Plumbing I-R Compressor

[red vette mike]

I had delivered and installed an Ingersol Rand air compressor this week I can't remember all the specifics but it is a good one-7.5 HP, 80 gallon capacity, runs on 220, etc. It weighed about 500 lbs and is real top heavy and was a real bear to put in the room built for it-it took 4 or us to muscle it in. I have a friend at the I-R authorized dealer and I hired one of his techs to help me plumb the system (I really helped him). We started at 5:00am this morning trying to avoid the blast funace heat we have been having-knowing we would start in the attic. I needed 7 'drops'. We used I-R's aluminum plumbing pipe and fittings. (For those of you that have not heard this-you don't need to use PVC for a compressed air system-it can explode and hurt you). We first built a 'loop' in the attic and then 't'd' off of that loop. I-R's plumbing system is easy to work with (you will need a tubing bender). It took us 11 hours to complete the job (including hooking into the compressor itself). This was not an easy job and I am glad I had someone who knew this product. You must preplan in order to do a professional job that will not leak. The bad heat held off until we were about through with the attic, thank Goodness.

 

[bmwpower]

How pricey was the stuff?

Got any picts?

 

[red vette mike]

How pricey was the stuff?

Got any picts?

BMW: That I/R piping was expensive. I cannot remember the exact figure but it was over $800 to do it all. That includes the filters and regualtors at the end of each drop (those were a different name brand than the I/R stuff). The piping is good however-was easy to bend, easy to attach the self sealing 90's, unions and t's, won't rust, etc. It is the saame old deal-you generally get what you pay for.
I have pictures of my entire project and hopefully will get some help to get them posted this week.
Thanks

 

[Bill K]

Sounds like you did it right. Sure is nice when you have a buddy in the biz.
I'm a cheap #@$ so we used 3/4 copper for our lines at the shop.

 

[bhays]

Sounds like you did it right. Sure is nice when you have a buddy in the biz.
I'm a cheap #@$ so we used 3/4 copper for our lines at the shop.

Your cheap #@$ wouldn't be using copper these days....price is through the roof...I just plumbed with the Griot's Garage plastic stuff Friday night...

 

[cc_rider]

I've got a slew of 1/2" and 3/4" galvanized pipe and fittings. I'm too cheap to buy special tubing, and will NOT use PVC pipe for air lines; I've heard stories about what happens when (not if) they bust.

I've read the 'loop' technique is far superior to long runs; maintains better pressure throughout the system. My attic is inaccessible though, so I was planning to run the pipe along the wall about 4' high, with taps every so often. The pipe makes a handy place to hang lightweight stuff too; I made a rack to hang all my spray bottles on and it works like a charm.

At your drops, you should make them like 'J's with the tap above the low part of the J. Better yet add a filter/drain at the bottom.

Love to see pics!

c.

 

[AndrewM]

Your cheap #@$ wouldn't be using copper these days....price is through the roof...I just plumbed with the Griot's Garage plastic stuff Friday night...

Sho nuff. I built my copper air system in March. I was paying ~$13.50 for 10 ft of hardline Schedule L copper. I bought 70 feet of it.

Just for grins I walked by the copper aisle yesterday at Home Depot. $31.50 for the same tube now. Ouch.