Rapid Air System

[D45]

I would like to run an additional air line to a separate area of my shop........maybe around 40 feet away from the current compressor

Basically I am tired of stringing out and running a 50 foot line to various areas of the garage.

I only have a 33 gal/110v vertical compressor, that is mainly used for airing tires and blowing out the shop

Is the Rapid Air compressor system worth it?

Or are there other kits or preferred lines? Black pipe is an option......but seems more labor intensive

Menards has the Rapidair Compressed Air Piping System (1/2" Master Kit - 100 ft, 2 Outlets), Model Number # 90500 on sale for $67ish right now

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...91-c-12917.htm?tid=6389753054781245958&ipos=3

 

[EOC_Jason]

From what I read people seem to like the rapid air kits and the price really can't be beat when they are on sale / clearance... If you have a Menards near you and plan on using the rebate later on with something else then I guess it's a good deal.

Depending on your needs have you considered a retractable hose reel?

 

[larry4406]

Personally I would just run copper. Easy from the plumbing isle at a home center near you.

Hardest part is sweating fittings but even that is child's play.

Excuse the burnt out T8 bulbs...

 

[ascott172]

I have rapid air 1/2" lines. They have always leaked. I will run copper next time.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[D45]

I have rapid air 1/2" lines. They have always leaked. I will run copper next time.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

That's not good

 

[CJM8515]

Copper or gasline 1/4" pipe

 

[JBL]

I ran copper lines throughout the garage and into the basement shop during the build; that was 14 years ago. So far so good!

 

[D45]

10' stick of 1/2" copper is only $5

Might be a good option to consider

Maximum Working Pressure: 776 PSI

 

[fourjeepin]

Copper or gasline 1/4" pipe

I hope this is a typo as 1/4" would be pretty restrictive.

 

[csp]

How many threads are there on options on airlines?

 

[chadman117]

Pex A

 

[D45]

Pex A

Seems like a more expensive option, compared to Rapid Air

PEX tubing
Brass or poly PEX crimp fitting (s)
PEX crimp ring (s)
PEX tools: PEX crimp tool PEX cutter

 

[D45]

Home Depot sells a Husky kit, that looks close to the Rapid Air kit

The Husky kit uses black nylon tubing (200 psi), instead of the blue with Rapid Air (150 psi)

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Husky-Air-Compressor-Extension-Kit-HAS-100KIT/300519986

The Husky kit is also $75 compared to $67 at Menards for the Rapid Air

Husky Kit:
-100 ft. 1/2 in. O.D. 3/8 in. I.D. Nylon Tubing
-Tubing Cutter
-Airlock Manifold Kit (Aluminum Manifold Block)
-(3) Pneumatic Straight Male Quick Release Fitting
-(2) 90 - degree Quick Release Fittings and Brass Plug
-(2) Airlock Outlet Kits (Aluminum Outlet Block)
-3/8 in. Brass Quick Connect Male Adapter
-3/8 in. Brass Plug
-45° Brass Coupler
-1/4 in. Brass Quick Coupler Male
-Drain Valve
-90°Quick Release Fitting
-(30) Airlock Hold Tight Tubing Clips

Rapid Air Kit (90500):
-100 ft. Rapidair Tubing
-Tube cutter
-(2) Aluminum Outlet Block
-(1) Aluminum Manifold Block
-(6) 3/8 NPT Straight
-(4) Union Elbow
-(2) Hand Valve
-(2) 1/4 NPT Brass ******
-(2) 1/4 NPT Brass 45 degree
-(3) 3/8 NPT Brass Plug

Rapid Air's tubing: ½” OD x 3/8 ID tubing flows 40 scfm @ 50 feet of length

Does Rapid Air not come with any mounting clamps? Granted, they are $5 for 100

 

[Patchzx7r]

I used the flex line in my outbuilding, 200' of line with 4 stations that have reels. I can add more if I want with a T-fitting and another block. I'm into the system around $350-400.

Copper is nice but the flex line is a no-brainer for me as I had windows and corners to maneuver around. It was a few hours and I was done, in my 40x50 outbuilding.

I'm sure cheaper options exist but I would do it again. A friend purchased a kit from tractor supply on clearance, I purchased mine direct after I spec'd out what I needed.

