Compressor Air Lines

[Leeboy20]

I have a plumber/gas fitter friend that said he would help me route all my lines and he is getting me all the stuff at wholesale prices. He just isnt sure what thickness of pipe to get. I would like to use a plastic style pipe of somesort so were not bending steel and soldering. Is there a product you would recommend using that might be glue-able? I could also buy the rapid air kit, what are my options? 28x30 with 10 foot ceilings

 

[Charles (in GA)]

There is currently one (that I've been able to find) plastic pipe designed for compressed air. Nibco did make a system but they took it off the market. Currently the only one I've found is IPEX company, they make a ABS based pipe and fittings designed to be cut and glued together similar to the way one would cut and glue the white plastic plumbing pipe (whos name I ain't mentioning) This IPEX pipe and fittings is approved for compressed air use, that is what it is manufactured for, is approved by OSHA for such purposes, and apparently works well......... if you can get beyond the prices for the fittings and pipe.

IPEX Duraplus air piping

Just ignore all the posters on here who will chime in with the "it won't cool the air and condense the water out properly" and the "its dangerous", 'cause you can get real overboard in a hurry worrying about a few molecules of moisture.

Charles

 

[MoonRise]

Oh boy, here we go. Again.

In general, skip using plastic for airlines UNLESS siad item is rated/approved for that use. That means -no- to PVC pipe.

Tried and true, just use black 'iron' pipe. Have your plumber friend install that. Done.

 

[Leeboy20]

I know this has been argued over time and time again, but im not trying to cheap out or anything, just looking for the right product. That being said, whats with the rapid air stuff? Its plastic or nylon or something isnt it? I was just thinking, maybe something as good but came in 10 or 20 foot lengths.

 

[pattenp]

I got the rapid air aluminum pipe. I like it and it was easy to install. The only thing is it's expensive.

 

[CoyoteLL]

I did black pipe. Easy and strong.

 

[DekeT]

If you are not going to put up real pipe why do you need a pipefitter? I would take advantage of this guys skills and have him supervise a black pipe fest.

 

[Leeboy20]

I dont need a pipe fitter, thats just his trade and he is helping me for free

 

[metaleltr]

We recently spoke to the head guy at Buckeye Air Compressor here in Ohio. He said that any pipe (including pvc) would be acceptable except for black iron. As long as the pipe is not in danger of being hit it would be in no danger of exploding.

 

[OccupantRJ]

We recently spoke to the head guy at Buckeye Air Compressor here in Ohio. He said that any pipe (including pvc) would be acceptable except for black iron. As long as the pipe is not in danger of being hit it would be in no danger of exploding.

Remind me not to hire the guy if he ever needs another job.

 

[PT Doc]

I know an owner of shop than does all kinds on machine and he has white PVC installed for the past 30 years. I told him about the OSHA reg and he laughed. He's a funny older guy.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Be aware that there is a difference between black iron pipe, and black steel pipe. There is also an untested version of steel pipe sold that is used for structural purposes.

 

[SiGmA_X]

Along the same lines as PT Doc, the shop I use to work in has had white PVC for the last 26yrs. Should be noted, it was about 18yrs in the first location and 8yrs in the current, but no issues ever. Trust me, it sketched me out a bit, but it was one of those things I didn't have control over, and my boss had great insurance, so kind of meh. I was really careful about flying objects around the drops (on both sides of all the lifts, two above my bench, etc) for damn sure, I didn't want to cause a problem that wasn't already there itself.

I went with 1/2" schedule 10 black steel pipe for my personal shop. In retrospect, I may have gone with 3/4" for the first run from the compressor down to first bench (about 26ft) and then up and over the shop with 3/4" also, but I made the call to go all-1/2" initially as it would save complexity and parts could be re-used elsewhere. Cheap, pretty easy, HD cuts it as many times as you need. So far I only have 1 drop, as we have to move the lift, but we will have drops above the three work surfaces plus on both lift posts this spring/summer. Around that time I imagine a thread will be posted too lol.

 

[Steves32]

I have a plumber/gas fitter friend that said he would help me route all my lines and he is getting me all the stuff at wholesale prices. He just isnt sure what thickness of pipe to get.

