Compressor - step down in size

[Whiskeymike]

I received a 60 Gallon Husky Compressor yesterday for my birthday so I spent the day setting it up and running airlines. The connection coming out of the tank is 3/4 that I step down to 1/2. But when connecting the regulator and filter, it drops down to 3/8. I noticed the shut off valve takes it down to about a 1/4 effective opening. I went with 1/2 copper.

Question is, does the step downs to 3/8, or effectively 1/4 reduce my CFM or the effectiveness of the compressor?

Should I be working hard to keep them all at 1/2". Or does it not matter.

 

[brucer]

I received a 60 Gallon Husky Compressor yesterday for my birthday so I spent the day setting it up and running airlines. The connection coming out of the tank is 3/4 that I step down to 1/2. But when connecting the regulator and filter, it drops down to 3/8. I noticed the shut off valve takes it down to about a 1/4 effective opening. I went with 1/2 copper.

Question is, does the step downs to 3/8, or effectively 1/4 reduce my CFM or the effectiveness of the compressor?

Should I be working hard to keep them all at 1/2". Or does it not matter.

It matters..

 

[kaffine]

Depends on what you are running. If you are running a large sandblaster it might be noticeable but for most other tools I would say you wont notice.

 

[Ad13]

3/4 to 1/2 is no big deal
3/4 to 3/8 is so so but totally fine for intermittent use
3/4 to 1/4 is usually a problem

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I used 3/8" ID rubber air line to feed the hose reels in my garage. It was left over from the three or four hoses we used at the old race shop. Eventually I want to redo everything in 1/2", probably HDPE or black PEX because I can get shorts for free from a plumber friend.
I'm sure it's probably already been discussed, but since I'm a noob I'll post my thoughts anyway. The biggest air tool performance improvement I've found is to switch from 1/4" I/M couplers & ******* to Milton V type. 3/8" would probably make no further improvement with the 3/8" feed, but I'll probably upsize when I redo the feed. I've been told Parker Hannifin has a new coupler called RF type. IDK if it's better than V type, but I'd like to find out.

Tommy

 

[fury9]

You might want to research about using anything other than black steel pipe to plumb your air lines. Lots of discussion about plastic vs. steel.