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What Fitting/Adapter?: Air tank content

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  • Member since
    December 2011
What Fitting/Adapter?: Air tank content
Posted by Chrisk-k on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 6:02 PM

The air hose is an Iwata and the tank is a Sparmax tank system. As you can see, they don't fit together. What fitting or adapter do I need? I'd like to continue to use the Iwata coil hose.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: NW Washington
Posted by dirkpitt77 on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 8:33 PM

I've seen Badger to stock a selection of adapters for their hoses to fit different setups. Is it possible Iwata does the same?

    "Some say the alien didn't die in the crash.  It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 9:12 PM

I figured it out.  The Iwata hose end fitting is 1/4 and the Sparmax air tank fitting is 1/8.  They are standard sizes.  I just need a 1/8 female - 1/4 male fitting.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by Bick on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 9:26 AM
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 9:40 AM

Many of the larger hardware and building supply stores carry 1/8 pipe fittings in addition to the larger sizes, so you may be able to pick it up locally.  I find my Menards store (a midwest chain) carries a good supply, as does Home Depot.  Have no knowledge of Lowes as it is the furthest from my house.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by Bick on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 10:03 AM

You may very well be able to find an adapter locally but beware, the 1/8" on your tank is BSP and the 1/4" on your hose is NPT. 1/8" NPT (common in the US) is 27 TPI and the British 1/8" BSP is 28 TPI and they aren't interchangeable. My Sparmax compressor outlet is 1/8" BSP.  BSP to NPT adaptors tmay not be easy to find in hardware stores.

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: England
Posted by P mitch on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 10:14 AM

When you get the adapter pick up some plumbers tape (thats what we call it over here anyway). Its a thin flexiable tape used to seal threads. Give it a few turns round the threads then screw it all together, make sure it goes the same way as the thread so you dont just unwind it.. It saves loosing air through the threads.

Phil

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell


  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 1:30 PM

Bick,

The Sparxmax tank outlet is exactly the same as an outlet of an Iwata airbrush. It's the same as fittings of my Iwata Smart Jet (except the compressor's main outlet, which is 1/4.).  Is it really BSP?  Not sure why Iwata would want to use BSP rather than NPT.  

Anyway, I found an adapter at Chicagoairbrushsupply and ordered one along with other stuff.  It better fit!!

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by Bick on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:48 PM

Hi Chris,

Yes, Iwata, Grex, H&S, HF (Deluxe), Master, and many clones all use 1/8" BSP on the AB and many on the compressor as well. Hose fittings from these mfrs are also 1/8" BSP. Badger, old Binks and Paasche are different. Haven't the faintest idea how/why BSP was selected but it seems to have become the de facto standard for 'most' AB's. And, many US air compressors, whether AB or power tool,  use 1/4" NPT as an outlet so many AB suppliers offer their hose with a 1/4" NPT for the compressor.

More than you likely want to know but technically the 1/8' BSP is BSPS (Bristish Standard Pipe Straight) as opposed to 1/8" BSPT (Bristich Standard Pipe Tapered). National Pipe standards are NPS and NPT (Nation Pipe Straight and National Pipe Tapered). ie. both come in tapered and straight varieties.

If the adapter you ordered is 1/8" BSP female to 1/4" NPT male it should work just fine.

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 5:27 PM

Thanks for great information, Bick.  This whole fitting thing is confusing.  Using my digital caliper, I've found that A 1/8" BSP fitting actually has an OD of 3/8" and a 1/4" NPT fitting has an OD of 1/2".  What's up with that :-)?  

Chicago Airbrush Supply sells only one type of 1/8 female to 1/4 male adapter (no information about BSP/NPT).  CAS knows what they are doing, so hopefully it will fit.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Posted by Milairjunkie on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 6:00 PM
I think this is what you are looking for;
  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by Bick on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:10 PM

Milairjunkie
I think this is what you are looking for;

I don't think so MAJ. In my experience here in the US I've never seen 1/4" BSPP used for a compressor. I have seen and have some 1/4" NPS&T hose ends and adapters. Indeed, Badger, HF and others have1/4" NPT threaded ends or adaptrs on the compressor end of their AB hoses. And, for example, if you look at the H&S site (Precisiongermanairbrush.com) you'll find 1/8" BSP to 1/4" NPT but will not find 1/4" BSPP. And thanks for reminding me that it is, correctlyy BSP-P,  British Standard Pipe PARALLEL not STRAIGHT.

  • Member since
    May 2014
Posted by ShanaSakai on Saturday, May 24, 2014 8:52 PM

Hi guys hope I'm not hijacking this thread, I have a Rich AB-300 old airbrush, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it uses a BSP hose, Reason I'm asking is I have a NPT tank and I don't want to waste money by accidentally buying the wrong type. Thanks!

EDIT: I'm also looking at a 2nd moisture trap and found this one on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271328574117?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

looks like the ones that alot of compressors use, so I assume that it's also BSP and 1/8?

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Sunday, May 25, 2014 1:37 AM

I couldn't find the correct fittings when I got a new compressor so my setup would make Rube Goldberg proud!! Hey, it works!

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Posted by Milairjunkie on Sunday, May 25, 2014 4:57 AM

ShanaSakai - Japanese equipment typically uses BSP & airbrushes are generally 1/8, so I imagine that the AB-300 is 1/8" BSP - it certainly looks like it.

The regulator that you link to has 1/4" BSP bores, & can be supplied with either 1/4" to 1/4" connectors or 1/4" to 1/8" connectors - vendor states "2 x adaptor" included, but doesn't state which size - I would drop them a line & ask.

  • Member since
    May 2014
Posted by ShanaSakai on Sunday, May 25, 2014 10:43 AM

HI milairjunkie, thanks I just sent the vendor a message, but the biggest part was knowing that it's BSP, phew.

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