thofdahl
Active member
This is what my outlets look like. I have an air dryer at each one as well.
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Regular PEX for compressed air lines
- Thread starter tjdux
- Start date
This is what my outlets look like. I have an air dryer at each one as well.
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rowerwet
Well-known member
I installed some pex on the drain of the compressor at work, 3/4 reduced to 1/2, then down to 3/8 ball valve.
It is the regular old pex secured with crimp rings.
I did this about 5 years ago and it is still going strong.
I didn't waste my money on an expensive crimp tool, instead I use the $25 tool that is squeezed with vise grips.
It is the regular old pex secured with crimp rings.
I did this about 5 years ago and it is still going strong.
I didn't waste my money on an expensive crimp tool, instead I use the $25 tool that is squeezed with vise grips.
rowerwet
Well-known member
https://www.zoro.com/superior-tool-.../i/G1547935/?gclid=CM6qkfmEvdMCFU9WDQod3AUNPQ
The only thing you need to be careful about using PEX for compressed air, is not to run it inside a larger pipe. PEX allows oxygen through it, bit not air. You could end up with a pipe full of oxygen according to the rep we talked to.
The only thing you need to be careful about using PEX for compressed air, is not to run it inside a larger pipe. PEX allows oxygen through it, bit not air. You could end up with a pipe full of oxygen according to the rep we talked to.
Hondaracer2oo4
Well-known member
That's a very interesting statement. Air is made up of a mixture of gasses including O2, nitrogen and a bunch of other gasses. No reason for only 02 to pass through and not any of the other gasses.
Do you have any issues/worries abiut UV exposure to the PEX? I have 3 small windows in my shop and light would hit the pipes at least some. I have no clue how much uv light the windows block.
This is what my outlets look like. I have an air dryer at each one as well.
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rlitman
Well-known member
Glass does not block all that much UV. Does the sun shine directly in through the windows onto the pipes? You could paint or insulate the pipes, or use window tint.
Markfothebeast
Well-known member
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- Jul 29, 2016
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The UV issue I would think would apply to transparent pex.
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rowerwet
Well-known member
Cross post
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rowerwet
Well-known member
According to the sales rep, O2 molecules will go easier than nitrogen, enough that it can make an explosive mixture
rlitman
Well-known member
Correct. I don't know what's used to add color to PEX, but I suspect that it is not all that opaque to UV.
Some brands of PEX add UV inhibitors, some do not.
Well, according to this:
http://www.getnitrogen.org/pdf/graham.pdf
You may be onto something, but I'm skeptical.
The diffusion rate is ludicrously slow. The space around the PEX would have to be well enough sealed to capture all the escaping gas (one molecule at a time), and yet be not well enough sealed to build up pressure, because if the pressure equalizes, net diffusion stops.
RAYJAY
Well-known member
any pex supply's you need can be bought here. lot cheaper than the big box stores and better quality also
http://www.supplyhouse.com/
http://www.supplyhouse.com/
rlitman
Well-known member
+1 I've dealt with pexsupply a number of times, and they're fantastic!
They also have a better selection of PEX-A (the best stuff for radiant heating) and expansion fittings than anyone else. According to their website, their headquarters is around the corner from my last job, and I know the block well, as I passed it on my commute, but that was before they were there.
I just wish they had a showroom...
thofdahl
Active member
From what I read the red and blue pex is UV resistant. I am not worried about it as this will not be a 10+ year solution. I can't imagine I will be at this shop more than a couple of years. So far so good on the pex.. I like it.
sfanale
Well-known member
I read through this thread last night and found it very interesting since I was planning on plumbing my shop with schedule40 PVC airlines. I have had good luck with using sch40 in the past for that application, but I also happen to have a good amount of red/blue pex lying around from another project which I have been debating what to do with.
So you guys are saying sch40 PVC isn't safe to use for airlines because if it fails it throws shrapnel? Having worked with both materials, sch40 is just so much easier to glue together than dealing with the crimp rings on PEX. Plus, its much cheaper once you account for the cost of all the brass PEX fittings...
So you guys are saying sch40 PVC isn't safe to use for airlines because if it fails it throws shrapnel? Having worked with both materials, sch40 is just so much easier to glue together than dealing with the crimp rings on PEX. Plus, its much cheaper once you account for the cost of all the brass PEX fittings...
RAYJAY
Well-known member
Falcon67
Well-known member
LOL, popcorn in the m-wave, standing by...
sfanale
Well-known member
I did not realize this was such a hotly contested debate on GJ, this was the first I had heard about the PVC issue. To be fair, had this post not been bumped, I may have still never heard of the safety issues with PVC and gone ahead plumbing my garage with PVC so...
Also... just so you are aware, for whatever reason when I searched GJ for "pvc" nothing comes up despite the fact I now see there are several PVC safety threads, so bumping an old post like this is actually helpful to someone who is just becoming active on the forum.
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rlitman
Well-known member
It is a limitation in the search here. The search function ignores words with three or less characters. It makes a lot of stuff kind of hard to find.
sfanale
Well-known member
that explains so much. I couldn't understand why nothing was turning up for PVC and I had to resort to a google search of the GJ domain.
I'm from the UK so things are possibly different here maybe but PEX is PEX the world over.
I have talked to three PEX manufacturers tech departments and all have said PEX is NOT suitable for compressed air. Even their tech docs say the same thing.
Why a) Oxygen permeable, b)UV degradation, c)only tested up to 12 bar so no safety margin d) PEX sensitive to temperature variations so 70*F will take 12 bar at 100*F will take 8 bar.
Here it is as cheap if not cheaper to use nylon pipe rated for compressed air as PEX/PEX-al-PEX or PEX types A,B or C so that is what I have used. Very satisfied with it.
Al
I have talked to three PEX manufacturers tech departments and all have said PEX is NOT suitable for compressed air. Even their tech docs say the same thing.
Why a) Oxygen permeable, b)UV degradation, c)only tested up to 12 bar so no safety margin d) PEX sensitive to temperature variations so 70*F will take 12 bar at 100*F will take 8 bar.
Here it is as cheap if not cheaper to use nylon pipe rated for compressed air as PEX/PEX-al-PEX or PEX types A,B or C so that is what I have used. Very satisfied with it.
Al