Slide valve/ QEV where to find?

[Captain Tech]

Hey, I was wondering if any hardware stores would carry slide valves and QEV's or if I HAD to buy online.
I'd much rather buy locally just for the simplicity if possible.

[Ragnarok]

Hardware stores are very unlikely to. You might find a specialist pneumatics place near you, but they'll probably charge you over the internet odds because of the overheads of a brick & mortar store.

[Captain Tech]

Hmm...well I know it's possible to make a qev, but is it possible to make a homemade slide valve? If so, how difficult is it?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

For $9 posted, you really aren't going to get a better deal.

[clemsonguy1125]

Homemade slide valves have been made, I know clide did it on his paintball semi. It takes a lathe to make one.

[Captain Tech]

For $9 posted, you really aren't going to get a better deal.

How do you know what size QEV to buy with it though? It doesn't tell me what size the fitting on it is.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

It's for paintball so safe bet is that the thread is 1/8" NPT

[clemsonguy1125]

You could just get a 1/4inch QEV and a 1/4 to 1/8 threaded fitting.

[shardbearer]

I am using this slide valve, which goes straight into the input of this QEV, no adapters needed. The QEV is a little small, only 1/4" ports for tank and output, 1/8 for input, but it works for my purposes. The slide works as both a pilot and fill valve (like the ball valve next to where you plug your pump in).