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help with air compressor connectors

rh71

rh71

No Lifer
I'm noobish with this stuff and not sure what fits but I've got a Porter Cable C2002 pancake compressor for the purposes of 1) blowing shit up and also to 2) winterize my sprinkler system. It comes with no connectors and that's what I'm looking to buy now. It specifies 1/4" fittings.

I purchased this air hose that has 1/4" fitting (I assume 3/8" is the diameter of the hose itself), but it comes with male ends on both sides. For one end, I already have a spray nozzle that fits. I need a connector for the other end to go into the compressor (quick connect) - can you link what's appropriate? The only thing I could easily find was this but unsure why "Type C automotive" and if it's universal.

For the sprinkler winterizing, the spigot out back has a male connector and a conventional size. What adapters do I need to have my hose (linked above) fit this?
 
I was hoping to avoid kits (since I have the nozzle and male quick connect already) but I guess it's cheap enough anyway... what about the sprinkler though? None of those look to fit it so I'm missing at least 1 piece.

Could you also educate me on when I would need the coupler?
 
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if you have a real hardware store nearby, take in what you have, what you want to do, and the folks there would be happy to take care of your needs with minimum parts and fuss. The individual part prices will be higher than home depot, but you will get nothing extra.
I think it is your best solution given the info you have provided. They know what they are doing with plumbing pieces.
 
OP, you want at least one "quick connect" kit as mentioned above. You also want other quick connector pieces for eacn tool you will use. You don't want to be unscrewing everything every time you use your compressor.

There's a reason why the hoses all have male connectors on each end....for you to put the quick connectors on...put a male quick connector on your compressor and each one of your tools, put a female quick connector on each end of your hose.
 
wabbitslayer said:
There's a reason why the hoses all have male connectors on each end....for you to put the quick connectors on...put a male quick connector on your compressor and each one of your tools, put a female quick connector on each end of your hose.
Click to expand...

That's opposite of the way my HarborFreight compressor came. It had a female on the compressor, and the hose has male(I installed). Dunno what "accepted practice" is, but it works for me.
 
If you put a male fitting on your compressor, you won't be able to disconnect the hose without it draining all the air. Hoses should have a male at the source and a female at the user end.

If this is hard for the OP, god help him if he discovers there is actually more than one type of 1/4" fitting. Type M is the most standard, which you will see at Harbor Freight. They leak like a beautiful being. I would generally advise Type C.
 
phucheneh said:
If you put a male fitting on your compressor, you won't be able to disconnect the hose without it draining all the air.
Click to expand...

Well, that's true. I was thinking in terms of how I am setup, but I have a cutoff coming right out of the compressor before the connector fitting. And if you have your hoses set up male/female, you can add in an extension if need be.

OTOH, OP has a small portable compressor with a six gallon tank, unlikely he would need to switch hoses, and if the tank does drain, so what?
 
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IIRC, there's 3 different types of connectors. Which sucks if you've had your tools for as long as I have and add new tools.
Finally had to buy a bunch of connectors and make them all the same.
 
Keep it simple, hose directly to compressor, HF connectors are junk, HD Husky slightly better. Put a female quick disconnect on the non compressor end of the hose, and use a male on each "tool".

Essential tools;
Air chuck to fill tires.
Various adapters for toys, basketball etc.
Blow off gun.

Any kind of wood project and a cheap 18 gauge nail/brad gun is very handy. You hold stuff together with one hand, and shoot a nail with the other.

Any kind of mechanical project and impact wrench and ratchet are very handy. Impact wrenches aren't just about torque, the work against the inertia of the item so you don't need counter hold against the torque which isn't possible for things like pulley bolts. Both tools are much faster than non powered versions.
 
All of the Type M connectors pretty much suck equally. High quality push-button hose ends are nice, but you're still at the mercy of the male ends.

The biggest issue is a lack of uniformity. I've actually swapped HF connectors in place of much pricier ones to fix leaks, just because some happen to play nicer with others, with no real rhyme or reason.

The Type C's never leak. Can't understand why anyone would use the other type, given the choice.

I'm not sure if I'm even using standard terminology- lots of different labels out there. Type M is the 'industrial' type seen everywhere. C is 'automotive' and is much less available. I doubt you'll see anything else on store shelves.
 
Foster auto couplings are nice.
Just push them one to connect!
Only need to pull the ring to disconnect.
Never had one leak and the shop air is 220 psi Quincy powered. :awe:

http://www.couplers.com

Air power is awesome. Keep your tools oiled, the air dry and a quality tool will last a lifetime.
 
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