Help me with Compressed air lines

[aggie4life1992]

I just got my new to me compressor up and running its a older 80 gallon Quincy Dual stage 5HP model. I am a bit overwhelmed with opinions for shop air. Everything talks about large scale. I only have a 2 car garage. I want 2 quick connects for air hoses and I want a dryer / regulator. Everything is going to stay on one wall. The tank has a drain on the bottom. The outlet on the tank is about 1/4 of the way up the side. I don't do any painting or sand blasting, I may get a plasma cutter. What do I really need to get/do for my small setup.

 

[sberry]

Put a ball valve on it, a hose to a filter regulator, put a t after, screw hose reel supply yo it and another hose for a whip for another if you need it. Many small garages can make it with a single hose reel.

 

[aggie4life1992]

Put a ball valve on it, a hose to a filter regulator, put a t after, screw hose reel supply yo it and another hose for a whip for another if you need it. Many small garages can make it with a single hose reel.

Thanks, Again. The tank already has a ball value on it. I am guessing 1/2 air hose would work? Also from what I understand as long as my filter/regulator and the hose don't drop lower then the outlet on the tank, I can drain the system with the tank drain. I want two lines because sometimes I have a friend helping and it will be nice to not have to swap air lines.

Also if I wanted to add a outlet on the other side of the garage would just 1/2 inch copper line run up over and down with a t and ball valve pointed down to drain work? I have read over and over that PVC is a no go for compressed air.

 

[66HertzClone]

Now you've done it, gone and uttered that acronym for plastic pipe, yes do not even consider using it. Have some fun, do a search here for it and enjoy reading the warnings and responses, and those who just cannot accept it is very dangerous to use with air.

 

[MoonRise]

What do I really need to get/do for my small setup.

You 'need' a way to get the compressed air from Point A (the compressor tank) to Point B (where you want to use the compressed air).

You 'need' a pressure regulator(s) to regulate the air pressure coming out of the compressor tank to what the tool(s) being used need to run.

If you anticipate or 'need' to run more than one air tool at a time (impact wrench, blow gun, tire inflation, plasma cutter, etc) and the tool(s) probably won't need/want the same air pressure, then you will need/want to have at least two different distribution 'legs' with separate pressure regulators.

By "air dryer" do you actually mean an "air dryer"? As in a refrigerated air dryer or a desiccant dryer that actually removes water vapor? Or do you mean a 'filter' that traps some of the on using PVC moisture drops or other liquid or solid crud from the air stream but does nothing for water (or oil, or whatever) vapor?

Or do you need/want both?

https://www.tptools.com/tech-metal-piping.dlp

https://cached.tptools.com/Images/airline-piping-diagram.pdf

Which pretty much just says run some metal pipe with some "drip legs" so you can connect tool(s) via hoses where you want to use them. Generally a good plan.

A piece of hose or flexible piping from the compressor tank to the metal piping, run the piping to where you want to be using the air, a few QD fittings at the take-off points, maybe a regulator or two and a filter in the air line. A hose (reel or a plain length of 'rubber' air hose) or two and you are pretty much done.

And absolutely NO on using PVC piping for compressed air usage!!!!

 

[ddawg16]

Did someone say PVC?

I'd do what sberry suggested for now....

Later on as you figure out what your real needs are and you have a final resting spot for the compressor, consider running a line to the other side of the garage and maybe adding a air hose reel. My compressor is behind the garage. I have 2 drops at the back of the garage...and the hose real at the front of the garage.

It works perfect for me.

 

[aggie4life1992]

By "air dryer" do you actually mean an "air dryer"? As in a refrigerated air dryer or a desiccant dryer that actually removes water vapor? Or do you mean a 'filter' that traps some of the on using PVC moisture drops or other liquid or solid crud from the air stream but does nothing for water (or oil, or whatever) vapor?

Or do you need/want both?

https://www.tptools.com/tech-metal-piping.dlp

https://cached.tptools.com/Images/airline-piping-diagram.pdf

Which pretty much just says run some metal pipe with some "drip legs" so you can connect tool(s) via hoses where you want to use them. Generally a good plan.

A piece of hose or flexible piping from the compressor tank to the metal piping, run the piping to where you want to be using the air, a few QD fittings at the take-off points, maybe a regulator or two and a filter in the air line. A hose (reel or a plain length of 'rubber' air hose) or two and you are pretty much done.

