Lo again,

My Wolf 6lt air compressor (bought from Screwfix) came today and brought a problem with it. The air outlet has a quick release fitted to it. My airbrush hose (badger braided) has a 1/2" female screw connector.
I can't remove the quick release to see what it's connected to or I won't be able to send it back if it's unsuitable.
Anyone know if I can get a connector of some sort to marry the 2 up? Q/R on one end and a 1/2" male thread on the other.

I'll phone Screwfix in the morning, but I'm not holding out much hope. The fella I ordered it from was just reading guff from the catalogue.

Ok, here’s the thing. All compressors in the UK now (such as the Wolf) have to come with quick release connectors for H&S reasons. In the old days (like last year) compressors came with 1/4” BSP screw threads.

What you now get on Wolf are Uni Quick push fittings (these are European fittings - you can't buy fittings for them them on the high street). These are very short in comparison to PCL which are the UK standard connectors.

What you can do is:

1/ Buy a pack of Uni Adaptor Male (5 pack) for £4.19
(http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100979&ts=63038&id=16326)
These fit the push fittings and then you’ll need 1/2" Reducing Bush Brass to get from your ½” hose to the ¼” fittings on the Uni’s (£1.49 each) (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100979&ts=63038&id=77995)

2/ Take the Wolf to a tool shop (not B&Q) but some where like Tool Mart and get some new PCL push fitting units. Using a big spanner you can remove the existing fittings. The pipes on the Wolf are female so you’ll need 12mm clockwise male PCL quick release coupling units. These are standard. Then buy some ½” PCL push fittings (or ¼” with a ½” adaptor). Simple….

Oh, Wolf just re-badge the compressor and Screw Fix sell it as (Wolf) their brand, but amazingly you can buy the same range of compressors on the high street (under different barnd names) and NO one that I know can sell you Uni fittings at the same time. Madness

Gahhhhhh, I spoke to Screwfix yesterday and we came to the same conclusion - fitting attached to a bush brass then to the hose. Only he told me PCL ones would fit. Bahh, have to order the shorter ones also now. Another 10 quid down the tubes with P&P fees

Thanks awfully for your reply. Much obliged. What a silly state of affairs.

Well unless something has changed then no way. Here is how to check:

Uni fittings: About 10-12mm from the front opening there will be a big black rubber seal. This is immediately followed by a collar that reduces the size of the opening to about half the size. Effectively the seal is in the front half of the housing.

PCL fittings: The rubber seal is at the very far end of the fitting (it is very thin and small - the complete opposite of the seal in Uni) and there are no collars. The seal is very much at the back of the housing.

Well, I've got all the parts and I can't quite believe it. The uni fittings are 1/2 inch ends not 1/4, and the brass is an inch wide with only one end threaded.

So, after the debacle of the compressor having fittings not mentioned in the instructions they've sent me 3 bits, none of which are what they say they are.

The upside is that my hose will now fit straight on the end of the uni q/r fitting. Huzzah !!

Thanks very much for your replies and advice.