Compressed Air Lines

[behindpropeller]

Are there any economical alternatives to black pipe or copper for running permanent air lines in a shop??

[LaserImage]

Whatever you do, don't use pvc pipe - unless you have great medical insurance and have me named as a benificiary on your life insurance...

[Geof]

Originally Posted by LaserImage Whatever you do, don't use pvc pipe - unless you have great medical insurance and have me named as a benificiary on your life insurance...

Add me also, please.

There has been mention in a thread about some plastic tube that is rated for air lines using special fittings but I think the cost was no lower than copper. We use copper because it is so much cleaner and easier to install.

Here is a hint: sprinkle ball valves liberally throughout the network of airlines so that you can isolate portions to work on when necessary. This saves the embrassment of forgetting what you are doing and shutting down the entire system and having a whole lot of machines stop with no air alarms

[LaserImage]

Originally Posted by Geof There has been mention in a thread about some plastic tube that is rated for air lines using special fittings but I think the cost was no lower than copper.

I have some of that plastic tube on my laser, it's low pressure - 30psi, and low volume. It can be used for higher pressure and a larger tube would get you more volume, but it isn't going to be cheap. I think the tube I bought was about $1.00 per foot in small quantities. The fittings are not cheap either. I would have done copper but I wasn't sure of the layout of the shop and didn't want to have to redo it when I changed things around.

Gary

[behindpropeller]

I just got back from the store and compared copper with black pipe. Copper is probably 20% more costly due to the price of the fittings. I was thinking 3/4" copper or 1/2" black pipe. I did not find any copper fittings that would go from a 3/4" copper to a 1/4" NPT.

Why do you guys say copper is easier than black pipe? Soldering seems to take more time than screwing black pipe together.



I already read the thread on PVC pipe for airlines so I will heed the warning and drop that idea.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by behindpropeller ....I did not find any copper fittings that would go from a 3/4" copper to a 1/4" NPT. Why do you guys say copper is easier than black pipe? Soldering seems to take more time than screwing black pipe together. I already read the thread on PVC pipe for airlines so I will heed the warning and drop that idea.

Get 1/2" and just use a reducing bushing down to 1/4"NPT.

With black pipe you need to cut and thread the ends then screw everything together and it is difficult to adjust the lengths that you get wrong.

With copper you simply cut, deburr, clean and apply flux and assemble nearly all the piping before going along with the propane torch and soldering all the joints. It is very simple to trim the pipe lengths in position for your fit and you can spring the pipe into position easier.

And you don't get your hands as dirty.

[LaserImage]

Originally Posted by Geof With black pipe you need to cut and thread the ends then screw everything together and it is difficult to adjust the lengths that you get wrong.

And you can always count on the fitting to point in the wrong direction when it is tight - the only way to get it to point the right way is to overtighten it or leave it loose... not so with copper.

[Andre' B]

A while ago the boss finally got tired of rust and crap in the lines and replaced everything with aluminum.
Not sure what brand it was but somthing like this.
http://www.garage-pak.com/compressed...ipe/index.html

If a speedy instal is in anyway a factor it goes up fast.

[mc-motorsports]

If your running air tools, go with the bigger diameter, makes a HUGE difference, especially with impacts. Industrial air fittings, but I think they are 3/8" NPT. Even if you use a reducer right at the impact gun, you'll notice A LOT more power.

MC

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Andre' B A while ago the boss finally got tired of rust and crap in the lines and replaced everything with aluminum. Not sure what brand it was but somthing like this. http://www.garage-pak.com/compressed...ipe/index.html If a speedy instal is in anyway a factor it goes up fast.

That is new to me. It certainly looks like a nice system.

[xjdubber]

never read the thread on pvc pipe but were they using schedule 40? or class 200 maybe? I know here in canada the sched 40 csa is rated up to 300 psi just dont run it anywhere where there is heat of 30c or sun. I do water well pumps and treatment and have ran 200 psi on it. It also does get used on Reversed osmosis units where it is always at 200 psi. they will usually use sched 80 on that though.

[Geof]

With PVC and ABS pipes on compressed air it is not so much a lack of pressure capacity but the way they fail catastrophically throwing shards of plastic all over the place at high speeds.