I was looking at http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200658785_200658785

Which from your description is filter/regulator/lubricator and not actually a dryer. I may see if I can get a desiccant dryer on ebay, but I don't have a plasma cutter right now so its not really needed.

From what I am reading how does this sound. Keep in mind tank already has a ball valve.
Reducer to 1/2 line.
Black pipe up and over back to wall mounted Regulator combo
Small piece of black pipe then 90 down then female quick connect.


Should I add a t with a ball valve at the end or is that overkill? Might add a 2nd quick connect down the line but then I would want a 2nd regulator and i am trying to keep cost down.

 

[ddawg16]

another option is using PEX for your distribution...3/4" will give you plenty of flow.

 

[Moose364]

Rapid air Maxline !!!! mine is over 5 years old and I could not be happier,

 

[aggie4life1992]

another option is using PEX for your distribution...3/4" will give you plenty of flow.

Ill look into that thanks, I guess another question. All the air hoses I have are 3/8 will this be a huge problem? Do I need to buy 1/2 hoses?

 

[aggie4life1992]

Rapid air Maxline !!!! mine is over 5 years old and I could not be happier,

All the kits I see come with a lot more line then I need right now.

 

[mike93lx]

Don't lubricate at the regulator. Add lube to the tool instwad or have a downstream lubricator. Otherwise you'll have oil in all of you lines.

 

[nine4gmc]

2 car garage, put me down for sberry's post as well. You can be fully functional and have it up and running immediately.

 

[Moose364]

You will be surprised at how 100ft does not go very far, I know I had to order another 100 ft but I also have a drop almost every 10' I do wood working and hate air hoses laying in the floor, plus store the extra then when you want another drop somewhere you can add it in a few mins Northern tool has a set they sell it's rapid air but not the maxline it's another line of there airline systems.
and I see your in Texas like me so stay away from Black Pipe with our Humid air you can not keep that stuff from forming rust inside it. and I see your running a plasma cutter you want good Dry air for them. I run 2 moisture traps and 2 filters on my air line going to it, and that why I really like the Maxline it has a drain at every drop

 

[sberry]

The 3/8 hoses you have now are fine.

 

[sberry]

2 car garage, put me down for sberry's post as well. You can be fully functional and have it up and running immediately.

There is a lot to be said for imediately, you can always fix it better. Run a hose to the reg and put the drops soon after. One of the benifits of hi pressure is transportation, you are going to regulate and reduce pressure, some loss in the first stage isn't a problem especially at this distance.
As for needing 2 regs for different pressures, all the tools will use the same, 1 reg in this shop is fine, put a T after it, screw hoses to it and only couplers you need should be at the tool connection. End of the hose.

 

[bastage]

I am getting ready to run lines in my 2 car garage as well. Well I will be just as soon as I settle on what I want. I am going overkill on outlets though. Going to have probably 4, but possibly 5 (one on each side of the garage door, one at my work bench, one for a reel by the garage door opener & probably one by the man door into the house which would basically be the 4th corner of the garage).

Here is what I am considering so far.

1/2" PEX - This would be the fastest & easiest. Easily available parts locally & very flexible system as far as adding on or moving/removing legs. Not really rated for air though, but with my system regulated to ~110 or 120 PSI shouldn't be an issue.

PEX-AL-PEX - More expensive then PEX, but not so expensive it would break the bank. No new tools needed since I have plenty of good wrench's for the compression fittings. Better PSI rating so I wouldn't have to worry if my regulator died on a hot summer day & pressurized the lines to my compressors 175 PSI max. Parts would all have to be ordered, but between Amazon & Ebay I would be into it a little under 200 bucks & with the smallest roll of PEX-AL-PEX being 300 feet I would have enough left over to sell it to my neighbor so he can do his too.

1/2" Copper - I have never sweated copper before otherwise this would probably be the obvious choice as it doesn't have the drawbacks of other's, but its also not as flexible for my ever changing garage. I also have a couple of places where I would have to jog over & add fittings to clear obstructions where the other materials would just flex around.

For any of them I plan to just use a 90 drop ear elbow for the outlet itself. I will have to drain with just an air nozzle, but at least 2 of these outlets (the ones I would use the most) will be right above electrical outlets so that method is preferred over a drip leg anyway.

For my overkill desired system with any of the above options I will be less then 200 bucks into it. The cheapest being the regular PEX @ ~150 & the other 2 coming in at just under 200 (including the tools that I dont own thats needed for whatever method I choose).

