I have read many different post related to air fitting size, 1/4 or 3/8. I have many home owners tools, nail guns etc that I have always used 1/4 on. For a weekend warrior do I have a need to switch to 3/8 fitting to spray paint? I watch videos where the "pro" that is instructing only has 1/4 on thier guns.
Air fittings
- Thread starter ffltstn
- Start date
Take a look at Milton V style, they flow a lot of air:
ColorFit by Milton HIGHFLOWPRO S-314VKIT Coupler & Plug Kit - (V-Style, Purple) - 1/4" NPT, (14-Piece) - - Amazon.com
ColorFit by Milton HIGHFLOWPRO S-314VKIT Coupler & Plug Kit - (V-Style, Purple) - 1/4" NPT, (14-Piece) - - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
I can tell you that changing over to milton hi flow fittings made a drastic improvement in my results. I dont think they are kidding when they claim a 70% greater flow than regular 1/4 fittings. And yes, I do use a regulator at the gun. I could not believe the improvement from this simple change. This was Barry's suggestion by the way.
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
I think the 3/8" term is kind of a misnomer. Ultimately your threads are going to be 1/4" male or female, because that's what thread size your hose is as well as all air tools.
Here are three different 1/4" air fittings. Left to right Milton "A", Milton "M" and Prevost High Flow. All have 1/4" threads. The "A" has the smallest opening, the "M" slightly larger. and the Prevost almost 2x as large. Nice thing about the Prevost the coupler is not really any larger (diameter) than the regular Milton couplers. I used A's and M's for years depending on what connections the shop I worked at had. I have switched everything over to the Prevost in my home Shop. Nice to have although honestly have not noticed much of a difference in how tools perform. Not something that I noticed a night and day difference. Have always used high flow fittings on my paint stuff. Sharpe, Devillbiss, another manufacturer that I can't think of the name atm and now Prevost.
Personally I would only use Milton or Prevost steel fittings. Brass fittings wear and if you are using them a lot you can expect to replace plugs anyways from 6 months to a year. Same with the couplers. I see aluminum fittings out there and I'm suspect of those as well. I would think wear would be an issue long term as well as if you drop a tool. Steel will last quite a long time under heavy usage. 5+ years at least. If you are doing this as a hobby more years than that. I would be suspect of the stuff you find at Harbor Freight and the box stores as well unless it was Milton. Tru-FLate is another brand that has been around a while but I have no experience with it.
Here are three different 1/4" air fittings. Left to right Milton "A", Milton "M" and Prevost High Flow. All have 1/4" threads. The "A" has the smallest opening, the "M" slightly larger. and the Prevost almost 2x as large. Nice thing about the Prevost the coupler is not really any larger (diameter) than the regular Milton couplers. I used A's and M's for years depending on what connections the shop I worked at had. I have switched everything over to the Prevost in my home Shop. Nice to have although honestly have not noticed much of a difference in how tools perform. Not something that I noticed a night and day difference. Have always used high flow fittings on my paint stuff. Sharpe, Devillbiss, another manufacturer that I can't think of the name atm and now Prevost.
Personally I would only use Milton or Prevost steel fittings. Brass fittings wear and if you are using them a lot you can expect to replace plugs anyways from 6 months to a year. Same with the couplers. I see aluminum fittings out there and I'm suspect of those as well. I would think wear would be an issue long term as well as if you drop a tool. Steel will last quite a long time under heavy usage. 5+ years at least. If you are doing this as a hobby more years than that. I would be suspect of the stuff you find at Harbor Freight and the box stores as well unless it was Milton. Tru-FLate is another brand that has been around a while but I have no experience with it.
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
But they are really high flow 1/4" because that is the thread size. All the common air tools we use and spray guns use a 1/4" threads, whether they are male or female. If someone had an actual 3/8"to 1/4" coupler that would mean they would need a 3/8" NPT thread hose. Most common size of hoses we use is 3/8" id but with 1/4" NPT threads on each end.
Only making a point of this because if someone is new and reading this and they go out and purchase actual 3/8" couplers and plugs they are not going to fit anything they have. Just trying to make that clear for anyone new to this.
Only making a point of this because if someone is new and reading this and they go out and purchase actual 3/8" couplers and plugs they are not going to fit anything they have. Just trying to make that clear for anyone new to this.
