Air Compressor System

[Drouin66]

So I am putting in an air compressor system, and I need to bolt the rubber lead in line from the compressor to the hard line. Is there a fitting that will swivel, so as I tighten one side or the other it doesn't twist up the lead in line? I looked at the hardware store and they had pipe unions, but I am pretty sure a pipe union will not hold air pressure.

FYI I need the fitting to be 1/2

 

[Zrexxer]

Yes a union will. I've used them for years.

 

[NUISANCE]

Need to find what is called a whip hose if you can. If you can't find that and are in a pinch you can just find a short length of compressor hose, say 3 feet, and put couplers on each end and connect that. Whip hose would be easier but the line with couplers would work in a pinch too.

 

[mike528]

We run whole plants on regular black pipe and fittings. As long as you use Teflon tape or paste on the fitting threads. (But not the nut on the union, it isn't needed)

 

[Zrexxer]

Here's a picture. That's a pipe union where it joins the copper.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Zrexxer/media/Tools/ChampionPlumbing6-800.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[JRC3]

A union is what I would suggest too. Galvanized unions are rated for 150 to 300 psi depending on the manufacturer. Some brass unions are rated to 1200 psi.

I wouldn't hesitate to run something like 165 psi of air through a 150 psi union.

 

[sracer99]

Recently plumbed one in and used two unions and a length of hydraulic hose. Cheap and easy to find.

 

[Drouin66]

Thanks guys. Yes the pipe union was what I thought would work, but when it's in the box and not tighten onto something it seemed like the piece had to much play to hold air pressure.

 

[Drouin66]

I already have the hose. What is the difference with a whip hose? Is the threading reverse threads on one end or something?

 

[Drouin66]

Here's a picture. That's a pipe union where it joins the copper.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Zrexxer/media/Tools/ChampionPlumbing6-800.jpg.html] [/URL]

You can take a close up picture of the union and the brass line? I just want to see if it's what I had pictured it was going to look like.

 

[9GUY9]

Hydraulic hoses use mild steel fittings. They will rust inside when use for air. They are designed to be carrying oil, which does not require any corrosion protection.

 

[Drouin66]

Hydraulic hoses use mild steel fittings. They will rust inside when use for air. They are designed to be carrying oil, which does not require any corrosion protection.

The hose I have has brass fittings and is an air hose. All the pipping is galvanized pipes.

 

[sho92]

I used an air brake line I got from a truck repair shop I happened to drive past on my way to Grainger. I had no clue the shop was there, just happened to see the sign while sitting at a red light! Works great, and I didn't have to spend the crazy money Grainger wanted.

The air brake line has a swivel fitting on one end, so no need for a union.

 

[ratdoggy]

I used an air brake line I got from a truck repair shop I happened to drive past on my way to Grainger. I had no clue the shop was there, just happened to see the sign while sitting at a red light! Works great, and I didn't have to spend the crazy money Grainger wanted.

The air brake line has a swivel fitting on one end, so no need for a union.

I worked at a truck dealership and made mine

 

[CNGsaves]

I worked at a truck dealership and made mine.

Bought some good quality airhoses at garage sale (1 missing end) and found out O'Reilly's has a service where they will install brass crimped ends to hoses . . . . mostly hydraulic hoses but said they could do 5/8" hose.

Ratdoggy would truck/trailer repair place be better choice to attempt to repair smaller air hose like I've got?? Or give O'Reilly's a chance??

 

[mike13u]

Search stainless steel braided hose assembly in 1/2" NPT. This is a good, durable, and recommended whip for compressors to hard lines in shop environments. If you have trouble assembling because of the threads at both ends, thread the compressor end on and then thread your copper fitting on with a couple of joints already sweated together so you have a foot or two of copper line on the opposite end of the braided line. Use a copper coupler a foot or two away from the braided hose and sweat that to your shop lines from that point with a wet rag on the braided line so that the pipe tape or the hose beneath the braided stainless doesn't get hot.

 

[Zrexxer]

Hydraulic hoses use mild steel fittings. They will rust inside when use for air..

You mean like the entire inside of your compressor tank?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NUISANCE]

I already have the hose. What is the difference with a whip hose? Is the threading reverse threads on one end or something?

A whip generally has one fixed end and one end that swivels/pivots so when you tighten the hose it doesn't twist up on you.

 

[ratdoggy]

Bought some good quality airhoses at garage sale (1 missing end) and found out O'Reilly's has a service where they will install brass crimped ends to hoses . . . . mostly hydraulic hoses but said they could do 5/8" hose.

Ratdoggy would truck/trailer repair place be better choice to attempt to repair smaller air hose like I've got?? Or give O'Reilly's a chance??

They could probably crimp an end on for you. Also better auto parts stores could probably order in a truck air hose by size. But most good auto part and truck places should be able to make it. I have a Carquest by me that can do it all they need is the swaging machine

 

[jgorm]

Isn't that a copper union on the pipe side? Can't you just loosen that up, tighten the hose, then tighten the union?

 

[Zrexxer]

You can take a close up picture of the union and the brass line? I just want to see if it's what I had pictured it was going to look like.

Sure. That fitting is out of service right now as the compressor is being repositioned, so it's easy to photograph.

 

[kwb]

You will laugh but what I have had in place for about a decade now is a 3/4" Hot water tank stainless braid hose.

Swivel ends thread onto pipe and no union required.

Cheap and effective.

I know unions are useful but the way I planned out the lines I didn't need to add one and intentionally put T's in places to tap in to the system in the future if I need a drop somewhere else.

 

[RayBob58]

Do it like this.

Cheap and easy. We have thousands of in my workplace.

 

[GYPSY400]

Do it like this.

Cheap and easy. We have thousands of in my workplace.

I have the same type of setup using a standard hydraulic hose.. the tapered fitting is an industry standard and its called JIC. IF your wondering about size, the number of the fitting represents 1/16".. so a #16 is 1" id and a #4 is 1/4"id and so-forth. My system is 3/4" copper, so i used a #12.

 

[sberry]

Hose barb and a clamp,,, if you are using a hyd hose a swivel cost 3 or 4 dollars.