NHIS: 1/4 or 3/8 NPT air hookup

[enjoythemusic]

Which is it? Looking at the Harbor Freight catalog to place my umteenth order over the years and want to get a good basic air tool setup. Advice, hints, etc. ALL helps is ALWAYS appreciated. Many thanks.

[timmmy]

Which is it? Looking at the Harbor Freight catalog to place my umteenth order over the years and want to get a good basic air tool setup. Advice, hints, etc. ALL helps is ALWAYS appreciated. Many thanks.

Sorry I cant help on the NHIS question, apart form to let you know I plugged in my air line last time I was there and I believe that has 1/2" fittings on it, however my workshop is miles form my house so I cant check.


as for advice and hints on air tools I would have to recommend not buing them from HF. HF are great for tools you dont mind using a couple of times and expecting to chuck out, I have loads of thiers, some are good, some are just marginal - definately get what you apy for.

I would recommend one of 2 things, either splash out and buy craftsman - they are Pretty OK, not the best but will be replaced under waranty BTDT. or buy used snap on or similr from e-bay, which is a slight gamble but I would take used Snap-On over HF tools any day of the week.

If youre in a hurry you could pick up Husky tools from Home Depot, I have some of those and they are OK and fairly cheap, same advice for teh ones you can get at wall mart - CK I think the brand is, I have some of thiers too and they are OK ish.

my 2c

Timmmy

[BrakeL8r]

I would recommend one of 2 things, either splash out and buy craftsman - they are Pretty OK, not the best but will be replaced under waranty BTDT

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Craftsman replacement warranty does not apply to power or air tools. Still, I agree their a better buy for the money than HF.

--Michael
ST4 Miata #176

[timmmy]

I would recommend one of 2 things, either splash out and buy craftsman - they are Pretty OK, not the best but will be replaced under waranty BTDT

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Craftsman replacement warranty does not apply to power or air tools. Still, I agree their a better buy for the money than HF.

--Michael
ST4 Miata #176

dunno - I seem to recall something about that being the case, however they did replace a faulty impact gun I bought from them last year, and my aluminum floor jack.

[offcamber09]

Which is it? Looking at the Harbor Freight catalog to place my umteenth order over the years and want to get a good basic air tool setup. Advice, hints, etc. ALL helps is ALWAYS appreciated. Many thanks.

1/4 npt fittings are the standard in the industry. There are different shaped fittings though...the ones that the NHIS female air chuck accepts are called a type "D" by Mohawk Rubber Sales 800-242-1446. http://mohawkrubber.com/ . You will need male fittings for the air tools. My shop uses a different shaped fitting.

I do not buy Habor Freight air tools. I use their corded power tools- I've had a Chicago Electric angle grinder for 8 years and has been flawless.
For less money than Snap On, try Ingersol Rand or for even less try Central Pnuematic air tools.

I should add that the Mohawk web site is a little tough to navigate. I call when I place orders. Also the air tool prices are probably not the lowest.

[cfossum]

Scott is right, 1/4" npt is the standard fitting size you would see on a shop air hose. The confusion exists because it looks bigger than 1/4". The size applies to a pipe's inside diameter. Older pipes had heavier walls, and so for a 1/4" ID pipe, the OD was closer to 1/2". Threads then became standard, and then wall thicknesses decreased. So now there is nothing 1/4" on a 1/4" pipe fitting.
-Carl

[BrakeL8r]

I do not buy Habor Freight air tools. I use their corded power tools- I've had a Chicago Electric angle grinder for 8 years and has been flawless.
For less money than Snap On, try Ingersol Rand or for even less try Central Pnuematic air tools.

Central Pneumatic is Harbor Freight's house brand for air tools.

--Michael

[Stynger]

I do not buy Habor Freight air tools. I use their corded power tools- I've had a Chicago Electric angle grinder for 8 years and has been flawless.
For less money than Snap On, try Ingersol Rand or for even less try Central Pnuematic air tools.

Central Pneumatic is Harbor Freight's house brand for air tools.

--Michael

I think Chicago Pneumatic is a step up from Central Pneumatic.

