Milton names five main styles of air hose quick connect: industrial (M), automotive (T), ARO (A), high flow (V) and Lincoln (L). Use a plug of the same style as the coupler, or a universal coupler that takes several styles.
What style is the coupler you’re plugging into?
Look on the coupler, its package or the hose it came on. Milton’s ColorFit parts are colored by style.
The plug that fits
An M-style (industrial) plug
Milton’s M-style couplers interchange with every maker’s that meets the dimensions of military specification MIL-C-4109. Its ColorFit M-style parts are red.
On the package: 1/4 in. M-style (industrial) plug
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
A T-style (automotive) plug
Milton says its T-style couplers and plugs interchange with all other T-style ones. Its ColorFit T-style parts are blue.
On the package: 1/4 in. T-style (automotive) plug
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
An A-style (ARO) plug
Milton sells its A-style couplers as ARO 210 interchange. Its ColorFit A-style parts are green.
On the package: 1/4 in. A-style (ARO 210) plug
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
A V-style (high flow) plug
Milton sells its HighFlowPro V-style plugs as V-style/Euro interchange, for high volume at low pressure. Its ColorFit V-style parts are purple.
On the package: 1/4 in. V-style (high flow) plug
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
An L-style (Lincoln) plug
Milton sells 1/4" L-style plugs, and says its L-style blow gun fits L-style couplers or any 1/4" Lincoln style coupler.
On the package: 1/4 in. L-style (Lincoln) plug
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
Milton’s 5 In ONE: the five main plug styles
Milton’s 5 In ONE universal couplers take industrial (M), high flow (V), automotive (T), ARO (A) and Lincoln (L) plugs.
On the package: Universal coupler, 1/4 in. NPT
Available on Amazon
The plug that fits
Match it to a plug that already fits
Milton’s T-style and M-style parts interchange with other makers’ parts of the same style.
Available on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, What Adapter For earns from qualifying purchases.
The coupler is the half with a sleeve you pull back to let go, and the plug is the part that pushes into it. Either one can have a male or a female thread on its other end.
The styles side by side
| Style | Milton calls it | Milton ColorFit color | Milton’s rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | Industrial; interchanges to MIL-C-4109 | Red | 300 psi, 40 SCFM |
| T | Automotive | Blue | 300 psi, 40 SCFM |
| A | ARO (ARO 210) | Green | 300 psi, 34 SCFM (coupler) |
| V | High flow; V-style/Euro interchange | Purple | 300 psi, 74 SCFM (brass plug) |
| L | Lincoln | None listed | n/a |
The colors are those of Milton’s ColorFit line.
Thread size isn’t style
Milton’s couplers and plugs come with 1/4" NPT threads, and in 3/8" and hose barb versions. For the thread itself, see 1/4" NPT.
Universal and safety couplers
Milton’s 5 In ONE universal couplers have a safety exhaust: they bleed the air off before they let go of the plug, so the hose doesn’t whip.
Garden hose and pressure washer quick connects are different parts: see garden hose quick connects and pressure washer quick connect sizes.
Shut off the air at the compressor or the valve and bleed the line, for example by squeezing the tool’s trigger, before you unscrew a coupler or plug.