> There are a lot more than two. "Industrial", "ARO",
> "European", "Lincoln", and "Tru-flate" are just a few.
> There's lots of good information at
> http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?pagenum=250
I guess I must be using "Industrial" although they don't quite look like
the one in the photo - but close.
I originally started with a "better" fitting, but found one problem. I
could never find them when I needed a new one, or if I did, the plugs
were about $5 each.
A few years back (actually about 10), I threw them all away and bought
the common one that Home Depot sells (I suspect it is the "Industrial").
The reason was simply price and availability. For around a buck I can
by a new plug when I need one. A couple bucks buys a new coupler. I
don't bother with the universal couplers as I have found that they don't
work as well as the specific coupler for the plug I using. Most new
tools that come with a plug, come with the one I need (Industrial), and
if they don't, I have spares.
I can also find the same style fittings as Lowes, Sears, Harbor Freight,
etc. They seem to be the most common, and that was the most important
thing for me - I can get them anyplace, and I can get them cheap.
I've never had a problem with any of the leaking or popping off
(although I did have one coupler that started leaking a bit when there
was no plug in it - so I replaced that one for a couple of bucks...
Oh yea, for the garden hose quick couplers - they are great. I have a
small inline shutoff valve that I have attached to the end of my hose so
that I can turn off the water and change nozzles. I also have a
"shutoff" coupler - pop the plug out, and the coupler stops the water
flow. The problem is, that it is extremely hard to push the next plug
into the coupler against the water pressure - that coupler sits in a
drawer, not used...
Tim Mullen
Chantilly, VA
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