Home air compressor plumbing

[79loserbluebu]

I know this subject has been beaten to death on this forum. But I have a question about the nylon kits that are being sold.

I'm not sure how I would like to run mine yet, so I was planning on buying a master kit, laying it all out and then adding any pieces I would like.

I have a Husky 80 gallon 5hp compressor, with a 3/8 outlet. So my plan is to run a 3/8 pipe to a regulator and then a flex line to the nylon line.

Now for the plumbing bit. It says that if I am using more than 100', to go up one more size than the compressor outlet. This is only going to be for my home garage, meaning at most me and my dad will be using an impact or air ratchet on each side of the car, but we won't be continuously going at the same time. Is an additional size needed?

The reason I ask is because the Rapid air kit is only 1/2od, meaning the hose is only 3/8 od and it uses nice simple plastic air fittings. The next step up would be compression fittings and also more expensive.

If anyone has any real world experience with any of these please let me know. I like the system because it's simple enough that I can do it by myself and move it around if I get tired of how it's laid out.

I don't plan on painting color on any vehicles, maybe just priming them so I don't know if that factors in. Also I just purchased the larger blast cabinet from HF to use.

 

[sberry]

The small lines are fine, you dont need to upsize in a small garage.

 

[Notgrownup]

I was wondering the same , I started a new post like a total Newb.....LOL

 

[CNGsaves]

. . .{clip} I have a Husky 80 gallon 5hp compressor, with a 3/8 outlet. So my plan is to run a 3/8 pipe to a regulator and then a flex line to the nylon line.
{clip}
The reason I ask is because the Rapid air kit is only 1/2od, meaning the hose is only 3/8 id and it uses nice simple plastic air fittings. The next step up would be compression fittings and also more expensive.

Also I just purchased the larger blast cabinet from HF to use.

Well, you're going in all different directions.
a) Have nice high-volume compressor . . . . . . . . . + + +
b) Plan on 3/8" pipe from compressor to airline . . . . - - -
c) Plan on using Rapid Air 1/2" od (ie 3/8" id) kit . . . - - -
d) Plan on running large blast cabinet on RapidAir . . - - -

Bite the bullet and do the following if you must use Rapid Air:
1) Run large pipe from compressor to flex hose in (2) below as 3/4"
2) Buy 3' hydraulic hose @ Tractor Supply (around $25) same size as (1)
3) Install Filter/Regulator to capture water beyond compressor
4) Get 3/4" kit for your mainline (install up near ceiling)
5) Use the 1/2" RapidAir parts for drops (go up from main, then down)
6) Another Filter/Regulator to capture water before blast cabinet

Later, if you want to paint stuff, upgrade drop at blast cabinet to also have desiccant dryer.

Also forgot, add an auto-drain to bottom of your compressor tank.

 

[sberry]

I have a Husky 80 gallon 5hp compressor, with a 3/8 outlet. So my plan is to run a 3/8 pipe to a regulator and then a flex line to the nylon line.

While the description above may be the perfect setup you don't need all that stuff. Put a valve out of the comp, you can use a hyd hose if you like to a regulator but air hose works too. You can and don't see why you couldn't hook the nylon to the regulator or use it anywhere in here. Add a T anywhere after the regulator if you want to screw a fixed whip on and a super nice feature in these garages is the hose reel, well worth the investment. You find out later the need to size up do so, you can change this any time.
Start with simple. One reg with h3 or 4 things plumbed to it.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

The rapid air will suffice for what you discribed, not ideal but it will do the job. With the exception of the blast cabinet, you will shortly decide to upgrade the line to that, go with the size of the smallest fitting in the cabinet, no point in overdoing (3/4") it only to have a 1/2" fitting on your media nozzle.

Do it the best you can within your budget and abilities, for basic use the rapid air is a decent system.

 

[sberry]

He can sandblast thru the regulator and 50 ft of hose on a reel and not lose much. That comp will be out of wind way beyond what a 3/8 hose with 1/4 fittings will deliver. I fact will help with air waste and encourage smaller tips. Use a couple hoses or simple pipe secondary, 1/2 is the easiest with steel.
All this stuff with large mains and ceiling drops are great in a professional body shop, **** running all over but you hit it on the head already with,,, Dad and I are farting around setting up the comp and running some impact with the occasional blast in a cab. A short 5 or 10 ft from the reg a 3/8 whip is fine on the HF cab.
In a small garage a guy should be able to come up with a simple 1/2 pipe manifold with a few ready made pieces. Don't be scared to move something and make it more permanent after its set up some.
We try a lot of stuff, some times it gets convoluted and after mechanic for a while can try to try it easy first.
Some of it has evolved but these were snapped early on where I patched what we had together to get going.
In the second pic you can see where someone tapped the reg with a 3/8 copper line. Must have needed a plasma feed and it hadn't been plumbed in.

 

[sberry]

Now for the plumbing bit. It says that if I am using more than 100', to go up one more size than the compressor outlet. This is only going to be for my home garage, meaning at most me and my dad will be using an impact or air ratchet on each side of the car, but we won't be continuously going at the same time. Is an additional size needed?

So the answer for this is no, you do not need to compensate for pressure loss. Your comp will make only so much air, that's why it doesn't have a big valve. You will be waiting on air anyway for blasting and wont be using a 1/2 but more like 1/8 or 5/32.
3/4 mains is an industrial code for multiple men in a body shop, support 10 men.
I would hose to a good spot to put the reg to feed a hose reel.
One of the feeds in that pic started when a mechanic added a 3 ft whip with a plumbed on blow gun for drying small parts. One jumps to 60 ft of 1/2 black that has 2 stock 25 ft hoses from the ceiling to the hoist. A small garage should be able to manage on a fixed whip or 2 maybe one at a bench where you can hang a hose , reaches 1 side of a car etc and a 50 ft reel for the rest of the work.
Air is slightly different than parasitic electric. You have a fixed piece, a cab or a plasma and the rest is one user at a time kind of demand, the comp isn't big enough for more overlap.

 

[sberry]

My mechanic bud had a fil/reg screwed off his 5 hp comp and a 3/8 air hose for 35 years. Was real simple and worked.