Need help with air compressor hose / tools connections
Need help with air compressor hose / tools connections
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zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
So i've just ordered myself an SIP air compressor (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008M6Z266) and Ingersoll air hammer (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087T52TRJ).

I'm trying to find out what air hose i need with what connectors but i can't seem to find a straight answer. The hammer has a 1/4" NPT inlet and i believe the compressor uses a "Quick release euro type fitting" whatever that means. I've read i need a hose with a 10mm internal diameter but i have no idea what connections.

Does anyone have any idea what connector / couplers i would need to connect the two together?

Cheers

Decky_Q

2,085 posts

207 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
The connectors supplied are usually for the bin. Get yourself some pcl fitting as these are standard in the uk. Female on the compressor and male on the tools. A premade hose like bluebird has lifetime warranty so I'd get one of those, or get the pcl version.






https://www.screwfix.com/p/pcl-ac71cm-xf-male-coup...

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Decky_Q said:
The connectors supplied are usually for the bin. Get yourself some pcl fitting as these are standard in the uk. Female on the compressor and male on the tools. A premade hose like bluebird has lifetime warranty so I'd get one of those, or get the pcl version.






https://www.screwfix.com/p/pcl-ac71cm-xf-male-coup...
I spoke to the company that makes the compressor and apparently this: https://www.sipuk.co.uk/sip-04080-1-4in-bspt-sliml... is the one i need to connect the hose to the compressor. I need it quicker than they can send it so i think this is the same from screwfix: https://www.screwfix.com/p/pcl-standard-male-adapt... and would connect straight to this hose: https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-rubber-air-hose...

Looking at the Air hammer, it looks like it's a female connection as nothing is sticking out. I'm guessing something screws into the air hammer connection and sticks out which can then either be another screw connection that goes into the female 1/4" BSP end of the hose or one of those quick fit ones which would require another coupling to connect the hose end to the quick fit end, which is possibly the one you linked to?

Please correct me if i am wrong and if i'm right, what connection would i need that screws into the air hammer?

Cheers

Decky_Q

2,085 posts

207 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Yes that's all exactly what you need. Screwfix will have it all if you order online you can collect it all at once. PTFE tape on the treads when screwing them all together.

2 males, 2 females, and that hose will work well together.

Edited by Decky_Q on Monday 16th October 15:15

FMOB

1,994 posts

42 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
You may already have these but using air tools you will need..

Pressure regulator.
An oiler of some sort, best is the inline one that sits at the tool so you don't get oil in the airline. If oil is in the line you cannot spray anything because of the contamination.

Also check the CFM (cubic feet per minute) output of the compressor and the CFM demand of the air hammer, compressor > air hammer.

Compressor is 14 CFM but tool is 24 CFM, I suggest you wait for the receiver to be full before using the tool and expect to run out of air very frequently, also keep a check on the switch and the AC mains plug as you will cycle the compressor a lot these can get warm.

I melted the switch on a 3HP compressor using a plasma cutter, that is not covered by warranty.

Edited by FMOB on Monday 16th October 16:19

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Decky_Q said:
Yes that's all exactly what you need. Screwfix will have it all if you order online you can collect it all at once. PTFE tape on the treads when screwing them all together.

2 males, 2 females, and that hose will work well together.

Edited by Decky_Q on Monday 16th October 15:15
I did a bit more reading and apparently BSP threads cannot go onto NPT threads. The adaptors seem to be hard to find (none on amazon or screwfix which is odd) but i did manage to find one, pretty expensive for what it is but nevermind: https://pneumaticsdirect.co.uk/product/14-npt-x-14...

So i screw that onto the NPT connection on the air hammer, then screw one of these into it: https://www.screwfix.com/p/pcl-aa7102-xf-male-adap... which then goes into one of these, which then connects to the air hose: https://www.screwfix.com/p/pcl-ac71cm-xf-male-coup...

Have i got that right?

Cheers

FMOB said:
You may already have these but using air tools you will need..

Pressure regulator.
An oiler of some sort, best is the inline one that sits at the tool so you don't get oil in the airline. If oil is in the line you cannot spray anything because of the contamination.

