Nylon Air Lines??

[Ezzie]

I just received my Princess Auto (Canadian equivalent of Harbour Freight) flyer this morning and noticed a new offering - a compressed air delivery system from a company called "RapidAir". Looks like it uses nylon tubing and the ad indicates it is a "Made in USA" product. The tubing is $80 CDN for 100' of 1/2". Anybody have experience with this stuff??

http://www.rapidairproducts.com/

 

[mikeyr]

$11.35 for 10ft. of copper, that makes it $111 for 100ft. and I personally would move up to 3/4 for more money anyway. So ok you can save money with it, but its limit is 150psi and my compressor puts out 175psi. I have full air pressure in my lines and regulate at each outlet, got tired of walking to the compressor to regulate air pressure. And it only comes in 1/2", I won't put in less than 3/4"

Another thing to think about is with copper or iron pipe, you have a cooling effect on the air which greatly reduces moisture in your air, I doubt (but readily admit, I don't know) that plastic would help much with moisture.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use 1/4 and 3/8" nylon tubing all the time in the factory, but only for equipment air supply pigtails. The tubing and push-in fittings are available from www.mscdirect.com That is where I buy my pieces. It may be difficult to make a mounted line look neat, because the tubing wants to take a natural curve from being rolled up. Good stuff, though. Easy and quick to use or repair with the push fittings. Easy to fish through walls, much like electrical cable, just protect it from punctures by nails and screws.

RJ

 

[Ggg]

It gets very hard and brittle in the cold, also it does not resist damage from welding sparks/slag. I stay away from it when possible.

 

[Jeepguy]

It gets very hard and brittle in the cold, also it does not resist damage from welding sparks/slag. I stay away from it when possible.

hes right, its really good for fluid, but not compressed air. I am partial to Trans air myself, but thats mostly because i have miles of it in stock.

 

[randydupree]

i use the plastic air line built for big truck air lines,works great,fast,easy.
YMMV

 

[Matt M PA]

I installed Rapid Air in my detached garage. I have been well pleased.

 

[dragginblazer]

It is just regular DOT grade air suspension/brake hose and fittings. I have the same stuff on my bagged truck.

http://www.airridefittings.com

 

[A_Pmech]

It is just regular DOT grade air suspension/brake hose and fittings. I have the same stuff on my bagged truck.

http://www.airridefittings.com

Yup!

Available at most decent NAPA stores for about .79 per linear foot for 1/2". The size references the OD of the tubing, not the ID, BTW.

Just bought some 3/8" for the Do-All rebuild yesterday. I've never worked with the stuff before, so it should be fun.

 

[Ggg]

Air brake line, even the largest being 5/8" IIRC is awfully small for plumbing air supply for a shop. It also very susceptible to welding spark damage, albeit easily repaired but then you end up with two more joints.

 

[Tech Guy]

Ezzie I checked it out at the PA in mississauga. Didnt really like what I saw and some of the above points for damage etc are valid. I would go metal pipe so it stands up to the abuse and PSI