Compressed Airlines, Exposed or Behind Drywall

[Special55]

I know we have talked the compressed air line thing to death but I'm specifically interested in advantages/disadvantages to having the lines exposed compaired to hidden.

All opinions are welcome.

Rich

 

[sharpshooter]

I would say enclosed is nice due to the fact that you dont see them and it gives alot cleaner look. However I have never had a big enuff system to have to run lines (hopefully one day I will get that satisfaction) but once you initially set your lines up and rid the leaks are they apt to leak in the future or for the most part are they maintanace free. if they are I would say enclosed if they are not you wouldnt want to have to take your wall down just to fix a leaky connection, just my 2 coins

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Exposed! It allows ease of repair, ease of relocation, and doesn't cut into the insulation in the wall. I had a friend who burned down his house by nicking an electrical wire, when he put a nail for a shop clock in. I can picture someone (depending on pipeline material), puting a nail through a pressurized line, wouldn't be good.

 

[MyDomain]

Exposed so you can add a take-off in the future if you wish.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Behind Drywall...

I chose to hide all the utilities as I could. Looks neater, less places to collect dust, and allows more places to mount shelving etc.

I ran several hundred of feet of 1” main runs along with dozens of ½” drops all in black pipe, in three of my five garages behind 5/8” drywall. I also placed all the natural gas lines behind drywall. Everything was pressure tested before I finished off the walls. I’m sure they will last many years. It would take some serious drilling to penetrate any of them.

I own a Oster power pipe threader with threading dies up to 2”. And I really enjoy working with threaded pipes. Though I do have two exposed drops in my one garage that I put in copper strictly for appearance.

 

[Special55]

Behind Drywall...

I chose to hide all the utilities as I could. Looks neater, less places to collect dust, and allows more places to mount shelving etc.

I ran several hundred of feet of 1” main runs along with dozens of ½” drops all in black pipe, in three of my five garages behind 5/8” drywall. I also placed all the natural gas lines behind drywall. Everything was pressure tested before I finished off the walls. I’m sure they will last many years. It would take some serious drilling to penetrate any of them.

I own a Oster power pipe threader with threading dies up to 2”. And I really enjoy working with threaded pipes. Though I do have two exposed drops in my one garage that I put in copper strictly for appearance.

OldCar,

I believe the only way we could fully evaluate your pipe fitting abilities would be for you to bring your threader up to Michigan some weekend for my personal inspection.

 

[SteveL]

OK, so I'm one of the three that voted for behind drywall as I'm a neat freak. I ran 3/4" gas rated copper before hanging drywall and made sure that there were no leaks and that if I needed to add more drops in the future, I could access the line in the attic. Also ran lines to the basement wood shop and have the lines running between floor joists so that I can cover the ceiling some day.

If I had it to do over again, I may have used black pipe instead of copper just due to the ease of changing things, but I'm not unhappy with what I have. Just make sure that you plan in enough drops up front. I have three or four drops that are just capped off for now, but they are there if and when I need them down the road.