 

[mike in tucson]

a couple of installation tips regardless of the material that you use for the piping:
1. Run a loop instead of dead end lines. Then, bring your short runs off the loop. Loop better balances flow.
2. When you run a drop, take the drop off the top of your feed pipe....not the bottom. Off the top restricts water from running into your drop.
3. Slant your loop system and put a drain in the lowest corner...helps accumulate any moisture.

 

[sberry]

Loops have tbeir place but this is a pretty short simple system with low demand. Get a 50 ft section of 300# air hose, T it in, hang it up out of the way, connect it to a reel or whip. Out of it for the cost of the hose and a couple common hardware store fittings.

 

[Showkey]

Think the kits are a little short on the drop tees or the outlet blocks and a few other fittings........in a 50’ to 100’ layout I would want a drop every 10-15-20’........so the price all in to do it right might be 20-40% more the actual kit price.

The 3/8” id might be a little light or just ok for light duty use .......prior consensus in other post was 1/2” as the sweet for air tools or even 3/4” id for heavy duty use. My blast cabinet is at the end the line on purpose and 3/4” id copper does the job.

 

[D45]

Loops have tbeir place but this is a pretty short simple system with low demand. Get a 50 ft section of 300# air hose, T it in, hang it up out of the way, connect it to a reel or whip. Out of it for the cost of the hose and a couple common hardware store fittings.

Yeah I don't need anything fancy like a loop system

I simple run with a moisture filter/drain at the end should work

I like the simple idea of just getting a single 50' section of 1/2" hose and installing a "Y" fitting at the compressor......one part of the Y will feed the 50' section into the distance part of the shop and the other part of the Y will feed the immediate area near the compressor

Then I would just need a few dozen hose/line clamps

 

[BC1]

I have a hundred plus feet of the 3/4 rapid air installed around 4 years ago. Great so far, no issues.

 

[zmotorsports]

In my last shop I had 3/4" copper feeding 1/2" copper drops, about four in the shop, and it worked well. In my new shop I wanted a lot more drops but also by the time I started putting a pencil to it on cost the copper wasn't all that much less and I also wanted the aesthetics of the Aircom/Rapid Air system. I went with the 1" Aircom system which is almost identical to the Rapid Air system but used the rigid piping. I used three (3) total kits in my 3k square foot shop/RV storage and had one length of pipe left over and a couple of elbows.

I like the Aircom piping system and would buy it again. The only reason I chose the Aircom over the Rapid Air was because my local air compressor supply company sold them and if I needed one or two fittings it would be easier to purchase than ordering on line. I purchased my three Aircom systems from a vendor on ebay, that was the cheapest place I saw them and they shipped/arrived very quick.

 

[nadogail]

Copper Pipe, 50/50 Solder, Acid Flux.

My way to go.

 

[sberry]

Yeah I don't need anything fancy like a loop system

I simple run with a moisture filter/drain at the end should work

I like the simple idea of just getting a single 50' section of 1/2" hose and installing a "Y" fitting at the compressor......one part of the Y will feed the 50' section into the distance part of the shop and the other part of the Y will feed the immediate area near the compressor

Then I would just need a few dozen hose/line clamps

If you are not heavy impacting 3/8 will work well and will work with modest impact. A common T is Y for this application.
Another thing. There is no arbitrary spacing and this is not the same as electric. I see the mention of drops every few ft but that implies moving hoses from hydrant to hydrant which I don't care for with air. I want a section that will reach the area, mine are essentially screwed on and only connect at the tool end or to a hose reel.
You can hang a hose if it's worked out or for occasional use but there is something about a real that tends to discipline it. I done this near every way it can be done, waited way too long to get reels.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Pex A

Seems like a more expensive option, compared to Rapid Air

PEX tubing
Brass or poly PEX crimp fitting (s)
PEX crimp ring (s)
PEX tools: PEX crimp tool PEX cutter

It's also not rated for compressed air...

Tommy

 

[D45]

Copper still has my eye.....more of a finished look

I see they sell two types of copper, M and L......which is better any why?

