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RapidAir system
- Thread starter fastolds
- Start date
roll_the_dice
Well-known member
Congrats! I have been looking at the rapid air system for a while also. Which size hose did you get? How many feet of hose? I am still trying to decide what to do with my setup.
TMcCay
Well-known member
I bought 2 of their 3/4" kits and love them in my shop. Quick tip, place the line in the sun straightened out will make for and easier and straighter install. I did mine in the winter and struggled to get the line as straight as I wanted it.
cspcrx
Well-known member
Congrats. Just a couple months ago I finally finished my RapidAir Maxiline install. Did three drops with three hose reels. I went with flexzilla high flow couplers throughout and I must say my farthest drop has more air than it did when I had the cheap HF real attached directly to the compressor. Very happy with the install, you will really enjoy yours.
Congrats! I have been looking at the rapid air system for a while also. Which size hose did you get? How many feet of hose? I am still trying to decide what to do with my setup.
I got the RapidAir kit 90500, which is 1/2" x 100ft. My garage is 26x26 or so. I'm thinking i'll need to do 3 drops, so I'll be buying one more drop kit, but 100' should be more than enough for what I am doing.
Congrats. Just a couple months ago I finally finished my RapidAir Maxiline install. Did three drops with three hose reels. I went with flexzilla high flow couplers throughout and I must say my farthest drop has more air than it did when I had the cheap HF real attached directly to the compressor. Very happy with the install, you will really enjoy yours.
Did you use the flexzilla highflow couplers inline with the rapidair or did you use them at the connections where your drops hooked to your hose reels?
roll_the_dice
Well-known member
Thanks fastolds! I will be putting mine in a 12x12 shed, so 100 feet will be plenty!
Probably a dumb question, but I've been looking at doing the same... Seems the 3/4" line is what most people are using, but if my compressor has a 1/2" outlet, do I need to change that out or is there a 1/2" to 3/4" fitting?
Again, very early stages, so just trying to plan things out..
Again, very early stages, so just trying to plan things out..
Probably a dumb question, but I've been looking at doing the same... Seems the 3/4" line is what most people are using, but if my compressor has a 1/2" outlet, do I need to change that out or is there a 1/2" to 3/4" fitting?
Again, very early stages, so just trying to plan things out..
All of the research I did looked like most people said 3/4 was not necessary in the long run. A youtube video from sparkys garage used 3/4 and had to buy adapters for everything because his airlines/hose reels ran 1/2-3/8". My shop uses 3/8" hose off of my compressor. Unless you are doing big compressor stuff, I would think 1/2 would be fine, again that's what i'm gonna use.
Forever Fixin
Well-known member
I went with the 1/2" running from the back to the front of a 30x40 and wish I would have went 3/4". I only have one drop, but the loss of air pressure is significant. Great for filling tires and blowing things off but you can really notice the difference in running air tools.
Forever Fixin
Well-known member
what size compressor are you running?
old 80gal DeVille Bliss
Well, I hope that 1/2 will be enough for my garage. Maybe I'll invest in some of the flexzilla fittings and make radius bends instead of using the 90s supplied in the kit. I do most of my sidework outside the garage and its a pain in the rear to drag the hose past my 64 Olds. Plus, right now, I'm also disassembling a Subaru and it makes it even harder to get an air hose to the other side of the garage.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Go with 3/4". Rapidair rates the 1/2" tubing at 50" from compressor to outlet. Most people have a hose or hose reel on their outlet, so that's going to total between 50'-100' per run. Also, the Rapidair 1/2" tubing is 1/2" OD, not ID. It's 3/8" ID. Other than aesthetics and having drains on the ends of the runs, the 1/2" tubing is no better than stringing 3/8" rubber air lines. When I finally redo my cheepo used 3/8" ID rubber air hose system that feeds my 25' and 50' reels, the 3/4" is what I'm going to do.
Tommy
Tommy
Last edited:
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Fastolds, I didn't mean to sound insulting to you. 3 equal length drops using a total of 100' of tubing puts each drop at a little over 33'. You should be OK. I have two reels and an overhead drop. One reel is a 25' and one is 50'. The 25' reel has a total run length of about 35'. The 50' reel has total run of about 75' and the overhead drop is teed off the main 3/8" line about 12' from the compressor, but it just feeds a 3/8" coiled line connected at the ceiling that I use for a blow gun or small air tools at my bench. The end of the hose is on a self retracting cable reel to keep it up out of the way. When I use air tools I notice a big difference in pressure drop between the 50', the 25' reel and the coil hose.
Tommy
Tommy
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Fastolds, I didn't mean to sound insulting to you.
Tommy
I know, Tommy. But now I have this shred of doubt in my head.
On a completely different note, does anyone know if rapidair systems hold up outdoors?
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
I don't see why not. They claim it can be directly buried.
Tommy
Tommy
larry4406
Well-known member
I don't see why not. They claim it can be directly buried.
Tommy
Any one have experience with it in a buried install?
This summer's project is a detached shed/garage for outdoor power equipment and I would like to have shop air down there. About 200' away. Figured maybe through it in the same ditch as power. Have a Puma 7.5 Hp 80 gal compressor 23+/- cfm compressor in the attached garage. Alternatively, move the compressor to the shed with a remote on/off to be determined.
Sorry for the hijack.
Any one have experience with it in a buried install?
This summer's project is a detached shed/garage for outdoor power equipment and I would like to have shop air down there. About 200' away. Figured maybe through it in the same ditch as power. Have a Puma 7.5 Hp 80 gal compressor 23+/- cfm compressor in the attached garage. Alternatively, move the compressor to the shed with a remote on/off to be determined.
Sorry for the hijack.
No need to apologize. I'm learning more about the rapidair system every day. Although i can't answer your question, I would think that if you run the air line in conduit, it would be ok. I'm not sure i would trust it long term in the ground without conduit- plus it makes it easier to service in the future.