Copper Air Line -- Inside or Outside the walls?

[Lyaec350]

I just put insulation in the ceiling of my shop but have not yet put the sheetrock up. I have now decided to run hard copper air line from the compressor shed (outside) to various points around the shop and I was wondering whether I should run it inside or outside the ceiling.

On one hand, running it in the corner of the ceiling would not cause any significant cause of space but it would not be as clean as running it in the rafters. On the other hand, adding to/changing the design and fixing leaks would be much easier if it were exposed rather than above the drywall.

What do you guys think?

 

[hick]

we just ran out stright up from the compressor, out side of wall and did every thing on the ceilings. we have a spring loaded roll up hose in the "center" of the room that hangs my maybe a foot from the ceiling, far above our heads but low enough to grab, it reachs around the shop more then enough

we put on drop done line by the large garage door for doing things out side and then the line to our she just goes straight out of the wall from the compressor

leave it on the out side of the sheet rock IMO

besides, if you do goin the rafters and want to drop down into the wall, drilling those holes threw the 2x4 plates that rafters sit on, and soldering then together will be a pain. alot easy

not only that, but by going on the roof and just cutting across the roof, you save the amount of copper you use ($$$) and you keep the lines from the compressor short... hence mroe presure getting there

cause if you go from the roof and branch out you get an even lenght of copper to every part of the shop depending how many times you want to drop down. if you start going threw walls and rafters you putting alot of extra line in there for te air to travel threw.

 

[Lyaec350]

It will not be in the walls regardless (only ceiling, I just noticed the thread title is misleading), and the difference in length from above/below the sheetrock is only 6" for each up/down so a total of 1' extra on each drop. The routing will be the same regardless of it being in/out as well, so that is not an issue.

I guess the only thing I'm asking is if it would be stupid to make it inaccessable (do they leak over time, etc?) or should I leave them out where I can work on them.

 

[russlaferrera]

IMO it's your call. I would not worry about leaks unless you **** at soldering. (No insult intended) New copper is easy to work with. Hose reels are the way to go. They are neater and less prone to accidents. IMO I would use both systems. Hose reels in the center or corners and drop downs where you may need them for bench work or ?.

 

[dipper]

I'm going to most likely put a drop from the attic down (that's where my compressor is going) and have the output stub out from the wall. Pressure test the connection prior to closing the walls up and you should be okay. It wouldn't be any different than in a house and your supply lines in the bathroom. That's my $0.02 for what it's worth.

 

[dipper]

I'm also going to have a hose reel somewhere in the center too...that'll be nice for when the air is needed.

 

[hick]

do you have attic access or is it completly framed in?

if you can get to the lines from above in the attic i would say run them threw the roof if you want

 

[rsanter]

you might want to install an air coupling on the outside of the garage as well. never know when you might need it and it would be very little extra material

I have one air coupling hardlined to the back of the lathe and 2 drop down hose reels. meets all of my needs

bob

 

[Lyaec350]

More questions:

So if I'm running a 15-20 CFM compressor, I should run 3/4" main copper line and 1/2" drops. What I'm wondering, is what I should do for the reel/air fittings. All the current air fittings on my tools (and most other air tools ive ever seen) are 1/4" NPT style fittings and my hose is all 3/8" hose. What is the point of messing around with 1/2 drops on non essential (the sandblaster will definitely get a 1/2" drop) if you're just going to choke it through 50' of 3/8 hose then a 1/4" fitting anyway?

 

[mc1984ss]

I would run it on the inside of the garage. It may not look as nice but it will help keep moisture out of the system. I am assuming you are going to have the garage heated since you are insulating? If you ran it up though the attic it would be going from a warm to cold to warm space and would cause alot of condensation or sweating. Just my 2 cents

 

[PhantomEB]

Yup thats just how my buddy did his, right up into the attic from his compressor then everywhere he wants it drops down thru the ceiling. He says NEVER AGAIN, constant battle with condensation. If I remember right, hes got air dryers pretty much every where. Told me he WILL NOT help me do air lines if I did them anyway other than on the outside of the dry wall.

 

[Steve in Mi]

The way I installed my air lines, fwiw.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ers#post116465
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