Pneumatic fitting types compatibility

[MarkLeininger]

Just discovered the hard way that there are a bunch of different types of pneumatic fittings, including I/M Industrial, ARO, Automotive, etc. Does anyone know where there is a compatibility chart, or do I have to make sure I purchase the same style every time? I now have a few different styles that won't work together unless I really force them together.
thanks

 

[slowrev]

Not sure on the compatibality issue. I only buy one kind. I have made an adapter though with a coupling and a male fitting of one species on one end and the Female of the other type on the other end, for borrowed tools with incompatible fittings.

 

[bgott]

Walk into tree or four different shops in your area and ask to look at the fittings they use. Then go with those, if you decide to standardize to a non- standard fitting in the area it can be a PITA. I've moved across country before and right off the bat had to change out all my air tool fittings. I've done the adaptor thing but when you are using air tools proffessionally that kind of sucks. I had my own air hose but if I needed to borrow a tool I had to borrow the hose to fit it and that usually meant the loaner had to stand around and wait for me to get done with his equipment. Then when I would buy a new air tool I would have a problem because the truck only stocked the normal fitting for the area. If you are just working in your hobby shop and don't mind messing with adapters and such you can make it work but life will be easier if you just go ahead and suck it up and standardize everything to the local standard.