Quick Disconnect Fittings for VAC SYS Lines

[MikeGE]

I apologize in advance for asking what might be a stupid question. 

I want to modify the vacuum lines on my VAC SYS for use with my new MFT-style workbench.  I'll post photos later, but I have the vacuum pump on a pull-out tray, where it will remain most of the time.  The SE1 will be attached to the side of the workbench when in use, and stored on a pull-out tray above the vacuum pump when not being used.  The SE1 will be about three feet from the pump, so I don't need the long hose currently attached to it, as it just gets in the way.  I will disconnect the vacuum line from the pump and can coil it around the SE1, but I can't disconnect the foot switch...yet.

I would like to add quick disconnect fittings so I can remove the hoses for easier storage, and also shorten the lines a bit.  Ideally, I would have two sets of hoses, one for the workbench and the original hoses kept in the Systainer for those times when I take the VAC SYS out of my shop.

Can the same quick disconnect fittings used for compressor lines be used for vacuum lines?  If not, which fittings are compatible with the VAC SYS?

 

[rst]

The foot switch is attached to the head with a push/pull fitting so the hose can be disconnected.

 

[MikeGE]

The foot switch is attached to the head with a push/pull fitting so the hose can be disconnected.

The hoses on my SE1 are crimped.

 

[rst]

The foot switch hose on mine has a push/pull where it engages the head.  I haven't used mine in a while, moving shop, I may have left suction hose attached.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Hi Mike,

I’d bring the items you’ll like quick connect couplings to, to a assorted pneumatic seller or whole seller.
They might have more neat couplings ala Festool ones to order - then you’ll need to know the dimensions, therefore bring the gear  [smile] Though it looks like 1/4” fittings (judging by the photo...) there are different dimensions on the male and female as well as the threaded part - like the brass hose/clamp fitting on the foot pedal.

You might check out dealers into Metal Work pneumatic, chances are that they carry even more brands. And why not Festo?
https://www.festo.com/cms/de_de/index.htmhttps://www.metalwork.de/

 

[MikeGE]

Hi Mike,

I’d bring the items you’ll like quick connect couplings to, to a assorted pneumatic seller or whole seller.
They might have more neat couplings ala Festool ones to order - then you’ll need to know the dimensions, therefore bring the gear [smile] Though it looks like 1/4” fittings (judging by the photo...) there are different dimensions on the male and female as well as the threaded part - like the brass hose/clamp fitting on the foot pedal.

You might check out dealers into Metal Work pneumatic, chances are that they carry even more brands. And why not Festo?

https://www.festo.com/cms/de_de/index.htm
https://www.metalwork.de/

Thank you for the links!

This is the thread that caught my attention to the possibility of modifying the VAC SYS lines:

My Vac-Sys setup

Unfortunately, scholar's PCL links are no longer valid, but I found the new website and will do some research. I remembered I had a new compressor hose in the garage, still sealed in the bag, and it worked great when I inserted it between the vacuum pump and the Festool quick disconnect. I couldn't see any difference in the vacuum pulled with or without the compressor hose, so as @Cheese said in the other thread where I originally commented, this is not a life or death situation and the compressor fittings work.

 

[Cheese]

The hoses on my SE1 are crimped.

FWIW...the tubing on my foot valve is also installed directly into it and crimped with Oetiker ear clamps.

 

[Bob D.]

Keep in mind that with a vacuum system every connection is a potential leak.

Make sure any quick connect fittings you choose are rated for vacuum as many are not.

 

[MikeGE]

I ordered new fittings from PCL Air Technology in the UK. These are the fittings that @scholar recommended.

AA7114 XF Adaptor Plug with Tailpiece for 9mm Hose



AA7103 XF Adaptor plug with R 3/8 Male Thread



AC7109 XF Coupling with Tailpiece for 9mm Hose



AC7106 XF Coupling with Tailpiece for 6mm Hose



I will put the AA7103 on the foot switch and SE1 slide control. The AA7114 will go on the SE1 line just as it clears the head. The AC7109 couplers will go on the Festool hoses where I cut them. Since these hoses will be about the standard length, they will go back into the Systainer for storage.

The AC7106 couplers will be used on 6mm line I already have and will be cut to fit for my use on my workbench.

 

[rmwarren]

I haven't confirmed this yet but believe the readily available high flow fittings are compatible. Lots of jabber in this thread.

Otherwise, I found the euro style fittings on McMaster for not too many pesos. Info in the same thread.

