Air lines.. what are you using?

[jabberwoki]

Some years ago I used Nibco chem aire lines and fittings to outfit my shop.
Well they stopped producing this stuff years ago and It does not hold up well. The pipes are splitting well under the max air pressure they recommended.
I`ve been soldiering on with the supply of extra fittings and pipe but the time to rip it all out and re do it is near.
Soo what are you using?
Cast iron, pvc and prolly copper are out so what else is working?

 

[The Cobbler]

you won't use cast iron for pressure . black pipe would be what you are looking for.
PVC is a no ,
I used type l copper in mine

 

[Woodman920]

Look at the pex air line kits. A ton cheaper than copper or black pipe. Iwas looking at a 100' kit for under$175. It gets very good reviews. I'm switching over to it. I've got pvc and it scares people. I haven't been too worried, it's rated 460psi and still is pliant. But, I have a son in the safety industry who will keep poking till I do it.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

RapidAir
Pex
Good time Charlie- always full of hot air!

 

[txvwnut]

Black pipe in mine but I need to move a hose reel and finish plumbing the upstairs so I will most likely switch to RapidAir throughout the whole building.

 

[MotorCityBear]

Rapid Air Maxline, no complaints.

 

[MrSurly]

 

[DocsMachine]

Plumbed my entire shop with Rapidair Maxline. Eight drops, eleven outlets. Been pressurized 24-7 for very close to two years now with zero issues.

If I don't use the air, the compressor might run on it's own maybe once a month.

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with anything else. This stuff is easy to install, relatively inexpensive for a small setup, and plenty reliable.

Doc.

 

[TMcCay]

I'm another happy Rapidair customer. Installed 8 years ago and still holding up. Mine is the Maxline also. Best to install it when it warm and sunny out, helps to get it straightened out.

 

[Dagny]

Black pipe

 

[matt_i]

Just curious why you eliminated copper?

 

[Ron_J]

RapidAir here as well. Well, I'm in the process of installing it. No complaints so far.

 

[dfiler2]

PEX works really well, we have hundreds of feet in place and have never had a failure in the past 25 years. We secure it to a light weight angle to keep it straight and use the Oetiker style clamps.

 

[Bretny]

In my 24x24 I use 3/4in black pipe. It's really only 1 run halfway across and down the length of the ceiling. I have a drop with a couple I never use, a hose reel in the middle and a short 6ft hose at my bench. Any place i needed a 90* bend i used a Tee for future needs. But in 7yrs i haven't added any.

 

[NeubCont]

Rapidair
Just an FYI
The 3/4" Maxline kit goes on sale often at Northern Tools
Picked up a couple of their 3/4 kits for around $149 each
Comes with 150' hose and assorted fittings.
I bought a couple of the kits because
You get the fittings for less then if you buy them separately
I also ran a 100' line to a remote area because I had the extra tubing

 

[Blk88GT]

Copper.

 

[RMR&C]

Had PVC for 17 years, no issues, but re-designed my air system routing and used iron pipe. That works fine as well.

 

[nadogail]

Mostly I am just using air hose in my 2 car garage. I started with copper because it is easier to solder, then cutting and threading pipe.

For my limited purposes a Harbor Freight air hose threaded through the trusses works fine.

 

[FTG-05]

 

[biggziff]

Rapidair Pex-AL-Pex or what they call Maxline. You only need the 1/2" kit.

 

[fourbyford]

I installed 3/4" galvi pipe in my original shop in 1997... have never had the slightest problem. In '01, helped my buddy put the same in the new shop we built him. Finishing the install of the same in the garage at our new place. I've never had a problem with it and don't feel the need to look for anything else.


...D

 

[didit]

3/4" type 'L' copper, for the air cooling it provides for aiding in water removal. Easy installation as well.

 

[engineer2]

Copper is cheaper than black iron pipe, is easier to install, and won't rust inside.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I had PVC but ripped it out and replaced it with black pipe. No issues since doing that as the PVC needed a few pieces replaced due to leaks.

 

[Steve W.]

1/2" copper in my shop. Four drops, five outlets.

Usually just me working there, and not always with air.

.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I've got hoses run all over the place right now and it's a mess, I'll be doing PEX but finishing my shed allows the bulk of the **** currently in the garage to vacate. That will allow me to put everything right where I wan it while still getting a car or two in the garage when needed. After I'm certain I like where everything is and will remain, then I'll plumb everything more permanently. The possibility of turning the shed into a wood shop exists but that's way down the road and if/when it happens, PEX will be the plan there too.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm still running air hose, three drops, two hose reels and a coil hose with a tool retract cable reel over the bench. I got the hose for free at the time, but I will eventually go to 1/2" M or maybe Maxline.

Tommy

 

[Jlarson]

I used all stainless tube leftover from instrument jobs.

We do a lot of black iron, both threaded and welded, and copper for customers.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I used all stainless tube leftover from instrument jobs.

First world problem.


Tommy

 

[IndyGarage]

I looked at 3/4 inch Rapidair.

I ended up just using PEX line. Cheap and quick and has worked great.

 

[kaymccampbell]

L copper.

 

[oldmachinenut]

L copper here too.

 

[niget2002]

I keep seeing lots of recommendations for the Rapid Air kits.

I'm taking an honest look at it as right now I don't have any drops in my shop and it's getting really annoying dragging air line from the front all the way to the back of a 50' shop.

My plan will be to have 3 drops, one by each door, with air reels on them.

While taking a look at the product on Amazon, I came across this lovely gem of a review:

 

[MFortie]

RapidAir Fastpipe

 

[jabberwoki]

Well copper is really not out of the equation, I just wanted to focus on other options to see what works and what's out there.

 

[Sweetcorn]

I went with 3/4" Rapidair Maxline and would use it again.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I used a combination of copper and Pex with shark bite fittings. Works great

 

[38Chevy454]

Copper, with 3/4 for the run lines and 1/2 for the drops.

 

[ManOnTheCouch]

Copper for my cooler into my filters then into a RapidAir system.

 

[BE58P]

RapidAir 3/4" Fastpipe (rigid.) Easy to install and looks great. No issues yet (6 months from new.)