AlanB
Elite Member
So, after using the barn for a while as a shop, finally got around to running airlines inside instead of having the hose reel outside the shop and dragging the hose inside.
What I decided to do for my peace of mind was to run PEX tubing for most of it, and then at the doorway I did a drop of copper tubing to assist in condensing out the water.
I chose PEX over PVC for multiple reasons, primarily that I have seen PVC rupture under air pressure and it is not pretty, instead of just a seam going or something like that, it has the ability to shatter and send out fragments. Realistically, the odds of getting hit are slim, but just something I would rather not contend with.
Another plus after working with PEX is that by far, it has to be the simplest system I have used that makes quick sound joints.
Oh, and I have the PEX crimp tools now which makes the entire project practical.
I also felt that the pex would be able to handle the slight flex that would come from my air compressor getting rigidly mounted to the building.
I chose 3/4" pex although I think 1/2" pex would carry it. 3/4" pex id is roughly the same id as 1/2" copper.
At my door, where I ran the 3/8" coupler I wanted to run a copper pipe with a drain leg and valve. My belief is that this will aid in condensation and drop out of the water prior to entering my air hose. This would be the leg I would use to feed my Plasma. My plasma has a toilet paper filter (motorgaurd) and separator / regulator unit but the dryer air you can feed it the better it is.
Probably the neatest thing I can say about the pex, is that after you get the pieces and get a feel for working it, it goes extremely quick. My embarrassing part of my project exemplifies this. If you look close at the first pictures, you will notice that after running this, adding that, changing this and that around, I forgot to actually run the line down to the hose reel, which just happened to be the first part of the system I mounted, and actually was all I meant to initially hook up
So I walked back into the house slightly disgusted with myself after taking pictures and realizing there was no line to the reel and SWMBO was up and asked if she should make breakfast. So, she started breakfast (mmmm biscuits and Gravy, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm) and I walked back out to cut in a line. I got it done, working and tested, and walked back into the house, as the coffee pot was finishing, and breakfast was moving off the stove. (15 minutes or so) The PEX really does work easy.
Let me see if I can get some pics to post.
OK, pics worked but they are not the quality and size I want. Taking them with my new Droid toy and just have not learned enough of how to use it, but I know it takes bigger better pictures. Will play with it and see but if there are specific questions, or specific pictures requested, feel free to tell me and I will do my best to get them.
What I decided to do for my peace of mind was to run PEX tubing for most of it, and then at the doorway I did a drop of copper tubing to assist in condensing out the water.
I chose PEX over PVC for multiple reasons, primarily that I have seen PVC rupture under air pressure and it is not pretty, instead of just a seam going or something like that, it has the ability to shatter and send out fragments. Realistically, the odds of getting hit are slim, but just something I would rather not contend with.
Another plus after working with PEX is that by far, it has to be the simplest system I have used that makes quick sound joints.
Oh, and I have the PEX crimp tools now which makes the entire project practical.
I also felt that the pex would be able to handle the slight flex that would come from my air compressor getting rigidly mounted to the building.
I chose 3/4" pex although I think 1/2" pex would carry it. 3/4" pex id is roughly the same id as 1/2" copper.
At my door, where I ran the 3/8" coupler I wanted to run a copper pipe with a drain leg and valve. My belief is that this will aid in condensation and drop out of the water prior to entering my air hose. This would be the leg I would use to feed my Plasma. My plasma has a toilet paper filter (motorgaurd) and separator / regulator unit but the dryer air you can feed it the better it is.
Probably the neatest thing I can say about the pex, is that after you get the pieces and get a feel for working it, it goes extremely quick. My embarrassing part of my project exemplifies this. If you look close at the first pictures, you will notice that after running this, adding that, changing this and that around, I forgot to actually run the line down to the hose reel, which just happened to be the first part of the system I mounted, and actually was all I meant to initially hook up
So I walked back into the house slightly disgusted with myself after taking pictures and realizing there was no line to the reel and SWMBO was up and asked if she should make breakfast. So, she started breakfast (mmmm biscuits and Gravy, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm) and I walked back out to cut in a line. I got it done, working and tested, and walked back into the house, as the coffee pot was finishing, and breakfast was moving off the stove. (15 minutes or so) The PEX really does work easy.Let me see if I can get some pics to post.
OK, pics worked but they are not the quality and size I want. Taking them with my new Droid toy and just have not learned enough of how to use it, but I know it takes bigger better pictures. Will play with it and see but if there are specific questions, or specific pictures requested, feel free to tell me and I will do my best to get them.
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