Anyone have experience with transair aluminum pipe compressed air systems....good or bad? I am considering this for my new shop.
www.transair-usa.com
www.transair-usa.com
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Transair compressed air pipe systems
- Thread starter plastics
- Start date
Gus_Mahn
Well-known member
We used a lot of Legris fittings at my last job. The quality was great, but the parts were much smaller than what you are looking to use. I'm interested in costs. What's cost of: piping per 1/2" diameter length, 90 degree fittings, t-fittings, and threaded connections for the Milton fittings?
Franz©
Banned
I supose if you have so much money you need another status symbol to brag on, it's a good buy.
Other than that I can't find any reason to use aluminum tubing shipped halfway across the country for compressed air.
Other than that I can't find any reason to use aluminum tubing shipped halfway across the country for compressed air.
rsanter
Well-known member
we have some at work along with some copper. nice stuff but no better than the copper as far as function goes.
if you can save cost by using it that I would go for it.
if it costs more and you like it, thats fine too.
we have had not real problems with it but there are a few joints that leak. at least with copper I could have it resoldered.
bob
if you can save cost by using it that I would go for it.
if it costs more and you like it, thats fine too.
we have had not real problems with it but there are a few joints that leak. at least with copper I could have it resoldered.
bob
ss2
Member
.
we have had not real problems with it but there are a few joints that leak. at least with copper I could have it resoldered.
bob
bob,
is the Transair pipe not repairable as well?
if a joint leaks can it be fixed?
rsanter
Well-known member
not 100% sure. I supose you could replace the fitting or the Oring in the fitting. personally for the price I would expect joints that do not leak in the first place.
bob
bob
rsanter
Well-known member
if you go with the PVC, do not go with less than the sch80
I used to do testing at a company I worked for that made lots if stuff including PVC fittings, adapters,etc.
before working there I never belived the thing about air in a PVC line. I always thought presure was pressure regardless of if it air or water.
we had a burst tester there and would do some sample testing where we would pressurize the fittings to ASTM test requirments (which exceed rated pressure). during testing the failure point was generally concidered the point where the fitting started to 'swell up' or 'inflate' like you would see a baloon do. one day to test it for myself I did not bleed the air from the fitting before begining the test. the fitting exploded like a grenade at less the half the rated pressure.
this comes from the compressable nature of air and the stored energy contained in it.
dont get me wrong, I have seen lots of people do it and get away with it. but I will say that you will want to really derate the pressure that the pipe says its good for.
alos the white PVC gets brittle with age (from UV) so I would go with the sch80 minimum abd get a color other than white or paint it in areas that could get hit by the sun.
bob
I used to do testing at a company I worked for that made lots if stuff including PVC fittings, adapters,etc.
before working there I never belived the thing about air in a PVC line. I always thought presure was pressure regardless of if it air or water.
we had a burst tester there and would do some sample testing where we would pressurize the fittings to ASTM test requirments (which exceed rated pressure). during testing the failure point was generally concidered the point where the fitting started to 'swell up' or 'inflate' like you would see a baloon do. one day to test it for myself I did not bleed the air from the fitting before begining the test. the fitting exploded like a grenade at less the half the rated pressure.
this comes from the compressable nature of air and the stored energy contained in it.
dont get me wrong, I have seen lots of people do it and get away with it. but I will say that you will want to really derate the pressure that the pipe says its good for.
alos the white PVC gets brittle with age (from UV) so I would go with the sch80 minimum abd get a color other than white or paint it in areas that could get hit by the sun.
bob
Wastedwagesracing
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2007
- Messages
- 613
I put in about 4000 feet of that stuff in our shop. For a shop wide bulk argon system about a year ago. I would never use the stuff again. To this day the system will not hold pressure over the weekend. It leaks like crazy. It's a constant battle to control the leaks. If I could get a "do over" I would go with hard copper and silver soldered joints. But to be fair I do think some of my problems are associated back to the contractor who put the system in.
Industrial Concepts
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 97
We sell & install Prevost ALR Aluminum piping systems. In the past two years I guess we installed 15-20,000 feet of pipe. We have not had any issues with air leaks. I have installed some Transair, again without any issues. Transair is about 20% higher in price than Prevost. The biggest issues you will have with aluminum air line is during the start up or filling the pipe for the first time, you have to go slow & follow the instructions.