Find another plumber friend. This guy is clueless.

 

[Falcon67]

a) what pressure will you run in your lines -> b) buy pipe rated for air at or above that pressure level. Black iron - cheap, effective, done.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I dont know of anything that plastic other than IPEX. I would look at rapid air, but it is indeed pricey. My vote would be black iron or copper.

 

[Leeboy20]

Find another plumber friend. This guy is clueless.

I don't think a stupid comment like this is necessary.

Im just looking for advice, some people say plastic , some people say black iron. Im doing the home work on the product, and he is just going to help me for free. The guys at the wholesale store said Sked 80 would work. But it seems rapid air or black iron is the most popular. And my air pressure is just a $700 Speed Air compressor.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Assuming they are talking about PVC, the people telling you to use plastic are wrong. Use black iron, copper, or one of the aluminum pipe kits like Rapidaire.

 

[jake26]

http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html

The Department of Labor & Industries warned consumers and employers in May 1988 that plastic-polyvinyl- chloride (PVC) pipe cannot be used in compressed air piping systems without risk of explosion. By law, employers must protect their workers by avoiding the use of unapproved PVC pipe in such systems.

Not sure if this has changed.

 

[May Pop]

1" black pipe. The best and easiest.
Ron

 

[beerdog]

There is a reason black pipe is pretty much the standard air line throughout industry. It is cheap, dependable, and works. Use black pipe. You can't go wrong.

 

[Chuck McB]

Black iron pipe all the way with no regrets later.

 

[pattenp]

Other than the internal corrosion over time from moisture in the line.

Black iron pipe all the way with no regrets later.

 

[Chuck McB]

I'm coming up on 50 so if a black iron air line system survives say 30 or 40 years I'll be happy.BTW use a water separator at the compressor & an oiler .

 

[POPSTAGE2]

I worked at a new car dealership that used PVC in the body shop. Someone left the compressor on one night that had nothing to do with the explosion other than the fact it exploded when nobody was in the shop.
It made quite the mess, and I would not want to be in there when it happened!!
It was near the ceiling where they used a bigger diameter PVC.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Your friend should be familiar with copper pipe, have him run type "L" copper around the shop. it's easy to solder, looks good, is easy to modify if your needs change, it should always be available (what if Rapid Aire goes out of business?) and you don't need to worry about rust in your air system.

My big complaint with plastic airline (made for compressed air use) is the appearance on the wall. It sags and droops between supports and the connectors are more expensive than copper pipe.

 

[Outlawmws]

http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html

The Department of Labor & Industries warned consumers and employers in May 1988 that plastic-polyvinyl- chloride (PVC) pipe cannot be used in compressed air piping systems without risk of explosion. By law, employers must protect their workers by avoiding the use of unapproved PVC pipe in such systems.

Not sure if this has changed.

It hasn't...

 

[ptschram]

I like my nylon air lines.

 

[akdiesel]

Most people will support their choice of product simply cause they don't want to admit to failure if that certain product has deficiencies.
With that being said the copper or black pipe. Type L copper or schedule 40 would be fine for any air system.
Black pipe rust concerns are valid if you have lots of moisture in your air, and if so than you need to worry more about your tools more than your pipe since they are going to be first to take the hit. Eliminate the moisture first and then no problem.

 

[Ben Buck]

KA_ BOOM !!! Here it is AGAIN !!. . I'm going to drink another beer, and listen for the EXPLOSION !!

 

[BARN ONE]

I used 1/2" heavy wall conduit for air lines. My buddy is an electrician and gave me a bunch of it, so the price was right. It is the same size as 1/2" black pipe, but conduit has straight threads and pipe thread is tapered. So I cut the ends off and rethreaded it. It works great, I have over 100" of run through the building and its been in use over 15 years now.

I have the compressor at the other end of the building, away from my shop, to save shop space and keep the noise down. I installed a on off switch in the shop by the work bench to remotely turn the compressor on. I don't like to leave the compressor on when I am not there, so to make sure, just in case I forget to turn it off, I used a spring wound timer switch. You can turn it on for 1 hour at a time, then it times out and turns off.
I also installed a pressure guage over the bench to easily see what pressure I have.