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Plumbing for air, input wanted.
- Thread starter bkvanbek
- Start date
matt_i
Well-known member
I like to back each female quick connect on a trunk line with a ball valve that has threads (iow not sweat-soldered). If I can find them I will buy Nibco. The quick connectors have an irritating ability to leak after awhile which as you will eventually find is an expensive leak. Compressing air is not cheap.
Doozer75
Well-known member
Heck, I even use sharkbite fittings for natural gas.
-Doozer
-Doozer
filter and regulator and or lubricator?
I put a cheap 3 in 1, after a couple months of light use it leaks, garbage. Since I plumbed big, should I get a 3/4"? Should I get a lubricator? Often I just need to air up tires or blow off something?
What brand to get, good value? Ingersoll Rand? Pneumatic Plus? SMC?
Parker and ARO are expensive.
I put a cheap 3 in 1, after a couple months of light use it leaks, garbage. Since I plumbed big, should I get a 3/4"? Should I get a lubricator? Often I just need to air up tires or blow off something?
What brand to get, good value? Ingersoll Rand? Pneumatic Plus? SMC?
Parker and ARO are expensive.
sberry
Banned
The reason the couplers all leak is the are usually installed wrong and used where there should be a screwed connection. If a guy has reels and a drop or 2 in the right location the only need for a coupler is at the working tool end.
I should have been more clear. I need to know what to get for a filter regulator. The cheapy I bought leaks at a bowl and I am returning it.
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I put a cheap 3 in 1, after a couple months of light use it leaks, garbage. Since I plumbed big, should I get a 3/4"? Should I get a lubricator? Often I just need to air up tires or blow off something?
What brand to get, good value? Ingersoll Rand? Pneumatic Plus? SMC? ARO?
Parker are expensive.
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I put a cheap 3 in 1, after a couple months of light use it leaks, garbage. Since I plumbed big, should I get a 3/4"? Should I get a lubricator? Often I just need to air up tires or blow off something?
What brand to get, good value? Ingersoll Rand? Pneumatic Plus? SMC? ARO?
Parker are expensive.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would not put a FRL (Filter/Regulator/Lubricator) or 3 in 1 as you called it between the compressor and your main air line. A filter is okay there, but only put a lubricator at the drops where you will be using air tools. Even then I don't care for them, I'd rather add air tool oil directly to the tools. Inevitably the Lubricator unit is under oiling or over oiling or out of oil all together.
Having a regulator at each drop allows setting the working pressure to the optimum for the job at had with out affecting other drops.
You really want to keep the supply lines free from oil. If you ever want to paint anything, oil in the lines will be your enemy.
As for brands, I'll vote for SMC and Parker. Try eBay for good deals on them, look for industrial surplus offerings. Get a 3/4" if you can find one at a reasonable price.
By the way, by using the 3/4" copper instead of the 1/2" you effectively added 10 extra gallons of air storage to your system - I like that extra reserve of air as it can reduce the on/off cycling of the compressor.
Having a regulator at each drop allows setting the working pressure to the optimum for the job at had with out affecting other drops.
You really want to keep the supply lines free from oil. If you ever want to paint anything, oil in the lines will be your enemy.
As for brands, I'll vote for SMC and Parker. Try eBay for good deals on them, look for industrial surplus offerings. Get a 3/4" if you can find one at a reasonable price.
By the way, by using the 3/4" copper instead of the 1/2" you effectively added 10 extra gallons of air storage to your system - I like that extra reserve of air as it can reduce the on/off cycling of the compressor.
Last edited:
akdiesel
Well-known member
I would not put a FRL (Filter/Regulator/Lubricator) or 3 in 1 as you called it between the compressor and your main air line. A filter is okay there, but only put a lubricator at the drops where you will be using air tools. Even then I don't care for them, I'd rather add air tool oil directly to the tools. Inevitably the Lubricator unit is under oiling or over oiling or out of oil all together.
Having a regulator at each drop allows setting the working pressure to the optimum for the job at had with out affecting other drops.
You really want to keep the supply lines free from oil. If you ever want to paint anything, oil in the lines will be your enemy.
As for brands, I'll vote for SMC and Parker. Try eBay for good deals on them, look for industrial surplus offerings. Get a 3/4" if you can find one at a reasonable price.
By the way, by using the 3/4" copper instead of the 1/2" you effectively added 10 extra gallons of air storage to your system - I like that extra reserve of air as it can reduce the on/off cycling of the compressor.
This exactly
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
I just did 1/2" L copper in my garage.. It's only 900 sq ft, and I only ran 50" of copper.. I have only three drops and it works fine for me so far...
creativecars
Well-known member
^^^
I hope you never plan on painting or blasting anything. These must have clean dry air.
Every hose, fitting etc...will be contaminated.
I hope you never plan on painting or blasting anything. These must have clean dry air.
Every hose, fitting etc...will be contaminated.
^^^
I hope you never plan on painting or blasting anything. These must have clean dry air.
Every hose, fitting etc...will be contaminated.
Why do you say that?
creativecars
Well-known member
bkvanbek, I apologize, I meant to link to the 3 in 1 filter/regulator/OILers that some had suggested.