Garage air setups

[sierradmax]

Getting ready to design & order material for a compressor/shop air install. I may go with a 30-60 gallon compressor but would like to see people's air line setups. I intend on using a single retractable hose reel mounted to the ceiling in the center of the garage and plumb to a small closet to house the compressor.

I plan on using black pipe as I have a threading machine and fittings/pipe appear to be cheaper than rapidaire. Is there a certain distance of pipe required from the compressor to the regulator to help cool the air? Is a drip leg also recommended?

 

[iamhomeless]

Drip legs are always a good idea.

There is a lot of back and forth on here about using black pipe, personally I don't see the problem and I've used it several times without issue, but you should really make sure you stay on your game with keeping as much moisture out of the lines as possible.

As far as the single reel, you may run into problems with that depending on the size and layout of your shop, especially with a ceiling mount. But if you think that's the best setup for you, then try it out, you have a threading machine so changing the layout later isn't going to be a huge hassle. But you might make future expansion easier by putting in some plugged ports.

 

[Ironhorse74]

There have been many threads about airlines here, including my own build. Let me google that for you.

http://www.google.com/search?q=garage+journal:air+lines

 

[engineer2]

If you get an sir hose reel, get one with a 50ft hose. 25 ft is too short.

 

[PurdueSD]

Heres how i did mine on my last shop. Incredibly dry air! Ill be doing it again!
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9671&page=11

 

[lazer50]

I have a 40 by 60 shop 14 ft ceilings finished.new compressor and am seriously considering all plastic lines with push lock fittings.but if you have all the black pipe fitting equipment that will work fine too.

 

[ratdoggy]

I used copper pipe and silver solder..
I also put the compressor in my workshop and plumbed it through the rim joist of the house into the garage. No noise in garage and some in the house but I have air in my basement shop and the compressor isn't running unless I am using it so momma's OK with the noise issue

 

[albaran]

I put in a Rapidair system about 3 years ago and love it. Easy to install and economical. I used the 1/2 inch system but you can upgrade to the 3/4 system as follows:

 

[btdobie]

There have been many threads about airlines here, including my own build. Let me google that for you.

http://www.google.com/search?q=garage+journal:air+lines

You must not be familiar with this gem of a web site.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Lmgtfy

You can customize the search to whatever you want.

 

[k-os]

I put in a Rapidair system about 3 years ago and love it. Easy to install and economical. I used the 1/2 inch system but you can upgrade to the 3/4 system as follows:

I just finished installing a 3/4" MaxLine kit and am really happy with it.

Links below are to videos of the setup I did. I ended up buying two of the Master Kits along with some other fittings.

https://goo.gl/photos/kbqvPxRbAK3DrtHRA

https://goo.gl/photos/qRL6afEkPgJ5RqTA9

 

[turbodave]

I intend on using a single retractable hose reel mounted to the ceiling in the center of the garage

I've got a single reel mounted to the ceiling in between the man door and garage door of my 2.5 car garage. With a 50' hose I can reach anywhere in the garage. Being just inside the door it's easy to pull the hose out in front of the garage to fill up a tire on the lawn mower or car that's parked outside.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ This is good idea. Also put in ball valve so you can shutoff air to the hose reel as over time it may get small leak.

 

[Ironhorse74]

You must not be familiar with this gem of a web site.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Lmgtfy

You can customize the search to whatever you want.

Hmmm wouldn't load for me. Shrug

 

[Sh40674]

i'd use copper rated for air. do not use pvc. if you get too much pressure and tear the copper you can simply cut it out and quickly solder a repair in

 

[Ironhorse74]

Here is the link to the table for pressure rating of copper tube. Type L and Type M copper are commonly available at big box stores. Either will work, I used type L. What isn't available at the big box stores is a silver solder. I used Sta-brite #8 which I purchased from Amazon.


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour..._1.pdf&usg=AFQjCNHDiV2Vo33K2sk37JAtOSHV7UdKMQ

 

[Paulmust50lx]

Thought I'd share my garage air set up, 60 gal compressor, 2 rapid air line kits and copper tube aftercooler set up I did from diagrams off the internet to get the water out of the system.



Have a drop basically on each wall with 3 of them having a hose reel on them. Wanting to rerun the rapid air lines as I was rushed into getting them up to use as I had things to work on haha. Want to run them higher to ceiling so they are less noticeable. Panoramic picture can sorta see how the lines are ran with the reels.