Air Compressor Accessories Critique

[WIKDRacing]

I am finishing up my compressor closet to get my new Belaire 60 gal 2 stage compressor in and I’m about to order the air lines and a FRL combo.

The shop is used for automotive work with mainly impacts, air grinders and currently a tire change machine. Nothing major. In the future a dyno may need some air.

I am thinking of ordering Rapid Air 3/4” piping system with 1/2” drops utilizing a regulator at every drop for either the hose reels or tire changer (onboard).

I am looking at going with a 3/4” filter/regulator/lubricator combo off the air compressor with regulator set to minimum 150psi or maxed out at 175psi. Just looking for a decent brand on Amazon to go with.

Does everything look like a decent plan? This is the first real “plumbed” air system I will be installing. Others have just been a tank with the house coming off. Is a 3/4” FRL too much, should I just use 1/2”? I believe 3/8” hose reels will work for everything I need it to.

I also need to pipe a drain off the bottom to an automatic valve as currently the tank only has a 1/4” petcock on the bottom.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

WIKD, If you're the only one using air in your shop, and you're not running 500' of line, 1/2" will suffice just fine. Personally, I like an aftercooler at the pump, which will get rid of the majority of water vapor in your lines, but will require purging your receiver more often (which you should do anyway) Add a main line regulator at the receiver, set it to 120psi, and see how that works for you. FORGET the lubricator at the main line or you'll have oil in all of your air (blow nozzles, paint guns, etc.) best to have lubricators at point of use.
As far as the 1/4" receiver drain petcock, it will suffice, just remove it and plumb the drain with a valve in a more convenient location, then continue the drain line outside.
I added a tee with a quick coulper before my regulator, so if I ever want full tank pressure, I can plug a hose in at that point.
If you want to get ****, run it all in copper, pull each drop leg off the top of the main run, run the drop below point of use, with a valve to drain condensate, and at each point of use, add a tee with a quick coulper for blow gun use, then a filter/ regulator, then another tee and quick coulper (for paint guns) then lastly, a lubricator with quick coupler for air tools.

 

[sberry]

I like 1/2 in modest shop. So many less fittings. You might use the rapid and adapters, can finish it with common fittings.

 

[WIKDRacing]

Thank you for the responses. Good to see for a small shop consensus would be 1/2" lines. It is not a large space, only 40x60 but with a room framed out in the interior as well. I believe from the start I will only have air drops to half of the shop with capability to expand where the dyno will be in the future.