Camlock

Stainless Steel Camlock Fittings, Built for WA Conditions

A Camlock is the quickest way to join a hose or pipe with no tools and no fuss, and every Camlock we stock at Pumptastic is made from Grade 316 stainless steel. That choice matters more in Western Australia than almost anywhere else. Out here, bore water minerals, coastal salt air, fertiliser and mine site chemicals chew through cheaper fittings within a season. We've had customers in the Wheatbelt and up the Pilbara come to us after aluminium Camlock couplings pitted and seized on them. Stainless steel solves that, and it's why we made 316 our standard across the whole range rather than an upsell.

If you already know the type and size you need, our six Camlock configurations are ready to ship. If you're not sure, the guide below sorts it in a couple of minutes.

What is Camlock

A Camlock, also called a cam and groove coupling, is a two-part quick-connect fitting. One half is a male adaptor with a grooved end. The other half is a female coupler with two cam arms. You push the male into the female, flip the two arms down, and you have a locked, leak-resistant join. To break it, you flip the arms back up and pull. No spanners, no thread tape, no waiting.

The design follows the international A-A-59326 standard (formerly the MIL-C-27487 military spec), which is the reason a Camlock behaves the same across brands. A Type A adaptor made to standard dimensions mates with a Type B coupler from a different supplier, so you're never locked into one manufacturer. That interchangeability is a big part of why Camlock fittings dominate water transfer, irrigation, diesel and fuel decanting, fire fighting, IBC decanting and general fluid handling on Australian sites.

The Six Camlock Types We Stock, and Which One You Need

All six are 316 stainless steel. The letter tells you the shape and the thread. Here's the plain-English version:

• Type A Camlock is a male cam adaptor with a female BSP thread. Use it to add a male camlock end onto a threaded outlet, like a pump or tank fitting.
• Type B Camlock is a female cam coupler with a male BSP thread. It's the partner to Type A, adding a female camlock end onto a threaded pipe.
• Type C Camlock is a female coupler with a hose barb (hose shank). This is the one you clamp straight onto a layflat or suction hose.
• Type D Camlock is a female coupler with a female BSP thread, for joining onto a male threaded outlet.
• Type E Camlock is a male adaptor with a hose barb. The male-end match for putting a camlock onto the end of a hose.
• Type F Camlock is a male adaptor with a male BSP thread, for threading a male camlock end into a female fitting.

The rule of thumb we give customers on the phone: hose ends take a barb (Type C or E), threaded ports take a thread (A, B, D or F), and you always pair one male half with one female half to make a working connection.

Why 316 Stainless Beats Aluminium and Poly Camlock Fittings

Most Australian suppliers push aluminium or nylon Camlock couplings because they're cheap to import. They're fine for clean water in a shed. They're a poor choice for anything harsh. Aluminium corrodes fast around salt, acids and many fertilisers. Poly and nylon soften in heat and can crack under UV and pressure over time.

Grade 316 stainless steel is a genuine step up. It resists pitting, rust and a wide range of chemicals, it handles a broad temperature range, and it cleans up easily, which is why it's the standard grade in food, dairy and potable water work. For a coastal property, a mine site, a marine setup or a bore, a 316 Camlock is the fitting that's still working in five years. We think the small price gap is worth it every time, and our customers who've replaced corroded aluminium tend to agree.

Sizes, Threads and Seals, Sorted

Camlock sizing runs off the nominal bore, and the thread on our fittings is BSP, which is the Australian standard. When you order a Type C or Type E, match the barb size to your hose internal diameter, then finish the join with a good hose clamp so it can't blow off under pressure. Every female Camlock coupler runs a seal (a gasket) inside the body. Nitrile (Buna-N) is the common all-rounder for water and many fuels, while other rubbers suit tougher chemical duties. A worn or wrong seal is the number one cause of a leaking Camlock, so it pays to keep spares on hand.

