Airgun Fittings Standards

[steveoh]

Alan Applegate and I at the AirGunGuild teamed up with Stephen Archer to encourage the Airgun industry to come up with standards for the Quick Fill Fittings aka Foster fittings that so many of our airguns and compressors use. We beg the Airgun companies to collectively create a specification for SAFETY, as many of us have had various Foster Fittings fail, cause damage and injure people. There currently is no spec, and some fittings are NOT compatible with each other and either they will not correctly pair, or they do so loosely and some of these fittings are rated much lower than the pressures we use them at. Few companies are stepping up. I encourage every Airgun and Compressor owner to individually contact the companies who manufacture and sell these products and insist on specs to allow for proper safe quick fill connectors compatible with all brands. 



There are three articles that Stephen Archer put together. Read, and pass the word on.



https://hardairmagazine.com/buyers-guides/hpa-fittings-warning-if-you-have-a-pcp-you-need-to-read-this/



https://hardairmagazine.com/buyers-guides/so-what-is-a-foster-fitting/



https://hardairmagazine.com/buyers-guides/why-some-hpa-fittings-dont-fit/

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

Thanks for this Steveoh!

This has definitely been a concern of mine since beginning this hobby. It's a wonder how it got so convoluted. It's almost as if we need to come up with a set of standards first, then start pressuring the manufacturers to adhere to get the rating.

 

[biohazardman]

 

Thanks for the post

It's good that these concerns come up regularly. Cuz I always go check my fittings and hoses when they do. Over the past couple of years I found myself with a 2500psi female Foster in use and a couple of well worn male fosters that needed replaced also.

Standards would be nice but until then I will just continue to use the Ninja hoses and Ninja and Foster brands for the fittings nearest me. Hard not to use some of the Chinese stuff on the filters and such though as that is all that will fit them.

 

[steve-l]

This is a real concern. I have had several failures myself, but there is a simple way to stay safe. Before use, measure every one before use. They are not always the same size.