Air Line Question

[32rules]

During my normal Satuday Breakfast with friends, whe were talking shop and I said how I was getting ready to plumb my garage for compressed air.
I was planning on black pipe, but one of my friends owns an LP ditribution company and he told me not to buy it because he could help me and use the same plastic (not sure maybe poly propolene) tubing they use to run all thier LP stuff through. Rated at 325# pressure.
I know this would have drawbacks as far as air cooling but hey the price is somewhere between free and his wholesale cost.
I have a 40X60 pole barn type shop and will run a 3/4 main trunk with 3/8 drops.
Anybody ever use this type of tubing for air supply?

 

[OccupantRJ]

In an emergency, firemen might mistake it for gas line? It is probably color coded or marked as such.

 

[tigmusky]

I've seen a few shop with pvc type air lines works fine and no rusting or brownish water. just use alot of hangers this stuff likes to sag and move with the temp.

good luck Daye

 

[E.Marquez]

Find out at what temp it is rated at? Can you get fittings and such later if needed? and yes,, you will have different issues with moisture then if you use metal pipe. I'd bet you can make a plastic pipe air set up that will work,, just need the risers, drip legs, dump valves and such. Good luck... Post up what you build

 

[Stuart in MN]

Polypropylene pipe is one thing, PVC is another. As has been discussed here a million times, PVC is NOT to be used for compressed air.

 

[32rules]

Temperture rating is extreme. I dont have the exact but the use it inside factorys in the heat and bury it just below ground level and in this area it gets sub zero certain days and overnight. So temp is not a problem.
I didnt ask what color but even if it was mistaken for a gas line in a fire, I cant see where that would be a problem.
I asked about fittings and he said they take a stab fitting with annular barbs and aseal at the end. I havent seen one yet but he said they have them readily available and have transition fittings to black pipe and copper.
This all makes sense because its used everyday for LP installation.

I agree that the down falls would be the need for lots of hangers and I havent seen any to see just how pliable but it comes in rolls so I guess pretty pliable.

But for me the cost is very appealing. Just dont want to do anything dangerous.

 

[akdiesel]

When you are saying LP I am assuming you mean 5# or less? I am also assuming the rated pressure you are talking about is burst pressure. If that is the case than it can be 3 times less for the working pressure rating.

 

[32rules]

When you are saying LP I am assuming you mean 5# or less? I am also assuming the rated pressure you are talking about is burst pressure. If that is the case than it can be 3 times less for the working pressure rating.

No LP Liquid Pretroleum.
You know the high pressure tanks sitting in the back yard of homes in the country.
No I wouldnt use the orange stuff for natural gas.
But I was surprised to find out that stuff has fairly high pressure ratings before the regulator also.

This is stuff used on LP tanks before the regulator on LP installations.

 

[toxicz28]

I didnt ask what color but even if it was mistaken for a gas line in a fire, I cant see where that would be a problem.

It could be the difference of them actually putting the fire out, and not running out of the building and letting it burn to the ground.

 

[930dreamer]

Sounds like a plan, post some pics of the product.

 

[32rules]

It could be the difference of them actually putting the fire out, and not running out of the building and letting it burn to the ground.

Well taken.

Dont think it will be the deciding factor, but it is why I posed the question.

 

[ket-tek]

I didnt ask what color but even if it was mistaken for a gas line in a fire, I cant see where that would be a problem.

Like mentioned they may leave the area, or waste a bunch of time trying to find a gas main shut-off that isn't there?

I don't know about it, there are so many other affordable options I personally would never use gas line for air. Though I do understand it's free, and free is good.

 

[Zrexxer]

It's done commercially all the time, there are companies marketing whole kit setups of flexible plastic tubing for compressed airlines:

http://www.rapidairproducts.com/

And no, this is not PVC pipe, it's a nylon tubing.

 

[Nostraquedeo]

If it is exposed, I would have some concerns about hitting it with something. If you bump black gas pipe under pressure with a table saw or something else, no prob. Not sure the same could be said about the poly product.

 

[ironman2424]

if it's insured for enough who cares if they let it burn. i'd much rather start over than deal with smoke and fire damage and fight with my insurance company about whether or not my tools work right after a fire. knock on wood i hope mine don't but if it did let it burn.

 

[no2tracks]

Just paint it black and label it "AIR" with an arrow indicating flow direction. I painted my water pipes blue for cold and red for hot. That way if they get crossed up somewhere, there's no mistaking which is what, wherever you are.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

If it's polyethylene, then it's probably not UV stable and not suitable for use above ground.

Phil

 

[dfndr]

My buddy is an LP gas engineer and a top notch home mechanic. Just yesterday he was showing me his set-up with the flexible LP tubing and the slickest fittings I've ever seen. The tubing looked kind of small but he runs everything, including a sand blast box and says that he has plenty of pressure and never waits for the compressor, even when blasting or painting. I think I'll let him plumb mine with it. It's all wholesale priced and seems to be good.

 

[32rules]

My buddy is an LP gas engineer and a top notch home mechanic. Just yesterday he was showing me his set-up with the flexible LP tubing and the slickest fittings I've ever seen. The tubing looked kind of small but he runs everything, including a sand blast box and says that he has plenty of pressure and never waits for the compressor, even when blasting or painting. I think I'll let him plumb mine with it. It's all wholesale priced and seems to be good.

Well ty very much.
Would love to see his system.
My guy says it only comes in 2 sizes, 3/4 and 3/8.

See if you can get a pic.

 

[32rules]

If it's polyethylene, then it's probably not UV stable and not suitable for use above ground.

Phil

That is a concern.
He said they have a uv guard that they use.
Dont know much about that.

Thanks

 

[32rules]

More Info
It is yellow in color.
It is semi ridgid and sags between supports will not be a problem.
It has a working pressure of 375# as a saftey feature in case LP in liquid form gets in the line somehow and expands.
Seen the stuff inperson for the first time today and looks like it would be good for my use.

 

[benjamming]

Roepex is "plastic"?