Remote Air line?

[JayClay]

Ok, So my garage is finished.
In order to save and space and noise I would like to keep my compressor in my shed building that is about 8' from my new garage. The shed has a 60 amp service and the only other thing in there is 3, 4' lights. How would you run the air line? I'd like to put it under ground. I put two 3" conduit into the garage threw the floor but I don't see an airline making the corner. Also what kind of line would you run? I have super sandy soil that just eats metal like crazy. And I'm also near the ocean so I have the salt air to contend with. Any advice is welcome!

 

[mustangmccance]

you could probably run some rapid air tubing through one of those conduits.

http://www.rapidairproducts.com/index.asp

 

[MattT]

What pressure and CFM?

Did you make the conduit runs with elbows or bends?

How much other stuff is in the conduits?

 

[JayClay]

Pressure is about 150 lbs CFM is around 16.
The conduit corners with elbows.
One conduit is just power. The other one is empty right now. I don't have any plans to add anything else just yet. My wifi from the house reaches into the garage.
I like that rapid air stuff, looks expensive. But if thats the option I'll have to go that way.

 

[nate379]

1" rubber hose will work fine. My shed is about 85ft from my garage, compressor is in there. That is what I used to run the line.

 

[djd99]

You could use the conduit for future runs and run 1" galvanized pipe to the shop, I think I would stay away from running a rubber hose or even rapidair into the shop. Especially if you plan on running high pressure, pipe or copper is the only way to go. Another possibility is using pex due to it's flexibility but once again If I was doing it and my compressor cuts out at 150 Pipe is the only way to go.

 

[mustangmccance]

You could use the conduit for future runs and run 1" galvanized pipe to the shop, I think I would stay away from running a rubber hose or even rapidair into the shop. Especially if you plan on running high pressure, pipe or copper is the only way to go. Another possibility is using pex due to it's flexibility but once again If I was doing it and my compressor cuts out at 150 Pipe is the only way to go.

why?

the problem with pvc is well known in that in some instances it will break apart and send shrapnel. this is not an issue with rubber hose or the rapid air. the rubber hose and rapid air will not rust if there are areas where water pools. if it does develop a leak you can just pull it out and replace it. so educate me please why is this not a good and much less difficult solution. and when it comes down to it the 139 dollars for the basic kit comes with some pretty nice manifolds and they look and work very well installed. personally I think it is a great option for the short distance you are running. just run a pull wire through the conduit and pull and push the rapid air line through and you should have a very nice setup. I sure like it in my shop.

 

[JayClay]

Did you use the rapid air in your whole shop or just between buildings? Would it make any sense to change over to pipe once inide the garage?

 

[MattT]

you could probably run some rapid air tubing through one of those conduits.

Might work depending on the bend radius of their tubing. If that won't work you could probably find 1/2" nylon tube someplace else that'll make it thru' those elbows. Failing that running multiple smaller tubes would work.

www.mcmaster.com has a good selection of tubing and fittings.

 

[cdottrot]

The RapidAir kit's max pressure is 150 psi, I think you'd not want to run the max on a permanent basis. (not an expert though...so who knows)

 

[csp]

Can you get to the ends of the conduit and swap the elbows for large radius elbows?

 

[bdog]

My compressor is in the building next to my shop. I ran 2" PVC between the two and then pulled a regular 3/4" rubber air hose through it. I got the 25' 3/4" hose from grainger for $50 or so. You won't need 1" with the CFM you are talking about.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

Why not just got to a Parker Store and get some good air line, and fittings from there? You would not need to buy that whole kit, and also would hole 200+ PSI.

I have a truck on air ride, runs 200PSI constantly at max, and I have never had a problem with my lines or fittings because of pressure. (The truck in my avitar)

Try buying line and fittings from a place that deals with them.
Try SuicideDoors.com . They sell truck air ride stuff for minitrucks like mine, and will take care of you.