Also check the CFM (cubic feet per minute) output of the compressor and the CFM demand of the air hammer, compressor > air hammer.
Oh no, more things i need to buy.

I thought the line already had oil in it due to oil in the compressor. So i need to buy an inline oiler? My current need (and reason i've spent like £600 now) is a bloody stuck pinch bolt, which everyone online says an air hammer should get out. Will i get away with one session of the air hammer without an oiler or is it something essential straight away?

Regarding the pressure regulator, i thought that was built into the compressor. Is it not the two gauges and the red twisty bit?

Already spent so damn much, i'm trying to not buy anything else unless absolutely necessary.

This compressor produces 14CFM piston displacement and 9.5CFM free air delivery (apparently). It is the most powerful compressor i can afford / run on a normal house circuit. The hammer only needs 4.0CFM, again, apparently. It does say the full load CFM is something like 24 but i read that would only be if you expected to run it continuously and the average load (which is 4) is what determines if it will run it or not.

I've read so many conflicting things on 3HP compressors ranging from people saying they won't undo a barely torqued lug nut to people saying they easily undid a hub nut. I got to the point where testing it for myself is the only way i'm really going to know just what it's capable of. I really hope i haven't spent all this money for something that isn't going to do what i want it to, fingers crossed.

Cheers

Edited by zaanztepS on Monday 16th October 16:19


Edited by zaanztepS on Monday 16th October 16:19

FMOB

1,994 posts

42 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
If you remember to put some air tool oil into the air inlet of the tool before you use it it will probably be fine, the compressed air will have moisture in it so oil is to lubricate the tool and cope with the moisture.

When using the air hammer, the compressor just needs a little consideration to reduce the number of start cycles.

FMOB

1,994 posts

42 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Last thing to say is safety first and take your time.

Suggest eye/ear protection when using the tools.

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
FMOB said:
Last thing to say is safety first and take your time.

Suggest eye/ear protection when using the tools.
Yeah definitely gonna wear ear and eye protection, i'm quite safety conscious.

turbotim43

103 posts

249 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
Have a look here https://pipefittingsdirect.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d2... they do loads of fittings etc

I've found most air tools come with a connector either PCL or Euro depending on where you buy it, if you are going to use it infrequently put that straight into the tool and then plug it into the air hose

I've heard some people say you should put a "tail" onto the tool, this is a short piece of air line directly onto the tool (so no PCL/Euro connector just an adaptor ) then a male connector on the end of the pipe

Most airline tools are a standard thread which will be 1/4" bspt so you should be able to get that most places that do airline stuff


FMOB

1,994 posts

42 months

Monday 16th October 2023
quotequote all
turbotim43 said:
Have a look here https://pipefittingsdirect.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d2... they do loads of fittings etc

I've found most air tools come with a connector either PCL or Euro depending on where you buy it, if you are going to use it infrequently put that straight into the tool and then plug it into the air hose

I've heard some people say you should put a "tail" onto the tool, this is a short piece of air line directly onto the tool (so no PCL/Euro connector just an adaptor ) then a male connector on the end of the pipe

Most airline tools are a standard thread which will be 1/4" bspt so you should be able to get that most places that do airline stuff
Having a tail on the air tools saves the main hose as the hose usually gets damaged at the connection to the air tool, wrecking half a metre of hose is cheaper than a long one.

The OP's use case is not a tyre bay so I think it is probably not going to be an issue for them.

hidetheelephants

35,874 posts

223 months

Tuesday 17th October 2023
quotequote all
Don't buy an oiler, they make an awful mess and are unnecessary for DIY use, just put a dribble of oil in the tool's air inlet before use and then again every hour or so.

RedWhiteMonkey

9,132 posts

212 months

Tuesday 17th October 2023
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
Don't buy an oiler, they make an awful mess and are unnecessary for DIY use, just put a dribble of oil in the tool's air inlet before use and then again every hour or so.
Probably this if you're only using it infrequently. The oil is help against water that is naturally within the air supply and to help prolong the life of the vanes in the motor that power the hammer. If it is daily use then an oiler is pretty much essential, if you'll only use it occasionally then just put a couple of squirts of oil (use air motor lubrication oil) directly into the inlet of the tool before using it.

