Best fittings & accessories for your air compressor

Air Chucks

Like a lot of DIYers, one of the main reasons you likely bought an air compressor in the first place is to inflate flat tyres. While certain valve stems will allow you to inflate your tyre without a chuck, in most scenarios you’ll need one to attach your air hose properly and get airflow into the tyre.

There are two types of chucks to choose from and they both serve different purposes, so be sure to pick up the correct one.

Open-Flow Chucks

A non-sealing or ‘open flow’ air chuck allows air to freely pass through the airline, even if you haven’t connected it to a tyre valve stem. This is the type of chuck you’ll want to get if you’re using a tyre inflator, tyre gauge, or a portable 12v air compressor.

Closed-Flow Chucks

A sealing or ‘close-flow’ chuck will stop air from passing through unless you engage it with a tyre valve stem. If you’re going to directly connect an air compressor line to your chuck, this is the type you’ll want, as using an open-flow attachment will rapidly use up the air in the compressor’s tank.

There are also dual-angle air chucks that will allow you to access the stem from multiple positions, making a lot of tasks much easier, so this is something to consider if you’re likely to need a chuck constantly and from awkward positions.

Air Filters, Lubricators, and Regulators

Although often geared towards larger systems for commercial use, air filters, lubricators, and regulators are all integral parts of an air compressor system that will help to extend the life of your tools and compressor as well as helping it perform more efficiently.

Air Filters

When working with an air compressor, one of the most common causes of damage is moisture in the system, as it can cause corrosion and a reduction in air supply. Air filters target wet and dry particles that make their way through your system, trapping them and preventing them from getting into your air tools. This will greatly improve the life of your pneumatic tools and help to keep your overall system in better condition.

Lubricators

Just like any tools, air tools need lubrication to prevent corrosion and metal-on-metal rubbing that can cause degradation of internal parts. While not a necessary part to have if you’re just pumping up footies at home, a lubricator attachment can be a fantastic enhancement to your air compressor system if you’re constantly running air tools and want to reduce your maintenance time and costs.

Regulators

Pressure regulators are an essential part of any air compressor system, as they allow you to control the airflow your compressor produces. Different air tools have different energy requirements to run and constantly using the highest amount of air flow your system can handle will mean you’re wasting a lot of energy. Even if you’re simply inflating tyres with an air compressor, it can be useful to use a regulator to make sure you don’t end up over-inflating a tyre and driving a lopsided 4x4 through the bush.

For larger systems, you can even buy a combined air filter, lubricator, and regulator system. This can be a fantastic all-in-one package that’ll help to maintain your system by simultaneously protecting from rusting and dirt build up, lubricating your air tools, and ensuring you’re using the right pressure for the job.

Air Hoses

One of the most important parts of any air compressor setup is the air hose. Different sizes of air hose will give you different amounts of air flow, which can be incredibly important if you’re looking to run specific pneumatic tools.

If you’re running a smaller air compressor at home, a ¼ inch hose will be a great start, as it’ll give you enough CFM to run less powerful air tools like nail guns and air blow guns as well as inflating tyres and pool toys —another benefit is that it is fairly lightweight, making it easier to haul around your garage.

For larger air tools or for a workshop setting, you’re going to want a 3/8 inch hose, as the extra CFM supplied will allow you to run hungrier air tools such as many impact wrenches and pneumatic drills. You’ll also get a higher maximum PSI out of the hose and less airflow falloff, giving you a more consistent supply of air through the line.

In an industrial setting or an autoshop where you’re doing a lot of continuous spraying or media blasting, you’re probably going to need a ½ inch hose. While these larger hoses are great for sanders and tools with high CFM requirements, they are heavy and cumbersome, making them a less desirable option than a 3/8 inch hose if you don’t specifically need the extra air flow.

You should also pay attention to the material that the hose is made from; vinyl and polypropylene hoses can often be cheaper options but can be stiffer to work with than a more flexible rubber hose.

Air-line Fittings & Couplings

When using different hose sizes for different applications, you’re going to require fittings that can accommodate the diameter of the hose and the air tools you want to attach.

You’ll want to check which connector your air tool has, and which air hose you’re going to need to attach to it, as well as the CFM and PSI requirements of the tool to make sure your hose and air compressor can handle your airflow needs.

Most air tools will come with a ¼ inch attachment as standard, but there are adapters you can purchase that will allow you to hook these tools into a 3/8 inch system with ease.

This also means that if you’re running a workshop and have outside people come in with their own tools, you can have adapters ready to go to allow them to use your system, even if they’re running a ¼ inch drill and you’ve got a 3/8 inch hose fitting.

Find the Right Air Compressor Accessories Right Away

Figuring out which fittings and accessories you’re going to need for the next air tool in your arsenal is an essential part of air compressor ownership. Whether you’re trying to find the right hose connector for a Rattle Gun or you just need a tyre chuck that’ll work with the 12v air compressor you stash in your 4x4 for portable tyre care when you’re out in the mud, head into a Repco store or shop online to find the item you need.