Labels for air lines?

[iota]

I've got an 80gal air compressor that I've run black pipe along the wall to two regulators/filters - one with an oiler, and one without. Each regulator has a couple outlets on the wall and also feeds a hose reel mounted on the ceiling.

That means I have two hose reels - one with oiled air, and one with clean air. Both reels look basically identical and are mounted a couple feet apart.

The issue I've run into multiple times is that when people (wife, friends, neighbors) want to use the blow gun to clean something off, they end up attaching it to the oiled air hose reel and then blow oily air all over whatever they are trying to clean.

I've been trying to find a way to "label" the lines - "CLEAN AIR" and "OILED" or similar - but everything I've tried ends up coming off or isn't noticeable.

Has anyone found tags or labels that would work on an air line without coming off, and are big enough to be noticed but not big enough to get in the way while you're using the line?

 

[sberry]

Get rid of the oiled line.

 

[LXCam]

That ^^ or go to dedicated fittings for your oiled lines and tools so no one can contaminate the dry lines.

 

[RTM]

It’ll never work. They will ignore the sign, break any locking mechanisms you install to defeat your well engineered solution.

 

[The Cobbler]

use different style connectors so only the appropriate things fit .

 

[iota]

That ^^ or go to dedicated fittings for your oiled lines and tools so no one can contaminate the dry lines.

Good idea, switch the oiled tools to a different type of fitting.

I like having the oiled air so I never have to worry about adding oil to the tools that need it, and it works out great for those who actually pay attention to which is which. Tools run great, clean air always available, but there have just been a few "mistakes" where oil was used to clean something and I think switching the fittings would prevent that.

Thanks guys

 

[bts]

I run different fittings and different coloured hoses between clean and oiled air.

Its the adaptors you make to join the two that will bring you undone.

Tony

 

[seber]

Make a steel tag with wire and paint it red for oiled air.

 

[jrj3rd]

If they are both mounted on the ceiling then just shorten the drop on the oiled one so they can't easily reach it.

 

[MrSurly]

different fittings and the blow gun must never be constructed with the oiled one.
OR
direct-mount a blowgun to a dedicated hose and HIDE all the other blowguns.

 

[sberry]

I tried a line or 2 when I started, got rid of it.

 

[metaleltr]

Air tools tend to last so long even through the abuse of rarely oiling them. Not really worth the hassle in my opinion to have an oiled air line. There are also situations where a constant feed of oil into the tool may cause more issues than it solves- Sanders for example- oily exhaust air contaminating the project.

That being said dedicated fittings for clean and oiled air may be the best bet if you must retain the oiled system.

 

[dadsEH]

Nice drive-by first post from the OP.
You've been had guys. LOL.

 

[rayik]

I run just one hose without oil. I keep a bottle of air tool oil near the compressor and put a couple of drops in the tools air fitting before using. Has worked well for me for years.

 

[Lwel9226]

i run just one hose without oil. I keep a bottle of air tool oil near the compressor and put a couple of drops in the tools air fitting before using. Has worked well for me for years.

x 2

LW