Black Pipe Air Line Install

[saabman]

So much of what is shown here is old work, done 15 years ago, but because of a new garage bay that I added I am extending the black iron lines to areas they did not reach before.

New work branches left off the "T" coming up from the compressor. It was complicated by the fact that I have a feed line running across the ceiling from a regulator on the back wall. The ceiling line feeds a hose reel and the air release latches on my 4 post lift. The new line had to sit on extra depth stand offs to clear the ceiling to wall transition on the front wall. Also had to run it very near the ceiling to clear the big garage door sprint frame.

3/4 inch feed, and 1/2 drops with dryers and regulators. Quincy HD-5 compressor

Here is the feed from the compressor (which sits at the corner of front and side wall)

Here is the new work running over the garage tracks and 1/2 ceiling feed line.

The last new work showing the far end of the new run across the front wall of the garage. I still have to punch through the common wall and in to the new garage bay. The line will also take a turn down and head along the opposite side wall to the compressor.

Here is a shot of the old work showing the main line and hose real drop (TP Tools drop kits)

And lastly the back wall, where a common regular provides a tool drop, hose reel feed, and 4 post lift lock release drop

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks like the majority of your runs are nice and straight. I wish mine would have been like that.

 

[jonjon1]

loooks good, did you thread it yourself?

 

[PeterT]

It does look good, what did you use on the threads to make it air tight?

 

[Richard Cranium]

one of my winter projects is to run black pipe for my garage, I purchased a ridgid brand manual pipe threader. But one of our old time hardware stores will thread it for .93 each. So for a dollar each end I will not get mine out.

 

[saabman]

I have a Rigid hand and power head threaders, with dies for various size pipe. Makes pretty nice threads. On the new work the lengths are 10 ft standard sticks with OEM threads. I use TFE paste on all connections. One strategy you can use is to buy a 10 ft stick and have Home Depot cut and thread it in lengths as needed.

 

[jonjon1]

Well you did good, I have a few ridgid 300's, and they make great threads.. I always use Blue monster tape and tru blue pipe dope on all my fittings (gas lines get the yellow tape), tape first, then a thin layer of the tru blu on the first 3 threads, you will NEVER have a leak... I know some guys say "one or the other not both", but I learned from a fitter turning pipe for 45 years, I have been doing it since I was 17, and I swear by tape and dope, thin tape, thin dope on the first 3 threads, I don't get leaks, and we do big stuff...

 

[nine4gmc]

I'm hoping to do my air lines this winter too, great job!

 

[nadogail]

Fine looking work, particularly like the outlets from tee's looking up and branching over and down. Looks like a textbook example.

 

[mikhett]

In my HVAC work we always use BLUE LEAK_LOK.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Looks good. When I piped mine in with 3/4" mains and 1/2 in drops..... I put a condensation drop on every outlet around my garage walls/shop so that when I plugged my hose in to the drop..... I could use a ball valve to get any water out of it before I used the air. ( the water leg drop is to the right of the blue trash can at the floor)

 

[Thumper68]

Nice looking runs, I will be replacing the copper with black pipe this winter as well.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

How much linear foot did you install and what did it cost you?
where did you get all your pipe from also?

 

[nine4gmc]

Greg, that looks great!

I just made a deal to pick up a 1" braided stainless 4' whip from CL, guy has some nos 1" and 2" listed for $25 each, I couldn't pass it up. My filter and oil separator is 1" and this will connect it to the tank. I have some copper finned 3/4" or 1" diameter tubing in 24" sections that I plan to make an after cooler with. Only a few more items to pick up along the way and I'll be set.

 

[saabman]

This is my home shop/garage, and was built by the last owner before me (although I just added a new bay to it). It was not taped/painted when I moved in and I left it that way. It makes it very easy to run new electrical service (which I have done to support new machines). I am not bothered by the appearance, it is a working shop not a show garage. Yes the sheetrock has yellowed.

I find that Home Depot now has good quality sticks. There was a period when they did not. Cost is something like $15 a stick with free cuts. I put up about 37 linear feet. The most complicated part being the compound bend from the existing horizontal to the right angle and higher new section. Getting the length right takes some practice but this is the third shop I have done in black iron. I have my own pipe cutter and threader so aside from the wood blocks, screws and pipe clamps there was not much more to the cost.

Stringing the 3/4 10 ft sections is best done with a helper.

What you can not see in the photos is that on each drop there is a ball valve drain. There are also coalescing filters and air regulators on each drop (these are TP Tool drop kits)

 

[Gary in NY]

I will also be running air lines in my shop this winter. I feel very fortunate to have access to all the information and experiences posted here. I have picked up a lot of great ideas to help with my installation, and this looks like another great example!

 

[2CRUZ]

Man I am soo jealous. I'm going to try to do mine this winter also. Right now i'm using (the name we dare not say) only because I didn't have a threader. I was out at Lowes the other day and they told me if I bought it there they would thread it for me. I don't know what kind of pipe they carry (ie, quality) but I think I'm going to give it a try.

 

[csp]

I'm always surprised when someone puts a lot of stuff on the walls without first finishing the sheetrock joints and painting. It's going to be ***** to go back on that now.

My dad lived in his last home for over 30 years without taping the joints and painting the drywall. It never made any difference to any of the vehicles or other projects built in that garage.

 

[motofool33]

looking at all that heavy black pipe makes my arms and shoulders tired. I have enough trouble getting pipe fittings tight when i can clamp them down let alone when they are barely anchored to the wall. Your install looks great

 

[saabman]

Working with a helper is key, both in lifting and tightening the joints. I put the "next" fitting on the pipe before lifting and connecting to the portion already mounted. I also don't fully tighten the clamps until I am sure all the joint pass pressure testing.

 

[saabman]

This morning chipped away on the air routing for the new bay. Here you can see the down turn. the horizontal run to the center of the side wall will sit on top of the middle shelf, cozied up to the wall (so it wont interfere to much with utilization of the shelf.

The "T' on the end will feed horizontally across the side wall and vertically down (in the corner). There will be a ball valve/drain here. I sloped the front wall run towards the corner. So condensate should run to this point. I have multiple water drains around the perimeter.

 

[2CRUZ]

My dad lived in his last home for over 30 years without taping the joints and painting the drywall. It never made any difference to any of the vehicles or other projects built in that garage.

Yea hell my neighbor down the road hasn't painted his house in 60 years and a tree fell on the roof but it doesn't block the door. He can still get in and out. He hasn't mowed his lawn in three or is it four years now, but that ok, weeds die out in the winter time and hell what's a couple of broken window panes the sun still shines in. It doesn't bother him he still got a roof over his head.

 

[readhead]

CSP, think first. It won't do any good or make a difference.

 

[csp]

Yea hell my neighbor down the road hasn't painted his house in 60 years and a tree fell on the roof but it doesn't block the door..........

That's not even in the same ballpark of what I said and you know it. Don't be a patronizing putz.