TAILONZ PNEUMATIC Male Straight 1/4 Inch Tube OD x 1/4 Inch NPT Thread Push to Connect Fitting PC-1/4-N2

Why these fittings earned a spot in my kit

A good push-to-connect fitting makes tubing work feel almost effortless. The Tailonz 1/4-inch push-to-connect fittings hit that sweet spot of quick, repeatable connections without drama. I put a 10-pack to work on a small shop air distribution upgrade and a bench-top pneumatic manifold, and they’ve been clean, tight, and predictable from the first thread.

Build and design

The fittings combine a plated metal body (listed as copper-based) with a polymer release collar and internal collet. The exterior presents as a bright, corrosion-resistant finish and the hex is properly machined—no rounded edges, no sloppy flats. The overall profile is compact, so it doesn’t crowd neighboring ports on manifolds or valves.

Inside, the collet grips tubing decisively, and the O‑ring seals with an impressively light insertion force. I tested with 1/4-inch OD polyurethane and polyethylene tubing and both sealed immediately without fiddling. Removal is as expected: press the collar squarely against the body, then pull the tube straight out. The collet teeth look standard for this style; after a couple dozen insert/remove cycles I didn’t see unusual wear or burrs on the tube.

The 1/4-inch NPT male threads are clean and consistent. Thread engagement felt smooth across aluminum and brass manifolds. The manufacturer calls out that NPT sizing is nominal—which is worth repeating because 1/4 NPT measures much larger across the threads than “1/4 inch” suggests. If you’re new to pipe thread, that confusion is common.

Installation experience

Setup was straightforward, but a few habits pay off:

• Use a proper thread sealant. I tried both PTFE tape (wrapped 3–4 turns in the direction of tightening) and a non-hardening paste. Both sealed well to 125 psi. Paste is a bit neater if you expect to reorient fittings after initial snugging.
• Hand-thread first to avoid cross-threading into softer aluminum ports, then finish with a wrench on the hex. Don’t crank these as if they’re steel; NPT seals on the taper, and overtightening can split a boss or distort the taper.
• Prepare the tube ends. Cut clean and square with a sharp tube cutter, deburr the ID/OD if needed, and push the tube fully until it seats. Give a firm tug to confirm the grip.
• Keep the collet area clean. Swarf or sealant shreds can compromise the O‑ring seal.

On the bench, initial assembly of a 6-port manifold took about a third of the time it would have with compression or barb fittings. The push-to-connect action shines when you’re routing lines in tight spaces; you can pre-assemble the fittings, run lines, and terminate in seconds.

Pressure, sealing, and day-to-day use

With shop air regulated between 90 and 120 psi, every connection stayed dry. I soap-tested all joints after a 24-hour settle and saw no bubbling at the threads or the tube seals. On a small accumulator feeding a blow gun and two solenoids, the system held pressure overnight within the gauge’s resolution. That’s typical of good push-to-connect hardware, and this set performed right in line.

They’re rated to 145 psi and 32–140°F. Those numbers matter. At typical shop-air temperatures and pressures, no concerns. If you’re thinking engine bay installs, compressor heads, or any area where ambient temperatures can soar, you may hit that 140°F ceiling. Likewise, this is not the fitting to push into higher-pressure pneumatics or to rely on for anything flammable or regulated—stick to the rating and the intended media.

One more compatibility note: these are sized for 1/4-inch OD tubing. I tried a short section of 6 mm tubing out of curiosity. It held at low pressure, but the grip and seal weren’t as confidence-inspiring. I’d recommend using true 1/4-inch OD lines for repeatable results.

Thread standards and sizing pitfalls

The most common hiccup I see with fittings like these is ordering the wrong thread or tube size. A few quick checks can save a return:

• 1/4 NPT is a tapered pipe thread with an outside diameter of roughly 0.54 inches across the threads. If your port measures close to that, you’re likely in the right neighborhood.
• 1/4-inch OD tubing is the tube’s outside diameter. Don’t confuse it with inner diameter hose sizing; clear vinyl “1/4-inch ID” hose won’t work here.
• These are not compression fittings and not BSPP/BSPT (British) threads. For equipment with metric ports or straight-thread seals, verify before you buy.

If you’re adapting from compression fittings, a small NPT manifold or adapter block can make life easier and keep your thread types consistent.

Durability and reusability

I cycled several connections repeatedly to gauge wear. The collets maintained bite, and the O‑rings didn’t exhibit nicks or weeping. As with any push-fit, contamination is the enemy; once grit enters the collet, you’ll fight intermittent sealing. A quick shot of clean air before inserting tubing, and keeping cut ends off the floor, is worth the habit.

The metal bodies shrugged off a few wrench slips without scratching down to base metal. After a month of on-and-off use, they still look new. The release collars haven’t loosened or developed play.

Where they excel—and where they don’t

Strengths:
- Fast, reliable connections for 1/4-inch OD PU/PA/PE/PVC tubing
- Clean machining, consistent NPT threads, compact profile
- Leak-free performance at typical shop-air pressures
- Easy tube removal for service and reconfigurations
- Value of a 10-pack means you can outfit a small system and keep spares

Limitations to keep in mind:
- Rated only to 145 psi and 140°F; not for hotter environments or higher-pressure systems
- Not intended for fuels or specialty gases; stick to air and compatible inert media
- 1/4 NPT sizing can confuse newcomers; measure ports and tubing carefully
- The mixed metal/plastic design is by nature not as abuse-proof as all-metal industrial fittings; use strain relief and proper routing

Practical tips for best results

• Label your manifold ports and cut tubing slightly long. Slack reduces side-load on the fitting and helps O‑rings live a longer, happier life.
• If a connection weeps, check three things first: tube end is truly square, tube is fully seated past the internal stop, and no debris is trapped in the collet.
• For threaded sealing, avoid getting tape shreds near the first thread; keep the first 1–2 threads clean so fragments don’t migrate into the fitting.
• Use tube clips or saddles to eliminate vibration-induced movement at the connection.

Value

A 10-pack at this quality level is easy to recommend for small pneumatic builds, rapid prototyping, or expanding a shop air setup. The price-to-performance ratio is solid, and having extras on hand pays off when you inevitably decide to add one more drop or re-route a line.

Bottom line

The Tailonz 1/4-inch push-to-connect fittings deliver exactly what I want from everyday pneumatics hardware: clean threads, secure tube retention, and predictable sealing at standard shop-air pressures. Installation is quick, removal is clean, and the compact form factor keeps manifolds tidy. Respect the 145 psi and 140°F limits, stick to true 1/4-inch OD tubing, and they’ll reward you with a leak-free system and an easier workday.

Recommendation: I recommend these fittings for general-purpose air and inert gas applications within their stated ratings. They’re a dependable, budget-friendly choice for 1/4-inch OD tubing to 1/4 NPT connections, especially when you value speed, repeatability, and a tidy install. If you need higher pressure, higher temperature, or fuel compatibility, look for an all-metal, higher-spec alternative—but for most shop and light industrial tasks, these get the job done with no fuss.