wouldworker
Member
I have seen the shrapnel produced when one blows. There will be no PVC air lines on my property.
Air through PVC
- Thread starter gmhill33
- Start date
- Status
I have seen the shrapnel produced when one blows. There will be no PVC air lines on my property.
Sure you have. Yawn.
HemiRambler
Well-known member
While I admit I have done stupid things in my life, I never suggested that others do them as well.
Black pipe in my garage - why take silly chances?
Black pipe in my garage - why take silly chances?
kbkna
Well-known member
Will galvenized pipe also work?
It's still easy to find people who believe smoking poses no health risks and seat belts just stop you from being 'thrown to safety.'
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
Galvanized pipe will work fine. As with anything there is poor quality product out there. Any pipe can have contaminants and metal particles in it from the manufacturing and installation process. Steel pipes of any kind have swarf and thread compound. Plain steel can have rust/corrosion. Even galvanized pipe can have corrosion. Copper pipe will have swarf, flux contamination, braze material, and corrosion. If you have an application or process that is sensitive to particulate contaminants add a filter.
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
Why in the world would anyone advocate using an inferior product that poses a real danger to save a few dollars? The cost difference between PVC and another safer product is what 100.00 in a garage? If you can't afford the money to buy a product approved for compressed air use then, you have no business buying a compressor. I believe that in addition to it being foolish it is also a big liability for any home owner, if someone is hurt or your property damaged, would your insurance pay the claim?
There is a time and place to be price sensitive or down right cheap; installing compressed air lines with a good deal of potential energy is not one of them. If you can't afford some approved method of piping use rubber hose.
Steve
There is a time and place to be price sensitive or down right cheap; installing compressed air lines with a good deal of potential energy is not one of them. If you can't afford some approved method of piping use rubber hose.
Steve
1320stang
Well-known member
I have been in a shop where a 2" PVC line blew when it blew.
6" long double ended dagger shard shot 60' across the shop and embedded itself in the far wall. Trajectory took it at head height about 10' behind where the shop owner was standing. The pipe was isolated and behind the horizontal compressor where it couldn't get hit.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I've seen it happen as well. In my case it also exploded spontaneously, and there were shards of PVC stuck in the walls. Fortunately I was in the next room when it did blow, it sounded like a bomb going off.
akdiesel
Well-known member
This topic has been run throught ringer so many times with opinions on both sides of the fence.
Is there any way a section for "Shop Safety" can be started with the groups of "General Garage Discussion", "Flooring", etc...
I realize some safety comments and ideas are not necessarily correct but it gives an easier place to find information about safety topics since the serch engine on this site is not all that great.
Is there any way a section for "Shop Safety" can be started with the groups of "General Garage Discussion", "Flooring", etc...
I realize some safety comments and ideas are not necessarily correct but it gives an easier place to find information about safety topics since the serch engine on this site is not all that great.
scooby074
Well-known member
What about oil and heat? Or do those stay only in the tank of the compressor?
Theres a reason PVC is banned by Osha. It can catastrophically fail and send shrapnel everywheres. Black pipe is best but copper is easier to work with.
If your dead set on using PVC, at least ensure its protected inside a wall for the runs, that will restrain most of the shrapnel if it blows
JamieK
Well-known member
This calls for someone with more guts and time than me to do a "Mythbusters" experiment. Take about 2 feet of 4" PVC pipe and glue some end caps on it. Install an air fitting on one cap. Put it out in the middle of the yard and run some air line to it. Place it beside a concrete block, with another block on top of it. Have some rope running to the upper block. Stand back a couple hundred feet, inflate the PVC to 120 psi, and pull the block over onto it to simulate an impact. I'm surprised no one has done this yet. Make sure to film the result!
regguy1
Well-known member
Good point, It's like saying "my uncle smoked all his life and never got lung cancer"...some people are lucky, but you're still 700 times more likely to get it if you do smoke. So don't recommend I start smoking because of your lucky uncle.
By the way, my uncle smoked all his life and died young from lung cancer....and he didn't go in a very pleasant manner.
Last edited:
shotgunfatcat
Well-known member
pvc can blow, hit it with a table end and you can leak. I would use rubber fuel line, flexible and cheap!!!
i have plumbed my garage for compressed air twice. the first time i used pvc and it ok. was easy to install and held up pretty good without leaks for several years. but i live in an area that gets pretty darn hot in summertime, 100+ degrees outside so the closed up garage gets even hotter. after several years the pvc becomes brittle and one slight bump of the line caused a break. out it all came. i replaced all the lines with sweated copper. i have never had any problems sine. the problem with black pipe is it rusts on the inside from moisture in the line, which is inevitable. i'm sure lots will say they have a drier in the the line, but with copper there are no issues with the slight moisture
RbrtAWhyt
Well-known member
I have been in a shop where a 2" PVC line blew when it blew.
6" long double ended dagger shard shot 60' across the shop and embedded itself in the far wall. Trajectory took it at head height about 10' behind where the shop owner was standing. The pipe was isolated and behind the horizontal compressor where it couldn't get hit.
Yeah, that must of been quite the HOME SHOP...eh with 2" air lines. Jesus were talking about apples and oranges!
What about oil and heat? Or do those stay only in the tank of the compressor?
Theres a reason PVC is banned by Osha. It can catastrophically fail and send shrapnel everywheres. Black pipe is best but copper is easier to work with.
If your dead set on using PVC, at least ensure its protected inside a wall for the runs, that will restrain most of the shrapnel if it blows
I don't worry about oil and heat in my HOME SHOP air lines. Now and then I just drain the moisture out of the compressor's tank...that's it.
**** OHSA..they are so full of shitte it's laughable!
Yep. There is no reason why air lines of any type can not be run in advantageous positions.
That's retarded, what difference does it make if it's a home shop or a commercial shop? Does the PVC not explode at home?
Nolatoolguy is that you? Look kid...If you can't figure it out..
Last edited:
91_4x4runner
Active member
That's retarded, what difference does it make if it's a home shop or a commercial shop? Does the PVC not explode at home?
I think he was questioning the size of the PVC pipe (at 2").
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
That's retarded, what difference does it make if it's a home shop or a commercial shop? Does the PVC not explode at home?
Commercial establishment gets inspected on occasion, and must follow certain procedures, or be fined. (example, your required to have working and up to code fire extinguishers, in a commercial shop)
If the question is will it work, then I guess the answer is yes.
Is it potentially danger - potentially yes
For a 2 car garage is iron pipe or copper really than much more expensive - no
Is pvc really that much easier than sweating copper - no
If you are on a budget is rubber hose meant for air cheaper and easier than pvc - yes
Is there really any good reason to use PVC - no
Does that about sum it up?
Is it potentially danger - potentially yes
For a 2 car garage is iron pipe or copper really than much more expensive - no
Is pvc really that much easier than sweating copper - no
If you are on a budget is rubber hose meant for air cheaper and easier than pvc - yes
Is there really any good reason to use PVC - no
Does that about sum it up?
You can always use something for a purpose other than what it was made to do and save a little cash. But a lot of the time it will end up costing you more than what you saved. Can't believe we are going through this argument again. If it was not made to be used as air line don't use it.
Hey fellas. I deleted some posts here. If you cant express your opinion without calling folks names, please don't post.
Using PVC as air line is a bad idea. Some people do it anyway. Some get away with it. Some aren't so lucky.
Using PVC as air line is a bad idea. Some people do it anyway. Some get away with it. Some aren't so lucky.
- Status