Black pipe or galvanized for shop air lines?

[ultrarunner]

At work the compressor contact switch fused and the compressor ran all weekend until it got so hot the thermal circuit breaker tripped... the room became extremely warm.

Problem is air is needed 24/7 for process equipment...

Since then I change out the contacts every 3 years.

To my amazement... the motor was ok once it cooled... this was 6 years ago...

The old compressor dating from the 50's had a mercury switch contactor just like our old Steam Boilers... in my 23 years the mercury switches performed flawlessly... whomever said they don't make them like they use to was right.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I had copper tubing left over from HVAC project, used that to run the air in my shop since I did not need much.

 

[musselmark]

I know many of you will have a lot of negative things to say about this but I plumbed my shop and 300`under ground line to my house with half inch black poly pipe, I run my air at 125psi and it has been 7 years so far with zero problems and I am in eastern canada with extreme cold winters and pretty hot summers.

 

[boggen]

I know many of you will have a lot of negative things to say about this but I plumbed my shop and 300`under ground line to my house with half inch black poly pipe, I run my air at 125psi and it has been 7 years so far with zero problems and I am in eastern canada with extreme cold winters and pretty hot summers.

black poly pipe is different than the hard plastic pipe that ya pickup at menards, lowes, homedepot, that is used for water lines, and sewage lines. that hard plastic can send out sharpenal like a pipe bomb.

black poly hose is softer material that will more likely stretch and give and burst, without sending out deadly flying objects. granted hard plastic fittings for black poly may not be rated for air is a different story.

 

[ultrarunner]

I worked in a shop with black poly pipe...

We had to shut off the compressor at the end of every work day or else it would leak down and run... this was 30 years ago.

Finally doubled up on the hose clamps and bought better ones... as far as I know it is still in service.

 

[ray66v]

The problem with black ploy pipe in this application is, it substantially loses strength if it's heated.

If you compressor runs hot, you could have air coming out of it, that is hot enough to weaken the pipe. Using steel, or copper for the first section would allow some heat to disperse.

Pex would be a better choice.

 

[541S]

When I did my garage I used Compressed Air System for Shop | Compressed Air Piping for Garage | Home Owner Air Tool Systems specifically made for use with compressed air. It works fine. You may want to check it out.

 

[COL F]

Compressed Air Piping | Compressed Air Systems | Do It Yourself Compressed Air Systems Interesting that rigid aluminum tubing does not appear to have been mentioned....

 

[grizzly802]

I agree with 541S. I worked maintenance in a factory that uses black pipe for drops and we have to change filters in the frl's all the time. I know that's what they're their for but we had to change them too often. I like the Rapid Air products and that's what I'm going to use when I do my shop.

 

[ray66v]

I agree with 541S. I worked maintenance in a factory that uses black pipe for drops and we have to change filters in the frl's all the time. I know that's what they're their for but we had to change them too often. I like the Rapid Air products and that's what I'm going to use when I do my shop.

If you don't have clean, dry air, it doesn't matter what you use for pipe, you will still have problems with your tools.

If you have clean, dry air, black pipe will out last the building, and your tools will be happy.