look at 'em.

Check around your town and with your friends. If your friends
have one, get the other. Then they won't borrow your tools
as much. g



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Impeach 'em ALL!
----------------------------------------------------
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