Shop airline routing kit

[fred d]

Saw this new at Lowes

http://www.lowes.com/pd_498349-4712...9&UserSearch=498349&productId=50129844&rpp=32

Thoughts?

The line looked small to me to be able to supply enough air for high volume tools

 

[sands35]

There are lots of calculators and tables available to help size air lines.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/compressed-air-pipe-pressure-d_36.html

 

[92GreenYJ]

Looks like a direct knock off of the rapidair system. I used the rapidair stuff in my garage build and it's worked well for me so far. No leaks in the system itself, I just seem to have a small leak on the compressor tank that I can't locate.

 

[Durka]

Saw this new at Lowes

http://www.lowes.com/pd_498349-4712...9&UserSearch=498349&productId=50129844&rpp=32

Thoughts?

The line looked small to me to be able to supply enough air for high volume tools

Too weak, -max pressure is 150 psi I believe. Personally, I wouldn't use it...no frickin way.

 

[Larey]

As 92GreenYJ stated looks to be a knock-off rapid-air, I recently installed the rapid air system in my garage and have to say I like it. That kit looks to have alot more adapters to it, to allow you to tee off the lines. The rapid-air system has initially two drops in it after the compressor manifold but includes 100ft of line. Hopefully Lowes will carry the adapters as I can machine the drop blocks at school and then I can use the extra 40 feet of hose to ruan another line to somewhere.

 

[akdiesel]

Northern Tools is selling a 1/2" Rapid Air kit for $89.99. Which is also only rated for 150 psi but that is a safety standard which means it is a safety factor of probably 3 maybe 2. In other words a burst rating of 450 psi or less.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200367525_200367525
The kit Lowes is selling is a Rapid air kit but only a 3/8" size. Not very useful for large air tools.
The other problem with these kits is they do not allow for cooling of the air through the lines. Chances are you will be carrying more warm air (air with moisture) to your tools.

 

[volleyball]

There will be cooling and no scale because the aluminum transfers heat better than iron. But with 3/8", it is not shop quality, more hobbyist level.
I think Sears sells the 1/2" for not much more

 

[Durka]

Northern Tools is selling a 1/2" Rapid Air kit for $89.99. Which is also only rated for 150 psi but that is a safety standard which means it is a safety factor of probably 3 maybe 2. In other words a burst rating of 450 psi or less.

I can't find your info in any of their literature. I've looked through it before and now again, -

From the manual, -

"Regulate air pressure to this piping system to a maximum of 150 PSI"

"The system is engineered to maintain 150 psi"


Yea, personally I don't trust it. Regardless, - best of luck with it

 

[volleyball]

You don't really have to trust the tubing. If it bursts, you get a tear and air leakage. But it is not like pvc that would explode. Think of it like a non flexing air hose.
I don't like the expense of the fittings. If you have a lot of drops or reconfigure often enough, it gets very costly.
I am actually considering it for an area that is an extended run that iron would need lots of fittings to jog around obstacles and be subject to a lot of humidity.

 

[92GreenYJ]

For the record, I got two of the rapidair kits from northern tool linked above and hod more than enough to plumb a full loop in my 2 car garage with a fat drop down along the whole back of my workbench with air hook ups at each stanchion on the bench. Also drops for my plasma and 3 hose reels. Oh and a drop to my blast cabinet. One either side of the main door and one by the man door. It's worked great for me so far. Run 125 psi off my compressor.

 

[TMcCay]

I spent a little more and put in the 3/4" rapid air kits from Northern. I am very happy with it with, my only gripe is that it was impossible to get it to lay out straight. Upside is that I have all the air I need at all of my drop points.

 

[Slowbra]

I just ordered the 3/4" Maxline kit from Northern. My goal is to run it through PVC so it blends in with my white trim and I don't have to worry about getting it laid out straight.

 

[akdiesel]

I just ordered the 3/4" Maxline kit from Northern. My goal is to run it through PVC so it blends in with my white trim and I don't have to worry about getting it laid out straight.

Not a bad idea but I would suggest not gluing the PVC together in that if you do acquire a leak it will simply leak out the PVC connections to tell you that there is a leak in your system in that area, and makes it easier to take apart to repair.

 

[Slowbra]

Not a bad idea but I would suggest not gluing the PVC together in that if you do acquire a leak it will simply leak out the PVC connections to tell you that there is a leak in your system in that area, and makes it easier to take apart to repair.

Makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jbizzle]

Just purchased this at Lowes as an impulse buy. Didn't even look at the size of the line or anything in the store. After looking at it and then looking at what a 1/2 Rapidair kit cost's on Amazon I think I am going to return it.

Anyone install one of these 3/8 kits from Lowes?

 

[sberry]

The 3/8 kit is fine. I am not sure how air line size has become such a cause of concern, its almost on the paranoid level. Especially with 2 stage systems in small garages. If you decide some day to add 3/4 air guns for truck and tractor tire service you can always add but stock hose reels come 50 ft of 3/8 on the secondary for auto shop applications, its what we use, 10 # or more loss just there, 1 or 2 pre regulator.
Hook 3/8 hose to your comp and run a sander and one can find out that it will drain it in a hurry. If you are obsessed with drop run a short as possible hose on the secondary, 25 ft vs 50 but it wont mean a pinch of **** to the avg user. Same for upsizing the rapid air kit, at distance of 100 ft on secondary moving up to 1/2 may help

 

[Jbizzle]

I think maybe I will install it and see how it goes. It's not like I am here building airplanes or anything. Just regular homeowner type stuff.

 

[sberry]

Yes, this will feed any common tool, the nature of the load is similar to a circular saw on a 120V circuit, a decent 1/2 impact is at about 80% or so. You don't have multiple users that need to run at the same time and are really limited by compressor way more than hose. Dumping out the air a little faster wont help, in fact some restriction and drop is good, helps conserve a little.

 

[sberry]

We run into the same scenario on electric often. The drop for 20A circuits at 100 ft is what it is at 20A but the real world loads are not that, max of close to 15 with greedy power tool like a chop or table saw, most other things 13A thru a 15A plug, the real in use number of 13-15 is a lot different than the imagined load of 20,, and those are max with common grinder and electric drill well below 10.
Another aspect to air especially in a home garage (and even in mine) is duty cycle, very low. Minutes in a day or week, different than in industrial 24/7 or a body shop with multiple men.

 

[OctoMan]

I've grown increasingly dissatified with Lowe's lately. Do some internet searching and see what else you can come up with that may be comperable or even better.

 

[427FAB]

I was gonna use that kit but I was able to locate a guy on Craigslist that was getting rid of 3/4 copper pipe that I got for cheap.I figure if I have any leaks problems I can just run to a home improvement store or plumbing supply and upgrade/repair.Plenty of people have used the rapid air system with great results.

 

[Truman Sparks]

I have a "hobby" type shop, and am finishing up an installation of the 1/2" Maxline kit. It's hard to straighten the lines perfectly, but with some fussing they can be made to look reasonably straight.

I also didn't use the Maxline clips (which you have to buy separately anyway). I used some John Guest clips designed for Pex tubing instead (1/2" size). The 1/2" Maxline tubing is a snug fit in these, and it takes a tap with a rubber mallet to close them, but they provide stable anchor points, and I think they look pretty good too.