Do copper air lines corrode?

[PeterN]

I'm changing out my compressed air lines and plan on using copper tubing. For those that have installed it, do you see any external corrosion or color change over time? I have them in my house and those seem to get darker with time but I'm wondering in a garage with more outside humidity changes, if there is more of an issue with corrosion? Anyone painted or sealed their copper air lines?

Pete

 

[kd3pc]

copper oxidizes like any other metal...usually greenish patina, unless it has been coated with epoxy/etc

Painting copper has been done for ages, proper prep is the key to long term adhesion...temp changes and wrong paint will cause the paint to flake off, eventually.

The "solder", if you want to call what today's stuff is will also oxidize, streak and moisture will make that worse, and often more visible.

If it is silver soldered, a lot less "joint" oxidation, it tarnishes, but seems to be more stable...think refrigeration lines

 

[Bondo]

copper oxidizes like any other metal...usually greenish patina, unless it has been coated with epoxy/etc

Painting copper has been done for ages, proper prep is the key to long term adhesion...temp changes and wrong paint will cause the paint to flake off, eventually.

The "solder", if you want to call what today's stuff is will also oxidize, streak and moisture will make that worse, and often more visible.

If it is silver soldered, a lot less "joint" oxidation, it tarnishes, but seems to be more stable...think refrigeration lines

Ayuh,... Exactly,... No harm, No foul though,....

 

[mygarageone]

Copper is very durable and should not be a problem in most shops , just look at all the black pipe systems installed for yrs , copper is a much better product.

 

[mygarageone]

copper oxidizes like any other metal...usually greenish patina, unless it has been coated with epoxy/etc

Painting copper has been done for ages, proper prep is the key to long term adhesion...temp changes and wrong paint will cause the paint to flake off, eventually.

The "solder", if you want to call what today's stuff is will also oxidize, streak and moisture will make that worse, and often more visible.

If it is silver soldered, a lot less "joint" oxidation, it tarnishes, but seems to be more stable...think refrigeration lines

And how many miles of copper have you installed ? What do you base you comments on my I ask ?
I have seen copper jobs 50 yrs old and older , still looking quite nice , except the pipe is now a dull brown instead of bright and shinny

 

[offroadsteve]

And how many miles of copper have you installed ? What do you base you comments on my I ask ?
I have seen copper jobs 50 yrs old and older , still looking quite nice , except the pipe is now a dull brown instead of bright and shinny

Agreed - in certian conditions copper will take on a greenish patina, but thats all I would expect unless its exposed to a highly acidic atmosphere.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

If you want to go truly "Old School" you paint the copper lines when you're done with a copper colored paint. I have no idea what type or brand of coating is used, but I've seen it many times in older buildings on plumbing, air & other copper piping. Looks almost like new pipe for decades...

Tommy

 

[kd3pc]

And how many miles of copper have you installed ? What do you base you comments on my I ask ?
I have seen copper jobs 50 yrs old and older , still looking quite nice , except the pipe is now a dull brown instead of bright and shinny

Installation has little to do with my comments, suffice it to say I have placed many miles of copper line. As well as acres of copper sheeting, plating and roofing. And even more powdered copper coatings on boats, pilings and other things that live underwater or in less than ideal liquids (sewage, effluents, cooling water, etc) and you still need them to last a long time.

My comments are based on experience with many facets of using copper in less than ideal conditions.

Think breweries, distilleries, bottlers, food products, etc. Hot/cold water, hot/cold water borne materials, etc, etc. Many transit outdoor locations, steam tunnels, bridges between units, etc. and have developed that healthy green patina

Patina only affects the looks. Not the integrity of the pipe or plating, in most cases.

I am not sure what I have said that has upset you? Enlighten us please.

 

[mygarageone]

Copper won't show signs of oxidation unless it has been exposed to a hostile environment
Or there is acidic water or boiler antifreeze . But in a shop or garage , I highly doubt you'll experience these effects .
And by the way todays solider is far superior to the 50/50 or 95/5 we used for years.
The flux is better too. But if you over flux the joint , you surely see a greening tint to it .

 

[mygarageone]

Installation has little to do with my comments, suffice it to say I have placed many miles of copper line. As well as acres of copper sheeting, plating and roofing. And even more powdered copper coatings on boats, pilings and other things that live underwater or in less than ideal liquids (sewage, effluents, cooling water, etc) and you still need them to last a long time.

My comments are based on experience with many facets of using copper in less than ideal conditions.

Think breweries, distilleries, bottlers, food products, etc. Hot/cold water, hot/cold water borne materials, etc, etc. Many transit outdoor locations, steam tunnels, bridges between units, etc. and have developed that healthy green patina

Patina only affects the looks. Not the integrity of the pipe or plating, in most cases.

I am not sure what I have said that has upset you? Enlighten us please.

Because reading your post , a novice may think it,s a poor choice.

Everything you talked about makes the whole thing bad.

 

[kd3pc]

Copper won't show signs of oxidation unless it has been exposed to a hostile environment
Or there is acidic water or boiler antifreeze . But in a shop or garage , I highly doubt you'll experience these effects .
And by the way todays solider is far superior to the 50/50 or 95/5 we used for years.
The flux is better too. But if you over flux the joint , you surely see a greening tint to it .