I work for a company that manufactures air motors and air tools, I've assembled these sorts of things and now sell them.

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Tuesday 17th October 2023
quotequote all
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Probably this if you're only using it infrequently. The oil is help against water that is naturally within the air supply and to help prolong the life of the vanes in the motor that power the hammer. If it is daily use then an oiler is pretty much essential, if you'll only use it occasionally then just put a couple of squirts of oil (use air motor lubrication oil) directly into the inlet of the tool before using it.

I work for a company that manufactures air motors and air tools, I've assembled these sorts of things and now sell them.
I'll leave the oiler for now then and just dab a bt on before and after use.

Everything apart from the compressor came today. It all seems to connect up nicely so as long as the compressor side fits, and the compressor doesn't trip my electric, i'm good to go.

I just hope it gets the damn pinch bolt out or i'll be having to remove the whole damn knuckle. At least air tools should help with that.

Decky_Q

2,085 posts

207 months

Thursday 19th October 2023
quotequote all
Sorry I didnt notice the threads being different. Take the air hammer and the female that came with the compressor with you to the motor factors or screwfix and they will check it there to.make sure all threads match when you're buying it.

For oiling my tools I put a drop or two into the male air fitting sticking out of the tool every 2 weeks or so and never had a problem, I've rebuilt my impact drivers for gaskets and cracked anvils etc and theres no corrosion at all inside and I dont use an air drier at all just drain moisture out the bottom of the reservoir on the compressor once in a while.

Air hammers are air hungry tools so expect to have alot of stop time. I use mine mostly as a needle gun and it can be frustrating waiting on the reservoir to refill when doing a whole chassis!

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Thursday 19th October 2023
quotequote all
Decky_Q said:
Sorry I didnt notice the threads being different. Take the air hammer and the female that came with the compressor with you to the motor factors or screwfix and they will check it there to.make sure all threads match when you're buying it.

For oiling my tools I put a drop or two into the male air fitting sticking out of the tool every 2 weeks or so and never had a problem, I've rebuilt my impact drivers for gaskets and cracked anvils etc and theres no corrosion at all inside and I dont use an air drier at all just drain moisture out the bottom of the reservoir on the compressor once in a while.

Air hammers are air hungry tools so expect to have alot of stop time. I use mine mostly as a needle gun and it can be frustrating waiting on the reservoir to refill when doing a whole chassis!
I managed to get a 1/4" male NPT to 1/4" female BSP which fits nicely, then got one of the PCL XF quick release things. Annoyingly though, the company who sold the air compressor told me i needed that standard quick release bit when it actually takes the PCL XF one. Got one coming today so hopefully that's everything i need.

Gonna test it all out today, i'm just praying the compressor doesn't trip the electrics.

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Thursday 19th October 2023
quotequote all
I'm a little bit concerned now after reading about hose whip. The manual says i should apparently have an anti whip device and air safety fuse installed. The NPT to BSP converter doesn't screw in very far to the air hammer. Does anyone know if this looks like it will be safe:


Decky_Q

2,085 posts

207 months

Friday 20th October 2023
quotequote all
You dont need that, the pcl type are self sealing so it cant flail around. The adapters look a bit bulky but doubt itll cause you any problems, should be good to go now.

aland75

173 posts

107 months

Friday 20th October 2023
quotequote all
zaanztepS said:
I'll leave the oiler for now then and just dab a bt on before and after use.
Agree with that. I've built up quite a collection of air tools (and compressors!) over the last ~30 years, and don't have an in-line oiler, never found the need.
I drip a few drops of light machine oil (eg 3-in-one) into the tool's input before use.
I haven't killed any tools yet!

zaanztepS

Original Poster:

28 posts

72 months

Friday 20th October 2023
quotequote all
Used it today, i took a while but i manage to get the damn pinch bolt out. I ended up causing some serious cosmetic damage to my brand new air hammer though and what i hope is only cosmetic damage to the knuckle.

Something that's a bit concerning - After i was done and had disconnected the air hose, i noticed that the quick release connector on the bottom of the air hammer had worked itself very loose, came out in a turn or so. If that had of disconnected while i use the hose would have whipped about and possibly caused injury.