Type M ($7.10 for 1/2"x10'):
Actual Outer Diameter: 0.375 inch
Maximum Working Pressure: 776 PSI
Maximum Working Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Nominal Size: 1/2 inch
Nominal Thickness: 0.028 inch

Type L ($8.62 for 1/2"x10'):
Actual Outer Diameter: 0.375 inch
Maximum Working Pressure: 1133 PSI
Maximum Working Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Nominal Size: 1/2 inch
Nominal Thickness: 0.04 inch

Type L just seems to have a thicker wall and much more PSI.......I don't see the added costs a benefit, or it is?

 

[csp]

Copper still has my eye.....more of a finished look

I see they sell two types of copper, M and L......which is better any why?

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...k1j0i8i13i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.0.gl7ZD4vKtZs

 

[bahamasair]

I have the 3/4 rapid air and have never had a leak. I would use it again and have recommended it to my friends who also installed it with no leaks. Can’t beat it for the price.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Home Depot sells a Husky kit, that looks close to the Rapid Air kit

The Husky kit uses black nylon tubing (200 psi), instead of the blue with Rapid Air (150 psi)

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Husky-Air-Compressor-Extension-Kit-HAS-100KIT/300519986

The Husky kit is also $75 compared to $67 at Menards for the Rapid Air

Husky Kit:
-100 ft. 1/2 in. O.D. 3/8 in. I.D. Nylon Tubing
-Tubing Cutter
-Airlock Manifold Kit (Aluminum Manifold Block)
-(3) Pneumatic Straight Male Quick Release Fitting
-(2) 90 - degree Quick Release Fittings and Brass Plug
-(2) Airlock Outlet Kits (Aluminum Outlet Block)
-3/8 in. Brass Quick Connect Male Adapter
-3/8 in. Brass Plug
-45° Brass Coupler
-1/4 in. Brass Quick Coupler Male
-Drain Valve
-90°Quick Release Fitting
-(30) Airlock Hold Tight Tubing Clips

Rapid Air Kit (90500):
-100 ft. Rapidair Tubing
-Tube cutter
-(2) Aluminum Outlet Block
-(1) Aluminum Manifold Block
-(6) 3/8 NPT Straight
-(4) Union Elbow
-(2) Hand Valve
-(2) 1/4 NPT Brass ******
-(2) 1/4 NPT Brass 45 degree
-(3) 3/8 NPT Brass Plug

Rapid Air's tubing: ½” OD x 3/8 ID tubing flows 40 scfm @ 50 feet of length

Does Rapid Air not come with any mounting clamps? Granted, they are $5 for 100

The push in fittings used with nylon are famous for leaking. The PEX kits are pretty much goof proof.

 

[D45]

I have the 3/4 rapid air and have never had a leak. I would use it again and have recommended it to my friends who also installed it with no leaks. Can’t beat it for the price.

Are the fittings a better grade for the 3/4" kit compared to what is used on the 1/2" kit?

I have read about a ton of complaints with air leaks with the 1/2" system

 

[ropatz]

For rapid air use the maxline stuff over the home garage. Maxline uses self crimping fittings where the home garage stuff uses push lock fittings that are prone to leak.

I bought bulk pex-al-pex on eBay for much cheaper which is what maxline is. Then bought the fittings from rapid air.

Sent from your Mom's using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

I use the 1/4 ports on my regs to go to the 3/8 hose reels. A reg with 3/8 in is generally good for our class tools and the smaller filters work better if you have any water. I got a couple big filters never did catch a drop of water.
!st pic. you can blow it up for some details but its a simple manifold from a hose from a valve in one of these pics. I keep it to a screaming minimum in the amount of fittings anymore but will use one to make a hose turn the right way. The one I connect that Legacy reel with was a free auto. ind type connector I used figuring if the cheap reel had a problem could disconnect it. The extra fitting in the 1/2 L before that is well,1/2 and doesn't add to any flow problems. a lot of the turns I make right from the 1/2, were from free stock. For giggles once tested how much the qd lost and it was infinitesimal especially on a body tool. I must have added a second hyd for some big paint job, I think I might have got rid of it and robbed the coupling for another job.
Also note that the little sub assembly in pic one has a drip leg type design. Was all stuff I really had in stock or gathered.

