raferguson
Well-known member
I had put in my air lines earlier this year, and I knew that I had a leak or two. I just kept shutting the tank valve at the end of the day. Today I decided to chase the leaks in earnest. It seems like I fix one leak and another pops up. Today I fixed, or tried to fix, about 6 leaks. Generally, the leak that I try to fix is in fact fixed, but a new leak shows up elsewhere. The new leaks are generally on joints that I don't think that I disturbed, but I suppose that I must have disturbed them somehow.
In order to get to the leaks, I often had to break three or four good joints. I have about 40 feet of 3/4" black iron pipe, mostly to cool the air. I have about 60 joints, so 60 opportunities for leaks. I use pipe dope, as I understand that it is bad practice to use teflon tape, as bits of it could end up in air tools. Of course, I have a filter at the point of use, so I suppose that any bits of teflon would be caught in the filter. It almost makes me wish that I had done it in copper, with soldered joints......
I have been using soapy water to find leaks, and it seems to work. Some of the smaller leaks do not show up right away, but later I see a clump of small bubbles.
The last time that I put in air lines, I do not recall having this much trouble. One difference is that this time I cut a few threads with a harbor freight pipe threader, but that represented maybe four joints out of sixty.
When I shut off the tank valve, I can see about a 10 psi drop in the line in around 10 minutes. I have not yet checked for air leaks in the drain valves, or leaks in the quick connects, because I keep finding leaks in the other piping.
I would be interested in any thoughts or suggestions, or maybe I just wanted to gripe. ;-)
In order to get to the leaks, I often had to break three or four good joints. I have about 40 feet of 3/4" black iron pipe, mostly to cool the air. I have about 60 joints, so 60 opportunities for leaks. I use pipe dope, as I understand that it is bad practice to use teflon tape, as bits of it could end up in air tools. Of course, I have a filter at the point of use, so I suppose that any bits of teflon would be caught in the filter. It almost makes me wish that I had done it in copper, with soldered joints......
I have been using soapy water to find leaks, and it seems to work. Some of the smaller leaks do not show up right away, but later I see a clump of small bubbles.
The last time that I put in air lines, I do not recall having this much trouble. One difference is that this time I cut a few threads with a harbor freight pipe threader, but that represented maybe four joints out of sixty.
When I shut off the tank valve, I can see about a 10 psi drop in the line in around 10 minutes. I have not yet checked for air leaks in the drain valves, or leaks in the quick connects, because I keep finding leaks in the other piping.
I would be interested in any thoughts or suggestions, or maybe I just wanted to gripe. ;-)
