do you tighten air compressor connections with a wrench or just finger tight?

August 27, 2010 by admin · 6 Comments
Filed under: Do It Yourself (DIY) 
air Compressor
hellbilly21 asked:

i dont wana strip the threads but they seemed to leak with finger tight. so i tightened them with a adjustable wrench and vice grips, and it sealed them up better.
well i used the teflon compressor tape but that doesnt help much at all. so is this plumbers tape better?

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6 Responses to “do you tighten air compressor connections with a wrench or just finger tight?”
  1. Irv S says:
    August 29, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    If the connection has flats for a wrench, use the wrench.
    ( Don’t lean too hard, moderate force is all that should be needed.)
    If it is knurled for finger grip, use your fingers.
    In general, don’t use vice grips on anything you intend to keep.
    1. Properly sized wrench.
    2. Adjustible wrench. Irv S

  2. ITeech68 says:
    September 1, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    The best way I’ve found to stop connection leaks on my compressor is to use teflon plumber’s tape on the threaded connections and to snug them down “lightly” with a wrench.

    You’ll have to replace the tape each time you “break” the threaded connections (remove/change hoses, etc…). The tape is available at any hardware store and costs about $1 per roll.

    I wouldn’t suggest using vice-grips on those connections, however, because you may over-tighten the connections and strip the threads without meaning to or, even worse, ruin the connector by crushing it or rounding it out if the grips slip. ITeech68

  3. John J. S says:
    September 1, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Usually finger tight then about 1/4 turn with a wrench. It also helos to get a squirt bottle and put some water and dish soapinit. Squirt it on the connection sand tighten until it stops bubbling. John J. S

  4. Jim W says:
    September 1, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    Tighten them until they do not leak. Add teflon tape to the threads before you start. Jim W

  5. Dan H says:
    September 5, 2010 at 6:01 am

    If it is a threaded connection with flats for a wrench, wrap a couple turns of teflon plumber’s tape around the threads and wrench it on. You don’t need to have it too tight, don’t go crazy with the wrench, just over snug. Dan H

  6. shawnd518 says:
    September 5, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Use a wrench, but don’t over tighten them. Make them real snug, then give it 1 more full turn. shawnd518

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