Air Line Setup

[Neura]

So I have been reading and researching and contemplating about my air line setup for the garage. I have decided to use 3/4" black pipe since I can get it for cheap .

I have a heat less desiccant dryer from Princess Auto that needs to be mounted 25 feet away, I also have a 1/2" milton regulator and a 1/2" milton air filter. I am thinking of using the milton stuff as a main regulator and filter point and adding some cheap princess auto filter and regulators at each drop point. I am thinking of coming out of the compressor and up about 2 feet and running the line through the built in cabinets on one wall to the filter, regulator and desiccant dryer, then back through the cabinets higher up for the main loop. I would add t's going upwards for each drop point and then come down the wall with another t reduced down to 1/2" and then a slight up and into the next regulator filter setup. there would also be a 6" drip leg at each drop from the main line, and I will be adding a automatic drain to the compressor.

there will be 1 drop for a hose reel on the back wall, 2 over the bench on the back wall with the curled air lines and then down the side wall I will add 1 for a future blast cabinet, and a future drop on the front wall at the end of the main loop. I am thinking of also adding a drop inside the cabinets with a hose reel and then have that go through the front wall of the garage to be used outside in the driveway and also in the RV area for tires etc. I am sick of having to roll up air lines and continually trip over them....

the actually setup for the drops would be similar to what PurdueSD did in his build here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9671&page=11

anything I am missing or didn't think of??

 

[saabman]

I have 3/4 black iron running around the perimeter (2 walls) of my garage. 1/2 drops in 3 places. Dryer and regulator at each drop. My hose real is mounted high on the wall. It is "backfed" from one of the pressure regulators. My compressor puts out 175 psi in the 3/4 main line. Did not want that going directly in to the hose real. So now I can set the drop at 90 psi, avalable via quick connect down low and via the hose reel.

Chris

 

[Del Swanson]

He did it exactly the right way by having all the drops come off the top of the main. If you can't do that, at least have a dirt leg on every drop. Black pipe is also the best to use. You should have a trouble free air system when you're done.

The worst thing you could use is PVC. I know I'll get flack for that, but being a Steamfitter I've seen some BAD things happen with PVC and compressed air.

So I have been reading and researching and contemplating about my air line setup for the garage. I have decided to use 3/4" black pipe since I can get it for cheap .

I have a heat less desiccant dryer from Princess Auto that needs to be mounted 25 feet away, I also have a 1/2" milton regulator and a 1/2" milton air filter. I am thinking of using the milton stuff as a main regulator and filter point and adding some cheap princess auto filter and regulators at each drop point. I am thinking of coming out of the compressor and up about 2 feet and running the line through the built in cabinets on one wall to the filter, regulator and desiccant dryer, then back through the cabinets higher up for the main loop. I would add t's going upwards for each drop point and then come down the wall with another t reduced down to 1/2" and then a slight up and into the next regulator filter setup. there would also be a 6" drip leg at each drop from the main line, and I will be adding a automatic drain to the compressor.

there will be 1 drop for a hose reel on the back wall, 2 over the bench on the back wall with the curled air lines and then down the side wall I will add 1 for a future blast cabinet, and a future drop on the front wall at the end of the main loop. I am thinking of also adding a drop inside the cabinets with a hose reel and then have that go through the front wall of the garage to be used outside in the driveway and also in the RV area for tires etc. I am sick of having to roll up air lines and continually trip over them....

the actually setup for the drops would be similar to what PurdueSD did in his build here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9671&page=11

anything I am missing or didn't think of??

 

[Torque1st]

I would not run lines in the cabinets. The lines need to be in free air.

You only need one filter/regulator setup. Just plug it in wherever it is needed. Same with the dessicant dryer. Save it for where and when it is needed.

 

[Neura]

no doors yet on the cabinets, I will get around to putting in some sliding panels at some point in time. what about going up into the attic with the first loop to the desiccant dryer? or I have enough space I could mount to the ceiling on the front of the cabinet and then run 2 sets of pipes out to the dryer and back and then drop the height down a bit when I get to the actual main loop that would feed the rest of the garage.

I had thought about saving the desiccant dryer for later but then thought what the heck mine as well use it for the entire system, figured it couldn't hurt and if I want another one later PA here has them on sale all the time for $40.... the cheap filters and regulators from PA are on sale all the time for $15 each as well so I don't mind spending the extra money to put them in so I don't have to move them around. The black pipe I am getting from a wholesaler for 0.71/ft so it is cheap as well.