Built for WA Work: Mining, Agriculture, Marine and Bore Water

We're a Perth-based business and most of our Camlock orders go out to WA sites, so we've seen where these fittings earn their keep. On farms they run water carts, spray rigs, transfer lines and diesel decanting. On mine sites and in construction they handle dewatering, dust suppression and slurry transfer where a fast, secure disconnect saves real downtime. Around the coast and on boats, 316 stainless is the only grade we'd trust against salt. And for anyone on bore water, stainless shrugs off the mineral content that stains and clogs lesser fittings. If you're speccing a job and want a second opinion on materials or sizing, our team knows this gear.

Pair Your Camlock Fittings With the Right Pump

A Camlock is only as good as the system it's on. If you're setting up a transfer line, you'll want the fittings and the pump to match. We stock trusted transfer and pressure pumps from Davey, Onga and Grundfos, plus rugged submersibles from Tsurumi for dewatering. To finish the plumbing, browse our stainless steel BSP fittings, ball valves for flow control, and spare gaskets and seals so a worn Camlock seal never stops your job. Buying the pump, the valves and the Camlock fittings in one order also gets you over the free shipping threshold faster.

Why Buy Your Camlock Fittings From Pumptastic

We're not a marketplace reseller. We're pump and fitting specialists based in Perth, and we pick up the phone. Every Camlock in this range is 316 stainless as standard, priced fairly, dispatched fast, and backed by people who actually understand what you're connecting it to. Orders over $100 ship free Australia-wide, and if you're stuck on which type or size to order, call our team on (08) 6384 5884, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We'll get it right the first time so you're not sending fittings back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Camlock fitting used for?
A Camlock is a quick-connect coupling for joining hoses and pipes without tools. It's used for water transfer, irrigation, diesel and fuel decanting, IBC emptying, fire fighting and general fluid handling across farming, mining, construction and marine work.

What are the six Camlock types, A to F?
Types A, B, D and F have BSP threads, and Types C and E have hose barbs. Types A, E and F are male; Types B, C and D are female. You pair one male half with one female half to make a working connection.

Are stainless steel Camlock fittings better than aluminium?
For harsh conditions, yes. Grade 316 stainless resists salt, chemicals, rust and pitting far better than aluminium or poly, and it handles a wider temperature range. It's the right pick for coastal, marine, mining and bore water use.

What size Camlock do I need?
Match the Camlock size to your hose or pipe bore. For hose barb types (C and E), match the barb to your hose internal diameter and secure it with a hose clamp. For threaded types, match the BSP thread size to your existing port.

Why is my Camlock leaking?
The usual cause is a worn, damaged or incorrect seal inside the female coupler, or arms that aren't fully closed. Check the gasket first, make sure both cam arms are locked down, and confirm the male and female halves are the same size.

What is the difference between a male and female Camlock?
The male half is the adaptor with the grooved end. The female half is the coupler with the two cam arms that lock over the male groove. Every join needs one of each.

Can I use Camlock fittings for diesel, fuel or chemicals?
Yes, provided the seal suits the fluid. Nitrile (Buna-N) seals handle water and many fuels including diesel. For aggressive chemicals, check seal compatibility first. 316 stainless bodies handle a broad chemical range.

Are your Camlock fittings compatible with other brands?
Yes. Camlocks made to the standard A-A-59326 dimensions are cross-compatible, so our Type A adaptor will mate with a standard Type B coupler from another supplier, and vice versa.

Do you deliver Camlock fittings across WA and Australia?
Yes. We dispatch fast from Perth and ship Australia-wide, with free shipping on orders over $100. That covers metro Perth, regional WA and the rest of the country.

Can I use a Camlock straight on a pump?
Yes. A Type A or Type F Camlock threads onto a BSP pump port to give you a quick-connect outlet, and a Type C or E puts a camlock end on your hose. Pair the right fittings with a matched transfer pump for a leak-free line.