Compressor air fittings

[kevm14]

This is confusing.

Seems the most common now is the I/M (Industrial/Milton). And if you have 3/8" hose, you'll need a 1/4" NPT thread so that narrows things down. But airflow is a thing. Evidently Milton makes a V-style which is higher flow and I guess backwards compatible with I/M.

There is also Automotive. I don't yet know if that flows better but the connector sure is different. I would assume Automotive would be a good choice if an impact was on the list of things to run. Or maybe even higher flow items such as a HVLP paint gun.

[kevm14]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O2ZGQ6/re ... UTF8&psc=1

WOW thats what i was missing!
May 13, 2015
Size: Basic packVerified Purchase
I installed these plugs and almost immediately had to run here and write a review, all I can say is WOW!!!!!

My compressor is a 2015 harbor freight 21 gallon 2.5 hp one, which is generally considered to be a very decent unit. All my hoses and fittings were also HF, most from their "starter pack". Since day one I have suffered from lackluster tool performance, even when running 90psi tools at 120+ (which you should not do), everything always seemed underpowered from die grinders to needle scalers, the only thing that worked halfway decent was the blow nozzle.

It was so bad I was rethinking air tools in general, or ,maybe my compressor wasn't big enough, or my regulator was shot.... Then my fittings started leaking so bad it wouldn't run my new HF earthquake impact gun when they were leaked.

I installed these Milton v type (which seem like they have HUGE holes compared to the M type), same hoses, same regulator, just all new Milton couplings and... WOW WoW WOW! Suddenly I see why air tools are awesome. I am not exaggerating, most of my tools seem 2-3x more powerful, they don't even seem like the same tools!!! My HF earthquake impact used to barely work, it sounded sick and very slow like an old fishing boat, I thought it too was defective, NOPE, just bad fitting. No joke, it sounds like a high power impact now, it used to barely want to work, now you hit the trigger and the darn thing torques your hand around its got so much snot! My die grinder seems like it runs a solid 2 or 3 times faster also.

Seriously why has no one told me about these before? I'm sure the cheap HF components magnified my initial problems, but these seem to have rectified all issues I was having, plus they are leak free no matter how I twist or pressure the couplings. I'm buying another kit to outfit a few more tools.

[kevm14]

Wish I Had Switched Years Ago
June 22, 2014
Size: Basic packVerified Purchase
I heard about these when I was thinking of upgrading my home shop to a larger diameter fitting because I felt that I was being restricted by them. Supposedly these are the same diameter, but flow as well as the next size up. Well, call me sold. I got these in and then checked the hole against the M-Style connector and it is noticeably larger. Blew through a completed male/female coupling and it's noticeably easier to blow through the V-Style. Installed them on a number of tools checking their performance before and after and most seemed more powerful. Particularly the die grinder & impact. It's almost comical how fast my die grinder is now compared to before the connector change.

Another big selling point to me was the fact that you can still plug your old M-Style and T-Style fittings into the female receptacle. I did verify this with both styles. Most of them worked perfectly, but there was one that had a tendency to leak. But still, that was out of about 10 tries. So, I'm keeping the standard M-Style connectors on all of the equipment that doesn't require big air to work (staple gun, airbrush, finish nailer, etc.) so I don't feel like I'm throwing away all of my old connectors.

Since I'm the decision maker at our shop, I went ahead and converted over to these fittings as well. My mechanics were immediately asking me where to get some for their home shops.

I will say that I later found out that Harbor Freight carries a kit #68187 which is their version of this kit, but much cheaper. However, I have used enough Harbor Freight air fittings to know that they don't last more than a month in a shop before leaking like a sieve. I also don't think their kit is compatible with other style connectors. But at least there's an economy option.

For a visual comparison of the V-Style to the M-Style, do a Google search for "garagejournal 216005" and scroll to the bottom.

[kevm14]

Eh, ordered two of those Milton I/M V-style fitting kits. Maybe I should have gotten the automotive style but the flow rates seem to be about the same. The V-style does 74 scfm. I wish I could have gotten educated originally (i.e. "buy these, everyone uses these with impacts and die grinders and other stuff").

Idea is to get more flow from my compressor, not so much for inflating tires or blowing air but to allow me to actually buy and use air tools, or a spray gun (like for undercoating). The standard low flow I/M fittings I had could NOT support an impact which I found out many years ago.

[kevm14]

I checked the Tru-flate I/M fittings I bought at Ace. They are rated for 25 scfm. So...the V-style is like 74. Yeah.

[kevm14]

Installed. Look how big the air passage is compared to my old fittings!!

20190620_190245.jpg

Now I can totally run air tools.