For the Filter/Regulator I looked at the Klutch stuff, but since my compressor puts out considerably more then its rated 145 psi I would rather error on the side of caution. Thinking of going with this one from amazon for about the same price.

 

[rnscustom]

Put a 90 at the drain and an extension with a shut off , then nylon tubing to outside pit . Can be a bucket you empty every so often . That's how I drain mine . I also have an auto unit but never installed . I've had 1/2" nylon air line for years and never an issue . It's flexible so no burst issue and it's real cheap , you can use barb fittings and hose clamps . No issue with air temp producing water .

 

[JohnnyK8]

I made my lines out of black pipe and some hydraulic lines to make it easier to connect. Works really well for cooling and drying the air. No water ever makes it to the filter. I have a drain on the bottom of each loop.

It's not the best setup in the world but it works great and doesn't leak at all. if I needed to put a drop somewhere else in the shop I'd use more steel pipe but my 3/4" 50 foot line reaches everything I need.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[JohnnyK8]

One more..... huge picture.


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[Dr Stan]

Johnny that's a very good example of a simple & effective dryer/separator.

Back to the OP's question what model of Quincy do you have? It may, operative word is may, have a built in separator. They are among the best air compressors made and it would not surprise me if it came so equipped.

 

[aggie4life1992]

One more


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Please explain why you went up and down so much. That's the part I don't understand.

 

[aggie4life1992]

Johnny that's a very good example of a simple & effective dryer/separator.

Back to the OP's question what model of Quincy do you have? It may, operative word is may, have a built in separator. They are among the best air compressors made and it would not surprise me if it came so equipped.

It's a QT 5 from 97. I got it for free and just really needed a new electric motor.

 

[byoungblood]

For a simple garage setup, 1/2" black pipe works well. I run 1/2" off the compressor, through the regulator/filter, through some 3/4" hose to my 3/4" "manifold" at its lowest point, save the low point drain. Halfway up the manifold I tee off to my hose reel. Top of the manifold goes reduces back down to 1/2" to go across the garage door and halfway down the opposite wall to my other connection. I have another drain below that outlet.

Anytime I paint with my airbrush or paint gun I use the connection on the opposite wall as I figure most of the moisture has dropped out of the air by that point. I use some of those cheap, disposable, HF filter/driers attached to the tool on that end to trap anything else that may be present. Can't say it is 100% dry, but it seems to work well enough for my purposes and keeps me from having a hose stretched across the garage.

 

[jshillin]

For a 2 car garage, run copper to the center of the garage and mount a hose reel from the ceiling. I did that several years ago and it works great.

 

[JohnnyK8]

Johnny that's a very good example of a simple & effective dryer/separator.

Thanks Man!

 

[JohnnyK8]

Please explain why you went up and down so much. That's the part I don't understand.

When compressed air comes out of the tank it will be darn near 300F degrees (I have been told). Compressed air will hold more water per unit volume. Think about a hot humid day... then take a huge volume of air (80 gallons in your case) compress it at 155 - 170 PSI.. (which equals a lot of air when under pressure) all that water is still in the air and will very happily get deposited in your tools etc. If you are painting it will really screw things up. It will also make your plasma cutter less effective.

So if a guy has a few runs of black pipe after the tank it will allow the air to cool (conduction) and the water will condense in the line and run to the bottom of the loops. That is where you put some ball valves so you you can blow the water out of the lines.

Here is a link to my process of building mine. I'm not an expert but it worked pretty darn well do far.

No reason to overthink this thing.

 

[aggie4life1992]

Johnny that's a very good example of a simple & effective dryer/separator.

Back to the OP's question what model of Quincy do you have? It may, operative word is may, have a built in separator. They are among the best air compressors made and it would not surprise me if it came so equipped.

I don't know how to tell if I have a separator, but I do have an aftercooler.

 

[fourjeepin]

another option is using PEX for your distribution...3/4" will give you plenty of flow.

Does PEX work well for air? I already have the crimp tools and need something to replace my air lines and don't want to run copper (too spendy) or black pipe.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

Does PEX work well for air? I already have the crimp tools and need something to replace my air lines and don't want to run copper (too spendy) or black pipe.

Northern Hydraulics sells a kit made for air systems that looks like PEX. Price isn't too bad for all the stuff you get in the kit. If the plumbing is pretty simple I would just use black iron pipe.