I’ll bet that almost everyone reading this has at least one air chuck and one blow gun in the shop. They’re pretty normal pieces of equipment for anyone with an air compressor. What you might not know is there is a huge array of different configurations out there for both air hose accessories. A quick search of SummitRacing.com shows dozens of different air blow guns and dozens more different air chucks. As you might expect, there are options priced for home hobbyists all the way to the professional shop mechanic, with plenty of quality chucks and blow guns in between.
You may also appreciate an air chuck/gauge combo. Read about some tire inflator options here.
Comparing Popular Air Chuck Designs
Included in the air chuck mix for this article (and this is only a small sampling) is the basic brass style female air chuck that most folks have. The example in the photos is from Milton (part number MLI-S-699). The thread size is 1/4 inch NPT and it has a maximum pressure rating of 150 PSI. They’re just a few bucks, so it’s probably a good idea to gather a few of them—some folks even chain a spare to their compressor!
Summit Racing also offers a similar Milton chuck, but with a locking clip under part number MLI-S-698. Here, there’s a lever on the chuck and it allows you to lock the chuck on the valve core (more common with commercial truck or agricultural applications). Essentially, this provides for a secure connection.
Should you have an urge for something a wee bit more exotic, Motion Pro offers a very slick billet aluminum chuck with an adjustable head. This is pretty convenient if you have a valve stem in a difficult to reach location (common in some powersports applications). The swivel head features O-ring sealing along with a thrust washer for leak free performance. The air chuck is designed with common 1/4 inch NPT threads.
Another old standby that old timers like me have seen in countless service stations of yore is the Milton MLI-S-522 . It includes a foot of hose along with a built-in bayonet style fill gauge.
It too is designed for use with a standard 1/4 inch NPT fitting.
Longacre manufactures an angled steel chuck under part number 52-50496. What makes these a little different is the fact they swivel 360-degrees. This makes it easier to fit on some wheels.
Comparing Popular Air Blow Gun Designs
Fair enough, but what about compressor powered blow guns? Summit Racing has you covered here too, and as mentioned above, there are huge number of options. Our small cross section covers everything from budget-friendly Milton models all the way up to some pretty slick Lincoln options.
A very common Milton model out of SummitRacing.com is part number MLI-S-148. It’s manufactured from steel and incorporates a built-in hook. In addition, it features an interchangeable safety nozzle and rubber nozzle.
If you need something with more reach and more oomph, Milton’s part number MLI-S-182 “Turbo” blow gun will get the job done. It has a 10 inch long nozzle coupled to a pistol grip. Unlike some other air nozzles, this one has a 3/8 inch NPT thread layout. It has a maximum pressure rating of 230 PSI, so you can well imagine the airflow that it produces.
Another long reach air gun to consider is the OTC model OTC-2423. This is a stainless steel tip example, and it’s designed to be quiet, even at 100 PSI. Inlet size is 3/8 inch NPT, which is the same as the high power Milton model.
Not all blow guns have to be big (or long). Case-in-point is this little stubby option from Performance Tool, part number WMR-M685. It has a steel body that’s short, which allows you to get into tight quarters.
Finally, for a high end blow gun, take a look at the Lincoln model LIC-960. This blow gun has a lightweight cast aluminum pistol grip body with a 1/4 inch NPT body and a 7/64 inch outlet diameter. Lincoln also has a similar blow gun to the 960 that doesn’t use a a 30 PSI restrictor, part number LIC-940.
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As you can see, there are all sorts of different options when it comes to air chucks and blow guns. Along with the considerable differences in shapes and sizes are differences in price points. Bottom line here is, there’s something for everyone’s budget.
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