Compressor Repair Call

[TractorJeff]

Got one of those, can you fix my air compressor calls yesterday. Said sure I'd come over, turns out the pressure switch crapped, he had bought a new one based on what he thought was his operating pressure and what the salesman told him it couldn't be that must be this instead.
Background is this is a nice shop for storing the guys' Semi-Tractor when he is home. A year ago he got a nice old SPEEDAIR 2 stage compressor setup, Slow and Quiet! Then plumbed in PVC! Argued with me that its "A-OK"! Finally gave up on trying to explain as he is a good customer.
Yesterday I got the switch installed but it now shut off at 175 not 150 like his old one. He said that is too much for the PVC air lines. I said I told you before all air pressure wasn't safe for PVC. He of course swore I didn't and listened this time.
I went back today to adjust the pressure down as I needed a Security Torx bit to turn the screw which I didn't have in my collection of tools the night before. I handed him some printed information that I got from here on PVC. He read it over and said, "well what do I do, Black Iron? I said yes or copper which ever is cheaper. I told him I would get a 1" high pressure flex hose to connect the compressor to the new pipe as the PVC is hard piped.
Just wanted to let you know sometimes you do make a difference!

On my way home I got a call from another guy wanting to know if I would be able to weld a hinge on the back of his dump truck as he got it all cut out and freed up. I looked at this right away two weeks ago when he texted like he needed it right away. I told him to cut it out and get the materials, I would put it back together as this would be cheaper for him than me sourcing and fitting it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... "well what do I do, Black Iron? I said yes or copper which ever is cheaper.

Copper cheaper ?

Is that due to the cost of cutting and threading the black iron ?

 

[Richard Cranium]

our local hardware store, will thread your pipe for less then one dollar per end done.

 

[CNGsaves]

Good job OP . . saving the world from PVC shrapnel . . one "customer" at a time !!

 

[gungatim]

copper is cheaper when you add in the fittings. 10' type-L 1/2" copper is $9.38, 10' 1/2" black pipe is $8.58, but once you add in threading the ends, and much more expensive fittings, copper ends up slightly cheaper...it's probably closer to a wash if you had to buy a torch and solder, or a pipe wrench for that matter...

 

[TractorJeff]

He just texted he got a quote for 95 feet of 1 inch unthreaded for $0.71 a foot! He knows a Plumber dude that will be able to help him today to do the install.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

Nicely done. Another side note...the oil/water mixture that gets in the airlines can break down the adhesive used on PVC, which adds to your Don't Use PVC wisdom

 

[Bill Anderson]

@tractor Jeff, kudos to you, you could have just saved the man's life or eye. Sometimes people listen. Many times they won't, bc they're set in their ways.

I love thickwall copper pipe for air lines. Insides won't scale up over time like blackwall, and if soldered correctly/properly, leaks are nonexistent. One leak in black pipe, and disassembling becomes a pita. And black pipe always seems to develop at least one leak over time.