RMW

 

[rvieceli]

Hey [member=8712]Richard/RMW[/member] Lowe’s is closing those out for $5
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-High-Flow-Fittings/1000404949

Looks to still be available online

Ron

 

[rmwarren]

Hey [member=8712]Richard/RMW[/member] Lowe’s is closing those out for $5
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-High-Flow-Fittings/1000404949

Looks to still be available online

Ron

Thanks Ron, got to run my pre-holiday long-weekend errands tomorrow so I'll hit Lowes for a few. Also Fazzios for some random metal.

RMW

 

[MikeGE]

The fittings from PCL arrived yesterday and are now in place.  The 9mm tube fitting was a bit tight, so I put the end of the tube in hot water to soften it and it fit over the nipple much easier.  The 6mm tube fittings didn't require any heating.

The OEM hoses have female quick disconnect fittings on both ends, and will be stored in the SE1 Systainer.  I cut part of the existing blue air line to make the shorter hoses, and am still able to use the air line for my shop.  The new hoses and fittings hold the vacuum as well as the OEM connections.

Everything disconnects quickly and stores easily out of the way.  The foot switch and blue lines are stored in the end drawer with the other SE1 head adapters.  (yes, I forgot to put the protective cap on the vacuum pump before taking the photo)

 

[Michael Kellough]

I want trick out my Vac Sys similar to what MikeGE and scholar have done but I’m stymied. The stumbling block is that the ports the hoses are crimped to are British tread, BSPP 3/8 female.

[attachimg=1]

The threads are parallel and require an o-ring/washer for sealing (the white plastic washer seen on the stock Vac Sys).
From what I’ve read 3/8 NPT is a poor match. Has anyone found a functional solution that doesn’t spoil the existing threads?

Does anyone know where to buy the proper fittings in the States?

 

[guybo]

https://ph.parker.com/us/en/quick-couplings-pneumatic

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=58842]guybo[/member] there are only about ten or twenty thousand pieces there. Do you know which one fits the unusual thread in the Sys Vac?

 

[guybo]

Hi, was it the quick coupler? if so this one maybe it .I do not own the vac sys, one of the parker rep's will help you out. plus they have adapaters to metric or other.https://ph.parker.com/us/en/safety-push-button-quick-coupling-series-kp/30kpaw17apx

 

[Michael Kellough]

I’ll take any high flow (XF) fitting that will fit the port, which is not metric.

See the photo above. That brass fitting (from the Vac Sys Se II) is British Standard Pipe Parallel 3/8”, about .65” od or 16.5mm.

It seems like MikeGM and scholar may have used regular British Standard Pipe tapered 3/8 successfully?

 

[Michael Kellough]

CONFESSION    I just realized I’m addicted to Amazon.

I used to be addicted to McMaster-Carr. (McMaster.com)

In both cases it is/was because I could order stuff in the afternoon and get it the next day.
But Amazon has a vastly broader range of stuff than McMaster and I kinda forgot about McMaster.
Also, the weekend still affects getting stuff from McMaster

Consequently I wasted a few hours trying to figure out what I needed to mod my Vac Sys stuff and find the part via Amazon.
I even tried Amazon.UK since the parts are British thread.

Finally, this morning I tried McMaster and quickly found not only the part but also the info that would have cut short my search. Also discovered that there is some difference between the McMaster app and the website. Each is better in some aspect so it’s good to check both. In the app click the (i) next to the thread type chooser.

Like many others I want to replace the barb connected stiff hoses with a quick disconnect plug so I can use other hoses and to make it easier to stow the equipment. The barbed adapters Festool used are more like fuel line compression fittings in that they have straight threads instead of tapered and the inside is a cone instead parallel walls. And it’s British thread. Hard to find quickly unless you go to McMaster.

[attachimg=1]

This is from the McMaster app. The same part at the website ends in 123 and the price is $8.40.

I couldn’t find the white plastic compression washers Festool uses but they should be reusable.

Also, this Milton quick disconnect kit is good.

[attachimg=2]

I’ve learned that Hi Flow = Euro = XF = V and they also seem to be compatible with A and L styles but I don’t have samples to test.

The flexible hose used in the Vac Sys is diameter 16mm x 3,5. The 3,5 is wall thickness so the inner diameter is 9mm. For American owners you might be able to use a 5/16” barb fitting with a hose clamp.

 

[woodwise]

It looks like the Milton connectors linked on Amazon are the standard NPT thread.