To "patina" copper, just use a mix of vinegar and salt (some add ammonia)....or some miracle grow mixed very heavy, wipe, spray or dip and voila....green...

similarly to clean copper, just use some ketchup

to prevent patina, clean it up and paint with a good marine varnish, and unless you bang it off or scrape it off, it should preserve the color for a long time.

best to all.

 

[Kevin54]

Whenever I get some lines run in my garage, I plan on copper, but I plan on shining it up, then shoot it with some clear to keep it shiny. Myself, I just think copper looks pretty darn good when shined up. Where it solders together, I'll mask it off before clearing it, then after soldered together slip a piece of cardboard behind it and give it a touch-up spray at the joints.

 

[ratdoggy]

You could just use PVC and be done with it.

 

[pattenp]

kd3pc, not that you need any defense but you are right in what you are saying. Copper pipe does oxidize just from being exposed to the oxygen in the air. The patina is part copper oxide. It's just a chemical fact. I don't see how someone would take your comments as saying it's bad to use copper pipe for airlines.

 

[pattenp]

Just paint them with copper color paint.

You could just use PVC and be done with it.

 

[ratdoggy]

You could just use PVC and be done with it.

Just paint them with copper color paint.

Now that might work!

 

[mrobins297aaa]

after seeing what the inside of my black pipe air lines look like after just a few years, I'm done with black pipe and have been replacing it with copper.

 

[coljar]

You could just use PVC and be done with it.

Ha ha ha......yank that chain gently.

 

[marinusdees]

No problem in your lifetime or your grandkids.

 

[gorilla]

Copper pipe or tubing will oxidize over time, no good reason to worry about it. The most important thing that you need to do is clean your solder joints with hot water and soap to remove all traces of flux. the flux will cause the pipe to turn green.

 

[G McKay]

Hasn't anyone ever heard of Brasso? Just shine that bad boy up and make it look great!!

 

[wssix99]

Hasn't anyone ever heard of Brasso? Just shine that bad boy up and make it look great!!

Then cover it with some clear poly and they stay that way!

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Hasn't anyone ever heard of Brasso? Just shine that bad boy up and make it look great!!

Reminds me of the Marine Corp. We even used Duraglit on the trash cans.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Copper plumbing pipes do go bad. Several apartment complexes in town have 40 year old pipes that are busting under slabs and in walls at the rate of about one or two a week. Pinholes or bigger corroded in the pipe. It should last the rest of your lifetime without leaking but they do go bad. I've even bought new coils of copper pipes that have had a hole in them.

 

[Bondo]

Then cover it with some clear poly and they stay that way!

Ayuh,.... I couldn't come up with a way to hide these pipes,....

So I made 'em part of the decor,...
SSteel wire brushed, 'n sprayed with Rustoleum clear,... over 8 years ago,...

in a bathroom no less,...

 

[Kevin54]

..
Seems like everyone is only commenting on the exterior of copper lines, Anyone concerned with the internal corrosion of said shop air lines?? I assume that if there is any that it would be less than comparable black pipe and last as long or longer?

Galvanized pipes or black iron pipes will corrode, but they develop rust which can flake off. Copper has nothing that can flake off. Copper can start to turn green from corrosion, but it will not flake like the other two piping systems.

The bad about copper....the price. Other than that, copper would be the easiest way to go. As long as you know how to properly solder, it's in the bag.

 

[iajonesy]

I know this was discussed in the past,but what grade of copper tube is best for air lines? Thanks.

Mike

 

[djjsr]

Best? L.
Cheapest? M. (and it will easily handle the pressure of a normal garage compressor)

 

[alan camby]

Best? L.
Cheapest? M. (and it will easily handle the pressure of a normal garage compressor)

Best would be K, as far as wall thickness goes.

 

[djjsr]

Best would be K, as far as wall thickness goes.

I agree but it's crazy expensive and way overkill for air.

 

[BD1]

IF you have sulfur water it will affect copper. The sulfur in the air will cause pin holes in the piping. You can paint the copper and it will help.

 

[malibu101]

IF you have sulfur water it will affect copper. The sulfur in the air will cause pin holes in the piping. You can paint the copper and it will help.

I assume you mean paint the outside of the pipe?
Painting the inside would be kinda hard.

If my assumption is correct; How would this help the copper from deteriorating from "bad" water on the inside of the pipe?

 

[BD1]

I assume you mean paint the outside of the pipe?
Painting the inside would be kinda hard.

If my assumption is correct; How would this help the copper from deteriorating from "bad" water on the inside of the pipe?

Yes, paint the outside. As far as the inside goes a chemical treatment system is necessary. Depending on severity of sulfur, piping could fail within years.In areas where the well water has a possibility of high sulfur, the well is dug, water tested, and then decide on what material will be used for piping.

 

[metalmagpie]

It is very important to clean the flux off the outside of your solder joints. If you don't, the flux will continue to eat into the copper and can cause problems down the road. Failure to clean off excess flux will also cause serious discoloration around the joints.

 

[boatmark]

I was by a race shop the other day where I worked in the 80's - we put in the copper air system in 1984 and it has been trouble free ever since. Been under pressure and in use every day.

*** The reason we went with copper - the shop owner also owned a factory that made cultured marble. (sinks, tubs, showers, etc.). It had a very extensive air system done in PVC. When the PVC gets 5-6 years old under constant pressure it has a bad habit of failing in the longer runs. Explodes into shards like glass. We had it happen three times, two of which required stitches for the worker closest to the break. Retro fitting that facility was a major project, but he thought we were pushing our luck.