1/2" Maxline Master Kit

[bad_idea]

I'm looking to install an air piping setup in the garage. I have a 5HP Quincy 325 - puts out 18CFM at 175 psi. Garage is 30x40. Home garage - one man shop with average air tools. Burr motor, needle gun, and sand blaster are about the biggest air hogs. Maxline's site recommended the 1/2" kit. I know this is GJ, and bigger is better. BUT - has anyone had real experience with the 1/2" kit being insufficient, if so what was your uses? Thanks.

 

[930dreamer]

I just installed 1/2" black iron pipe airlines. 5hp Champion compressor and it runs my blast cabinet just fine. If I ordered one of these kits, I'd get the straight pipe.

 

[IndyGarage]

I have a pretty large shop with a 5hp Champion compressor. I put in 1/2 inch PEX about 8 years ago. No problems, but I don't really use air tools nearly as much as I used to. Occasionally I pull out the air impact. sometimes a die grinder or spray gun.

 

[dnschmidt]

1/2" should get it done. There are always much smaller restrictions in the hoses and couplers than 1/2" and these are the weakest links. One poster said he used PEX which I guess should work although I don't know the working pressure for PEX or the Uponor system. One thing you don't want to use is PCV as this can turn into shrapnel. According to what I've read you must avoid UV exposure to PEX as it degrades very quickly when exposed to sunlight which out here in Phoenix isn't that easy to avoid.

 

[bad_idea]

I have been waffling between PEX and the Maxline system. Steel is too much work. Copper cost too much. PVC is bad ju-ju. I have swayed to Maxline due to max working pressure. The Maxline is significantly higher working pressure at higher temperatures. Here in NC it is not uncommon for the temp to be ~95 degrees. The compressor puts out 175 PSIG. I plan to regulate it down to 100 PSIG on the piping, but want the system to be able to handle the higher pressure if the regulator malfunctions. Pex is not rated that high at temps over 73 degrees. And then you factor in the fact PEX is not rated for compressed air, but Maxline is.

Still holding out to hear from anyone who has installed the 1/2" Maxline specifically. But I am fairly set on going with that. It will likely be the fall before I get to installing the system, so I have time for additional research. Thanks all.

 

[IndyGarage]

I have been waffling between PEX and the Maxline system. Steel is too much work. Copper cost too much. PVC is bad ju-ju. I have swayed to Maxline due to max working pressure. The Maxline is significantly higher working pressure at higher temperatures. Here in NC it is not uncommon for the temp to be ~95 degrees. The compressor puts out 175 PSIG. I plan to regulate it down to 100 PSIG on the piping, but want the system to be able to handle the higher pressure if the regulator malfunctions. Pex is not rated that high at temps over 73 degrees. And then you factor in the fact PEX is not rated for compressed air, but Maxline is.

Still holding out to hear from anyone who has installed the 1/2" Maxline specifically. But I am fairly set on going with that. It will likely be the fall before I get to installing the system, so I have time for additional research. Thanks all.

I looked at the same thing. Pex works fine and is cheap - made to work with hot water, so up to 120 degrees shouldn't be a problem. And the pipe itself doesn't break until about 1000 PSI - before that the fittings can start leaking at 500 PSI. So 175 psi is not going to be a problem.
UV degradation is not an issue for me because it's indoors and doesn't get sunlight. And the failure patterns are good - it generally just leaks on over pressure. I know it's not intended for air, but water is going to be more corrosive than air - I can't see any reason not to use it.
Here's a Pex pressure test video