Ingersol Rand air tools (in general) IMHO are lighter, quiter, cheaper and perform as good or better than Snap-On's.

[enjoythemusic]

Thanks everyone, so i guess you are saying NHIS is 1/4" and i'll be at Home Depot this weekend to refresh other things here as well (long story short, the 65+ wind gusts blew off some of my home's roof tiles, fixed them but need more + elastomer 208 for backstock).

As for accessories, i was asking about adapters, tire inflator, etc. What would the 'basic' air tool kit for the track consist of? The tools will be used rarely, not hard core daily. i do not plan to do major mods to the car at the track, just tweaks.

Heck, still looking for a decent used alu trailer to buy... Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

MANY thanks!

[timmmy]

NHIS is really the only track that has air (and garages), I would take a coil type air line, a tire inflator and an impact gun for wheel changes...thats about it really.

[enjoythemusic]

NHIS is really the only track that has air (and garages), I would take a coil type air line, a tire inflator and an impact gun for wheel changes...thats about it really.

Many thanks, this makes sense. i will probably upgrade to a better than coil hose tho as what i see online appear to be very basic and for only a few $$ more it seems i can get something that can handle more.

FYI: Will be looking at gas powered compressors while at Home Depot for my upcoming home garage here plus it is something i can throw in the support vehicle for other tracks.

MANY thanks everyone, much apprech! Off to Home Depot in a few hours

Still looking for that used alu lightweight trailer...

[enjoythemusic]

Thanks everyone and here is what i did. Since Home Depot pretty much takes back anything.... got one of their package deals with electrical/27 gallon tank as gas powered units are $$$$. The deal also came with lots of tools, but hey we are tool junkies so i bought a few other toys. If the tools are crap i can always swap them at any Home Depot and find HD is easier to deal with than Sears anyway.

Looking for just what is a 'Type D' connector versus what is standard otherwise. Search engines were worthless and called Mohawk because you aint kidding, their website is wack.

Thanks again everyone as ALL help is ALWAYS appr

[offcamber09]

Steven, sorry about the confusion over the type of fittings. You would think running a tire shop for 17 years I would know what is what- But I don't. The type "D" thing may be more of a Mohawk thing than an industry thing. I will say the type of connector that NHIS uses is the more popular type- probably the type you would have gotten with the tools that came with your compressor.
I came to the conclussion that a good 18v impact gun (Dewalt) was a lot cheaper than the gas powered compressor.

TOOLS ARE GOOD :thumbleft:

[enjoythemusic]

I will say the type of connector that NHIS uses is the more popular type- probably the type you would have gotten with the tools that came with your compressor...
TOOLS ARE GOOD :thumbleft:

Yeah, it seems the type that virtually everyone uses. As for good tools, living in the middle of nowhere has + and - things and as such, i am tired of asking for favor after favor from the local guys (even though i do pay them of course for these fast, small jobs). Now that i have various air tools and a decent-sized air system...

i joked with my wife if she wants i can enhance the gas milage of her huge Jeep Cherokee. When she asked how, i said "We can cut the body off the Jeep with the air chisel and use the grinder on the chassis

Agreed, tools are good

Now just waiting for the damn snow to disappear so i can see exactly what this system is capable of plus the tools.

Still looking for a good alu open trailer.

[mtc13]

Belatedly, maybe, but :
Whatever fittings you buy, go for the higher quality ones so they won't leak as much.
You can always remove and replace the fittings at the track, so, if you bring a spare female coupling that works with your hose, you're all set. Bring some Teflon tape with you so it doesn't leak for the next guy ; maybe hang a note onto the fitting so you remember to change it out before you head home!
As for hoses, I recommend the more expensive, soft rubber ones. Goodyear makes them, I think : about $20 -25 for 25 feet. The cheap ones are nice for a more permanent installation, "tacked" to the wall of your shop (so you can leave the compressor in one spot, but plug your hose in at a remote spot), but they never lay flat, and get in the way when you are working, especially in the cold, and they don't coil as easily for travelling.
I am really happy with my Ingersoll Rand air gun.
Good luck!
Michael T.C.
#13 GTI