 

[GreyOwl]

How would a section of 3/4" hydraulic hose work with pipe on each end after it comes up.

Charles

 

[mustangmccance]

I used a combination of the rapid air and the air net aluminum tubing in my shop but the rapid air will work just fine for almost anything. I did not try to run my bead blaster off it but everything else runs just fine. most air tools are supposed to be regulated at less than 150 psi so the smart thing to do is place a pressure regulator on the tank, most of them have them already and just keep it at 150 psi. that is what the website recommends. a 3 inch pvc pipe with nothing else in it the tubing should go through there fine although like I said I would want to have 2 people and push and pull with a lead wire as the tubing is a bit stiff. I also would do it on a warm day. having said all that you would then have a real nice setup that you could use to plumb the rest of the garage and have at least 2 or 3 drop points without having to buy anything else but the air chucks.

2 things I would consider though, I have ballcock valves right off the compressor and I shut them when I am not using the compressor I also the outlet on a switch and I shut off the electricity so that if a hose blows off or something my compressor won't burn up. I would want to put a shut off as soon as the tubing entered the garage before any other junctions to be able to shut the air off at that point I would also wire a switch and indicator light so that you can turn the compressor motor on and off without having to go out to the shed every time. is the breaker box for the shed in the garage if so you can just wire a separate breaker for the compressor and turn it off there.

 

[djd99]

why?

the problem with pvc is well known in that in some instances it will break apart and send shrapnel. this is not an issue with rubber hose or the rapid air. the rubber hose and rapid air will not rust if there are areas where water pools. if it does develop a leak you can just pull it out and replace it. so educate me please why is this not a good and much less difficult solution. and when it comes down to it the 139 dollars for the basic kit comes with some pretty nice manifolds and they look and work very well installed. personally I think it is a great option for the short distance you are running. just run a pull wire through the conduit and pull and push the rapid air line through and you should have a very nice setup. I sure like it in my shop.

The main reason I suggest running a 1" pipe into the garage is more less volume. If you want to add a sandblaster in the future most likely the rapid air line is not big enough to supply enough air.
That's why I would run a 1/2" to 1" Galvanized pipe in the nearest wall in the garage and that's where you add your regulator. You don't want your regulator in the compressor room especially if you have to exit the garage to change air pressure that would be a pain in the ***.
I have a tee coming off my main pipe 1 goes to the regulator and one coupling is straight off the main pipe for the blaster.
If your never going to run any high volume tools than it really doesn't matter run a 3/8 goodyear rubber air hose through your conduit and add your regulator at the end of the hose. Then run your rapid air off your regulator. But make sure you add a ball valve before the rubber air line so you can shut it off when your done, The lines willl last longer if it's not pressurized when not in use.

Oh and here's a rapid air clone, a few members here say it's a nice kit for the price.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/air-accessories/complete-garage-air-kit-66747.html

 

[gorilla]

I just ran 43' of 3/4" air line from my garage to my machine shop building. I used coated steel pipe that's used for natural gas piping, It was about $20.00 for 10'. Ive seen that stuff last for 20+ years underground.

 

[LEVE]

Just curious, to the OP, will you also be running electrical cable to switch on/off the compressor?

 

[JayClay]

I do have a regulator and a ball valve cut off on the tank now. I'm a weekend warrior so most likely it will be shut off during the week. My plan was for two air drops, but that could change. I don't have anything like a blasting cabinet and not sure that my compressor would handle something like that at 16 cfm. But I'm not going to rule it out for the future. So I would want to make sure that my line between the buildings is capable enough.

 

[JayClay]

Just curious, to the OP, will you also be running electrical cable to switch on/off the compressor?

Was not planning to.

 

[1320stang]

I'd come out of the shed with some galvanized pipe and go underground with it to whatever depth (more than a foot) and convert to 2" PVC on the horizontal until you reach the footing, then come up with galvanized again and go thru the wall with that.