Ok, So about 4 years ago I installed a garage air line kit. The only bad side was that I was totally unaware that the inside diameter was 1/4 inch. So my new plan is to install a larger line with the inside diameter either 3/8 or 1/2 inch. Would the 3/8 over 1/2 inch do or should I put the extra coin into the 1/2.Just to confirm my suspicions I hooked a 3/8 air hose directly to my compressor and the result was most evident. I am also going to invest in Milton high volume air connectors. And in all honesty, yes I have battery operated tools however, I personally would rather use air power over electric. Thanks, Ken
Garage Air Line Diameter.
- Thread starter Kenskip1
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chris142
Well-known member
Bigger is always better. But I just ran a 3/8 hose to my spool with 100 ft of 3/8 hose on it and its fine for taking off lugnuts and a little grinding.
What is the total length of your distribution? 3/8" and even 1/2" is small for a distribution system, but if you're only talking 20 feet, it's not going to make a huge difference. But, as others have said... the bigger the better.
MichaelP
Well-known member
I'd definitely install nothing smaller than 1/2", and then only if you don't have a lot of turns, and the simultaneous consumption is very limited. In my home workshop (former 2-car garage) I have 3/4" copper. The lines form a circle inside the shop (no dead end) which helps too. This allows sandblaster and other high consumption tools work without any hiccups.
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Yeah, that's kind of a long way. Just to clarify one other thing, is your regulator before that line, or do you have regulators at the drops?
Ultimately, whether you are regulating down before or after that run, you are going to experience a pretty significant pressure drop with 3/8" line. 1/2" isn't that bad, but still not great (I'll explain why in a second).
Just as an example, I plugged in some numbers to the Gates calculator, and using an assumed regulated pressure of 110 psi, and a consumption of 40 cfm which is equivalent to a hungry air tool, you would see a loss of over 33 psi with the 3/8" line, and a loss of just over 7 psi with the 1/2" line. So, assuming your tool requires 90 psi, you would be seeing less than 80 at the tool with the 3/8" line.
Here's the real problem: we're just talking about your distribution system. If you then plug in another hose, or even a hose reel downstream from that, you'll be compounding the problem even more before you actually reach the tool.
For a run that long, you really should look at 3/4" to minimize losses, although assuming you have the ability to crank the regulated pressure up high enough, you could probably get away with 1/2".
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Jswain
Well-known member
45-50ft and then you have a 50ft rubber hose reel as well? 1/2" for the distribution minimum fed to a 3/8" minimum hose reel(25ft long hose if you can get away with it).
If you have any air hogs ie: pressure blaster/blast cabinet, 3/4" impacts, or even some 1/2" impacts etc. I would try to make it at least 1/2" the whole way.
If you have any air hogs ie: pressure blaster/blast cabinet, 3/4" impacts, or even some 1/2" impacts etc. I would try to make it at least 1/2" the whole way.
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as above poster asks, what are your needs, also, I don't think you mentioned compressor size.
if you're air brushing, your size needs are totally different than if you're sandblasting & running impact guns all day long.
I ran 1/2" copper around the perimeter of the shop behind the wall sheathing with drops every 6 or so feet . yeah it was overkill but ...
if you're air brushing, your size needs are totally different than if you're sandblasting & running impact guns all day long.
I ran 1/2" copper around the perimeter of the shop behind the wall sheathing with drops every 6 or so feet . yeah it was overkill but ...
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Mines all 1/2” stainless.
First off, my regulator is on my 60 gallon Husky air compressor. I have it set to 150psi. I use mostly a 1/2 drive for lug nuts and the like. However at times I use my 3/8 nano for lug nuts on smaller vehicles. As mentioned when I hook up a 3/8 air hose directly to the compressor my 3/8 impact really wakes up. I am not sure if this is from the diameter of the hose (3/8 id) or using 150psi. I have 4 90 degree fittings and one T. Just follow the blue line. Also have a water filter separator installed .![20240701_110533[1].jpg](https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/data/attachments/1986/1986208-753e6c4819c08b7735153ace115f5524.jpg "20240701_110533[1].jpg")
![20240701_110543[1].jpg](https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/data/attachments/1986/1986209-611ec01a9d0392da25eed0a245bfc615.jpg "20240701_110543[1].jpg")
LopezBart
Well-known member
Yes. Both help.
Steve W.
Well-known member
As (many) others have stated, a lot will depend on how you are using the system.
When I built my shop several years ago, I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4". Because it's usually just me, and my largest air hog is the blasting cabinet (used occasionally, but not often), I "settled" for 1/2" lines and started sweating together some copper.
I have three legs in the system. One ends in a single quick-connect, another has a quick-connect and a hose reel, the third has two drops, each with a single quick-connect.
All this has worked out very well for me.
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When I built my shop several years ago, I was debating between 1/2 and 3/4". Because it's usually just me, and my largest air hog is the blasting cabinet (used occasionally, but not often), I "settled" for 1/2" lines and started sweating together some copper.
I have three legs in the system. One ends in a single quick-connect, another has a quick-connect and a hose reel, the third has two drops, each with a single quick-connect.
All this has worked out very well for me.
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So today I went out and purchased high flow fittings, To cut to the chase, yes they made a improvement for a second or two. Then I could hear the air flowing from the compressor to the tool. So I am now on the right track. This small change really made the 3/8 NANO wake up!
So with my high flow fittings now installed on the compressor that I forgot about, I did my usual evaluation. A 1/2 drive was selected and with 150psi I pulled the trigger, Initially the increase was noticeable however after a few seconds the tone went down. I was all set to go online and make a purchase however there was one missing link. My air filtration still had the original fittings. So now armed with the new high flow fittings that I installed here we go again. I pulled the trigger and the impact literally twisted in my hand. The tone was much higher and it was now spinning many more RPM than I ever had heard it before. So for now I believe that I may close this chapter and see how things progress. I did torque my truck lug nuts to 175 and let the 3/8 impact have at it. And it did it! Not a problem.
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OccupantRJ
Well-known member
In a shop air supply, some is good, more is better, and too much is just enough!
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I ran 1/2" black iron with three wall outlets and one on the ceiling just to keep from having hoses run all over the place. The one thing I did to make a huge difference was get rid of the regulator, that really made the impacts sing. I do have a T fitting at the compressor that goes to a separate outlet that does have a regulator on it, but have never used it.
LopezBart
Well-known member
Note that if you have a 175 psi compressor shut-off, you'll get more sing out of the tools - but you'll also likely exceed manufacture's specs. A larger regulator will supply more CFM which is often needed for high consumption tools....
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Mine is set at 155 and that is perfect for what I do.