I notice a curiosity while browsing the local hardware store. The same air compressor fitting is available in steel and brass, but the steel one is a couple dollars less expensive. Since both seem perfectly functional, what’s the motivation for the more expensive brass version?

It won’t rust and it will seal at the threads.

I can understand the better corrosion resistance, but brass yields a better “seal at the threads”? Why would that be?

Because it is more ductile than steel and when tightened brass will “gall” in a good way, providing the sealing effect. I always teflon tape the threads anyway… but thats just me. Do yourself and your air tools a favor and buy brass.

I have used both. The steel is zinc coated or plated, depending on supplier and is pretty tough. The brass seals better but can be damaged more easily than the steel. The steel will seal with the right sealer. I generally use teflon pipe dope for both. Brass, as a material is more expensive than st…

I think I have both. The quick connects are mostly brass but the male fittings are mostly steel. Probably something I’ll look for next time. You can never have too many fittings.

The main thing to watch on the quick connects is that they aren’t all equal. Even if you have 2 steel ones, the shank can be different, so one of them won’t fit in the female coupler. It’s annoying when you need to replace one and don’t remember which you have.

Concur. I always take a male fitting with me to make sure. I pretty much just get them from the farm store now but they have several different ones on the shelf. Oh yeah now I remember someone was talking about getting the fittings with the larger hole so as not to restrict air flow. I knew ther…

Mr @shadowfax brings up a very good point (as usual) with the mention of the fittings having different profiles. It truly can get maddening at times as there are quite a few variants out there. Its usually only a problem when you are over a friends shop or work space and you have an intermingling …

Brass vs Steel Air Compressor Fittings

General Discussion

Rod-Knox November 3, 2019, 2:06am 7

I
For me it was always the more convenient alternative because it could be easily attached and sealed then disconnected and attached to another fitting and sealed tightly with just firm twist.

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Brass vs Steel Air Compressor Fittings

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