trukker
1/2 ton status
What's everybody using to plumb your shop/garage for air? I have heard of people using thick wall pvc, any body done this before?
CK5
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Air compressor plumbing
- Thread starter trukker
- Start date
Veryu bad idea even though I know there are plenty of people who do it. Not sure about home use but for a business it is illegal to use PVC. It is best to use schedule L copper pipe and sweat the fittings on. what ever you do make sure there is a drain below each air coupler and it is advised to go from the compressor tank up towards the ceiling to help keep water to a minimum and use a GOOD water trap before the pipe goes upwards.
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
After looking at all the options and costs, when we did the lines in my buddy's garage last summer we just ended up using conduit clamps, a bunch of the cheapy 25' air hoses and fittings from harbor freight and called it a day.
I like working with PVC so that always seems to be the easiest, even if it's not a good idea. I get the threat of a burst pipe with PVC but 1/2" sch. 80 PVC operating pressure is like 500 psi and "minimum burst" pressure is in the thousands...I can't imagine a home air compressor pushing those limits. Sh!t, those cheap ass harbor freight hoses are 300 psi max anyways.
I'd be inclined to go iron pipe if I was doing metal if for no other reason than it's easy to work with. Yeah, copper is probably the best and certainly cheaper than iron but it just seems like such a pain in the ass.
I like working with PVC so that always seems to be the easiest, even if it's not a good idea. I get the threat of a burst pipe with PVC but 1/2" sch. 80 PVC operating pressure is like 500 psi and "minimum burst" pressure is in the thousands...I can't imagine a home air compressor pushing those limits. Sh!t, those cheap ass harbor freight hoses are 300 psi max anyways.
I'd be inclined to go iron pipe if I was doing metal if for no other reason than it's easy to work with. Yeah, copper is probably the best and certainly cheaper than iron but it just seems like such a pain in the ass.
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SHRAPNEL...................... Ingersol Rand air compressor service reps will not even walk into a building if there is PVC pipe used for compressor air line.
Oil from the compressor contaminates and deteriorates the integrity of the pipe and glued joints.
Shock the line just the right way and LOOK OUT.
My shop was plumbed that way when I got there and it is on the way out as we speak.
Oil from the compressor contaminates and deteriorates the integrity of the pipe and glued joints.
Shock the line just the right way and LOOK OUT.
My shop was plumbed that way when I got there and it is on the way out as we speak.
I have seen two places use pvc pipe both used schedule 80 the heat in the 90s is what will get you alot. Also that thick of PVC hurts when it explodes. Like Dr. Visit hurt. I would use iron pipe but that's just me
trukker
1/2 ton status
Well looks like copper it is then, Damn sure dont want any shrapnel flying around
oldtoyboyd
1/2 ton status
truck air brake hose
Just be sure to use the L-hard copper like 4X4HIGH said. Standard plumbing copper is M-hard, and is not strong enough for this type of usage.
owenst7
1/2 ton status
I think part of the issue with PVC is how brittle it is. Even above 0* it will shatter if any amount of flexing tries to occur. You could use chlorinated PVC, but it still doesn't have very great chemical resistance and the elasticity of metal still isn't there.
You'd be surprised at how much buildings move. Expansion joints have to be used more frequently than you'd think.
You'd be surprised at how much buildings move. Expansion joints have to be used more frequently than you'd think.
They use this stuff at my old work. To the haked eye it looks like blue PVC. It will split instead of fracturing. I have only seen it fail due to Forklift mast ramming into it. It was presssurized & preformed like it was supposed to.
http://www.aetnaplastics.com/products/d/DuraplusPipingSystem
I prefer copper. It just looks cool.
http://www.aetnaplastics.com/products/d/DuraplusPipingSystem
I prefer copper. It just looks cool.
many, many shops that i worked at used galvanized pipe... it's probably the route i'll take when i get around to getting fancy with the Quincy...
Galvo and/or black steel will work just fine - they're just not as easy to work with for the average schmuck like me (need a threader, etc.). For some reason, I also enjoy sweating copper fittings
My whole plant is plumbed with PVC pipe. We have air lines everywhere, even above the silo tanks at the very top. Some of it has been up there for nearly 10 years and we've never had a problem with randomly exploding.
It's not illegal either, the only issue I've had with OSHA Is that I had to have it insulated from ground level up to 10 feet high. So any lines above 10 feet from the ground can be bare PVC. I bet I've got 2000 feet of PVC throughout my place.
It's not illegal either, the only issue I've had with OSHA Is that I had to have it insulated from ground level up to 10 feet high. So any lines above 10 feet from the ground can be bare PVC. I bet I've got 2000 feet of PVC throughout my place.
sixb
1/2 ton status
I ran pvc for 15 years before it started exploding
Now I'm using pex and so far so good. This is in a Machine shop and gets used 50 hours a week at least.
New construction here won't allow pvc, they say it will feed the fire if the compressors on. But my shop passes every year with pvc and pex.
Now I'm using pex and so far so good. This is in a Machine shop and gets used 50 hours a week at least.New construction here won't allow pvc, they say it will feed the fire if the compressors on. But my shop passes every year with pvc and pex.
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
Do you cover the PEX once it's installed?
Isn't it UV sensitive?
Came across an interesting article about black pipe.
http://www.tptools.com/statictext/airline-piping-diagram.pdf
Isn't it UV sensitive?
Came across an interesting article about black pipe.
http://www.tptools.com/statictext/airline-piping-diagram.pdf
ezoliver
Mall Crawler
Check out this stuff... - http://www.rapidairproducts.com/
