Shop Air

[minisub]

I picked up a 250' roll of 3/4 DOT brake line off ebay. Fittings are pricey but I got what should be a $ 400 roll for something like 40. I would never use pvc, too much risk of flying shrapnel. All of my short runs and terminations are in copper.

PEX just doesn't seem to have the right pressure and temp ratings. Now pex-al-pex might be a good option and seems similar to the rapid air system in the OP.

 

[01gatormax]

my old shop had steel and allways had moisture issues till the hurricane took it out with a few trees. i rebuilt the shop and picked up a complete kit from northern tools it came with blue pipe , blocks with quick connects and all the fittings was a snap to install works at 130#psi and no problems so far not nearley as much moisture either! 5years!! :thumb:

 

[paoutdoorsman]

I made the mistake of running SCHD 2" 40 PVC in the attic of my shop as a trunk line since the compressor is up there. Didn't realize how much the rated psi drops with higher temps, and I came home one day to the compressor just running non stop. A 25 foot section completely disintingrated. The largest shred I could find was about 10" long, but most everything else was just small pieces. Had to be a violent explosion! Lesson learned. I replumbed with 1" copper...

 

[durallymax]

PEX just doesn't seem to have the right pressure and temp ratings. Now pex-al-pex might be a good option and seems similar to the rapid air system in the OP.

what are you running your system at? We run ours at 110psi so we can inflate our semi tires. Almost all air tools are rated at 90spi.

The Pex we have is ratedd for 100psi @180* or 160psi @73*. It hasnt blow up yet. And I feel we are safe

 

[duramax-rob]

I have always worked in shops that the compressors run between 150-175 lbs with copper lines to each stall. NEVER had any problems. My own shop has copper and same size compressor. Might be more expensive copper, but the copper lines also act as storage for the air so a 60 gal tank with copper or hard, steel, lines might be the same as 70 gal tank or more depending on length of lines. The reason for the high air pressure, it gives you more volume at lower working air pressure. Also, if you can afford it run 3/4 inch copper instead of 1/2 inch, again more storage and volume and storage.

 

[minisub]

what are you running your system at? We run ours at 110psi so we can inflate our semi tires. Almost all air tools are rated at 90spi.

The Pex we have is ratedd for 100psi @180* or 160psi @73*. It hasnt blow up yet. And I feel we are safe

About the same, maybe a bit higher but not much.

I agree that the pex is most likely perfectly fine, and safe. If I hadn't stumbled on the brake line deal I found, I would have run it myself.

 

[Vrabel]

The shop in question runs @ 175 psi also.

 

[Fingers]

Black pipe will scale from the moisture and the crap will eventually make it to your tools. Avoid it in your air system.

Copper is the most durable. IMO

Cost wise, the PEX would be my second choice.

 

[durallymax]

Do what is the reason for running 175psi?.

 

[Vrabel]

press drops fast when 4 guys are using tools, sand blast cabinet, or the ol' single pole lift being used.

 

[Fingers]

The pressure drop over a length of air line is huge. Especially at high volumes. 50' of 3/8 line will drop the pressure 15-20 PSI from the start of the line to at the gun.

The higher pressures do two things for you. One, they help overcome the pressure drop over the line. Two, they give you a some head room to step down the pressure at the tap in point. That is, better pressure control at the point of use.

Then there are those stubborn bolts......

 

[Chevmeister]

Im going to be moving my compressor and instead of running all new black iron, I would love to run Pex. My question is will Pex hold up to my compressor? I believe it runs 175 psi. I originaly was going to go with black iron, and just use DOT tubing to go to my hose reels but DOT brake line is only rated to 150 psi.
Currently I have the compressor with a 3/4 3000psi rubber hose jumping to 3/4 black iron. The pipe splits and 1/2" goes to a 1/2" fitting and a standard 1/4" fitting in high pressure. The other side goes through a regulator, a filter dryer and then to 3 more fittings for the tools. My reels havent been connected yet but they both have regulators at them so they are independent but still need a good supply. I can run multiple guns at once or air truck tires while running my 1" impact and the compressor doesnt miss a beat.

 

[durallymax]

The pressure drop over a length of air line is huge. Especially at high volumes. 50' of 3/8 line will drop the pressure 15-20 PSI from the start of the line to at the gun.

The higher pressures do two things for you. One, they help overcome the pressure drop over the line. Two, they give you a some head room to step down the pressure at the tap in point. That is, better pressure control at the point of use.

Then there are those stubborn bolts......

forgot about drop.

Just went back and looked and ours is set to 130psi which seems to be working decent for us. However I do find myself waiting for the compressor from time to time when using my 725 Snap on gun or using the 3/4" gun and trying to break those stubborn bolts.

There is always the fire wrench though, never found a bolt it cant handle.

 

[werntonb]

No that was a pic back from when it was clean. Im getting behind on keeping it clean now though. Its really hard to in the winter

heres a pic of it this morning

At first i thought, it was hard to work on there but suddenly i've realized that it was a good place to work on.