 

[sberry]

along the way. In a remod it got fed from a regulated line and a shut off in the proper convenient place. I could put a filter ahead of the legacy but it is at one point. There is a small reg to 1 reel for local adjustment and last gasp filtration for paint guns. I actually had the legacy reel you see in first pic above in another local, during a remodel realized it could be moved just as easy, maybe work better, use the same reg as another circuit and saved 40 to 60 ft of pipe.
I use 4 regulators, one is somewhat redundant but can isolate from the rest of the air main to have air should I shut the rest of the buildings off for some reason.
The one in the middle pic above serves 1 reel. goes outdoor on the apron in front of the building thru a port, can be pulled in the building too but its main point is tires outside. If you note, no conventional drip leg, the filter is the final. 1/2 valve on end of pipe with 3/8 bushing, 3/8 90 hyd fitting to a hyd ****** in to the filter, 3/8 ****** to the reg to a fitting on the back of reg to fit the hose to reel. Valve in a convenient place. I got a lot of old **** on them, I can turn it off when not needed. I got some we use a lot charged 24/7.
Pic 3 is old, most of the flaws have been corrected with new feed. But the reel was a cheap HF deal with 4 flats for the drum and was a major pain. I happened to have 2 rounds from cutting down a reel to fit in a truck box, tacked them on, put swivel base on. The hard hose, the swivel have been flawless and 20 yrs old.
If you look at pic one here this was an installin a hurry for this paint reel, all a good idea but note where the service valve is? Pic 2 shows a revision using the same parts but duh, moving the valve to the hardline and the hose after. No charged hose when this valve is off.

 

[D45]

I decided to go copper on this, picked up 8 sticks (10') of 1/2" copper on CL for $20

The copper pipe is probably 10 years old, but was never installed

 

[eastbaysubaru]

Easy decision when the price for copper is that low. I love my Rapidair Maxline 3/4" system FWIW.

-Brian

 

[FTG-05]

Easy decision when the price for copper is that low. I love my Rapidair Maxline 3/4" system FWIW.

-Brian

I just bought the Rapidaire 3/4" system for my shop today. I planned to internet it, but my son is coming up Tuesday and it will be a lot easier to install with 2 people vs. just myself; so off to the new Huntsville NT store I went this afternoon (about 35 miles one way).

I have no idea what I'm going to do with a 3/4" compressed air system, but the engineer in me wouldn't allow me to buy the 1/2" sized stuff from a 3/4" port on the air compressor. I just knew I'd regret it one day. For $75 or so, it wasn't worth losing sleep over.

 

[D45]

Just to update everyone on this

I found a super cheap route

I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 1/2" x 100' roll of Diablo rubber air hose. The 100' roll was $49.99 and I used a 20% off coupon

I ran it from the compressor, up the wall and into the rafters. I ran the line all the way to the front of the garage, about 65 feet

I have around 20 feet extra, just coiled up on a wall hook

Super cheap and super easy

 

[ole442]

Are the fittings a better grade for the 3/4" kit compared to what is used on the 1/2" kit?

I have read about a ton of complaints with air leaks with the 1/2" system

I went with the Maxline RapidAir M7500 3/4 inch kit over the 1/2 inch because of the fittings for the 1/2 inch are just push on from what I saw on the Maxline videos. The 3/4 fittings have a double O ring and compression system on the connections that is really nice. I sure don't want the system to have leaks with a pressure drop. I was thinking of running it inside the walls by drilling holes in my 2X4 studs but will just mount it on my sheetrock once installed so I can add more drops in the future and take care of any issues that might occur over the years. A local repair shop has the 3/4 line ran throughout his 4 bay shop and loves it. I think he said he keeps the pressure at 170 lbs and has multiple mechanics running air tools all day long!

 

[mike93lx]

Just to update everyone on this

I found a super cheap route

I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 1/2" x 100' roll of Diablo rubber air hose. The 100' roll was $49.99 and I used a 20% off coupon

I ran it from the compressor, up the wall and into the rafters. I ran the line all the way to the front of the garage, about 65 feet

I have around 20 feet extra, just coiled up on a wall hook

Super cheap and super easy

i was going to suggest this. all the elbows, joints, soldering, then hanging it...or just run a hose with some zip ties and get onto other projects. good call

 

[Notgrownup]

I have the rapid air 1/2” inside my walls for about 3 years, I can’t hear any leaks at all. I purge the pressure from the line when I’m done. Was super easy and I was impressed that I had ZERO leaks, I made sure all my tubing cuts were very smooth and straight and properly seated. Love it.