Never use PVC!!! Copper is fantastic, higher priced than aluminum & the meth heads are stealing it. Black pipe is for gas lines & has rust & oil from the supply house.
Never use PVC!!! Copper is fantastic, higher priced than aluminum & the meth heads are stealing it. Black pipe is for gas lines & has rust & oil from the supply house.
Black pipe is for gas lines & has rust & oil from the supply house.
I sprayed the inside of mine out with brake cleaner to get rid of the oil but have got some rust particles in the filter bowl after a year & a half. What does the alum pipe cost per ft in 1" & how much are the fittings?
Franz©
Banned
AND, what happens to the overpriced aluminum when somebody forgets to drain the dripleg and the condensation freezes? How does somebody effect a field repair on the aluminum line?
How about explaining exactly what happens if an aluminum line system isn't filled "Properly" regardless of the gas inside of the aluminum line.
You want to promote your product, answer some questions instead of just touting it.
How about explaining exactly what happens if an aluminum line system isn't filled "Properly" regardless of the gas inside of the aluminum line.
You want to promote your product, answer some questions instead of just touting it.
Wastedwagesracing
Banned
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2007
- Messages
- 613
We sell & install Prevost ALR Aluminum piping systems. In the past two years I guess we installed 15-20,000 feet of pipe. We have not had any issues with air leaks. I have installed some Transair, again without any issues. Transair is about 20% higher in price than Prevost. The biggest issues you will have with aluminum air line is during the start up or filling the pipe for the first time, you have to go slow & follow the instructions.
Never use PVC!!! Copper is fantastic, higher priced than aluminum & the meth heads are stealing it. Black pipe is for gas lines & has rust & oil from the supply house.
Is it only on the initial pressurization that you need to follow the instructions?
I wonder if me shutting it down on the weekend and pressurizing it every week may be part of the problem. I have a argon/co2 recirculation loop that I never shut down just because it has to continuously flow. I have far less leaks and problems with this loop.
Industrial Concepts
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 97
First I don't think it is over priced when you consider your options, as I said Copper is fantastic.
We have had one case of the condensation freezing in the airline. Our customer,a Hosiptal Laundry, had a Mechanical Contractor install 1200 ft. in a new plant. Their compressor was installed in an unheated room with a refridgerated dryer. The dryer was useless below 35 deg. f., they heated the room no more problem. They could have use a regenetive style dryer & not had the problem.
If you don't fill the line slow and/or have a union that is not tight the line can blow apart & possibly hurt someone. We had this happen twice when we first started installing the product. Prevost does not solicit the use of our airline with anything but compressed air.
For around $100.00 you can get an automatic drain with a timer.
The aluminum airline should be easily repaired. We cut the pipe with a tubing cutter. Drops are easily added by marking where you want the drop and drill a hole in the side of the pipe & mount a o-ringed clamping saddle to the header pipe. Insert your drop (pipe) into the saddle & then mount a manifold to the wall.
We did a job last year where we were dropping hoses from the main header without strapping the hoses to anything solid. A forklift ran over the hose & pulled the hose to tight & broke the saddle (connection), this was a $23.00 fix and a lesson learned.
We have had one case of the condensation freezing in the airline. Our customer,a Hosiptal Laundry, had a Mechanical Contractor install 1200 ft. in a new plant. Their compressor was installed in an unheated room with a refridgerated dryer. The dryer was useless below 35 deg. f., they heated the room no more problem. They could have use a regenetive style dryer & not had the problem.
If you don't fill the line slow and/or have a union that is not tight the line can blow apart & possibly hurt someone. We had this happen twice when we first started installing the product. Prevost does not solicit the use of our airline with anything but compressed air.
For around $100.00 you can get an automatic drain with a timer.
The aluminum airline should be easily repaired. We cut the pipe with a tubing cutter. Drops are easily added by marking where you want the drop and drill a hole in the side of the pipe & mount a o-ringed clamping saddle to the header pipe. Insert your drop (pipe) into the saddle & then mount a manifold to the wall.
We did a job last year where we were dropping hoses from the main header without strapping the hoses to anything solid. A forklift ran over the hose & pulled the hose to tight & broke the saddle (connection), this was a $23.00 fix and a lesson learned.