Compressed Air Line Question

[Dougryan]

Hi,
I'm moving soon and will want to run some air lines in my garage and basement. Thinking of putting the compressor in the garage and would like a couple of ports and a hose reel. Then run a line to the basement for some light duty work... airbrush, blowing saw dust etc.

I've been reading up on the topic and have some questions about what material to use...

PVC - Cheap, easy to work with. Not recommended for air, but people use it anyway.
Copper - More expensive. Not as easy to work with, but I am comfortable with cutting and soldering. Don't think it's rated for air, but at least it won't shatter like PVC if it fails.
Iron pipe - More expensive and hard to work with (assuming I need to cut and thread odd lengths).
Air hose - Cheap, easy to work with. May need to use something rigid near the ports to stabilize the connectors.

I'm tempted to run 1/2" air hose for the long runs from the compressor across the garage and into the basement, then end the runs with short copper "L" sections to the quick connector. What do you think?
Would I need to purge the pressure in the air hose when not in use?
Would copper be better in the long term?

What have you done in your shops and garages?
Thanks,
Doug

 

[prichard]

Is the basement at lower elevation than garage? You could use hose or flexible tubing or even PEX but you need to avoid low spots that could allow water to accumulate. Then put a drop leg at outlet.

 

[George2615]

My compressor is along a wall in the middle of the garage. I ran a 25' hose line along the wall to the front of the garage where it connects to a 50' hose reel for any outside of garage air. In the back is just a 50' hose plugged directly in the compressor. Its been working fine for the past 15 years. My compressor has 2 full pressure outlets plus has a separate regulator with 2 more outlets to plug hoses in for reduced pressure jobs like painting. Hose is easy to replace if needed.

 

[Egon]

There are plastic lines designated for air usage.
Lots of Google I formation on how to layout air piping distribution systems.
Copper would be nice. Air hoses may tend to Deteriorate or may not allow enough flow.

 

[horses2]

easiest would be 3/4 air hose. plenty of flow and rated for just about any air pressure you want to run. the other benefit is 3/4 shop air hose is designed for tough shop use., so any run you would use would be easy for the hose. i would advise putting some sort of protector on the hose where it would run thru walls, floors, etc, to prvent a chaf thru failure.

another real good choice would be the Rapidair system from northen tool. 3/4 flex line, a variety of fitting and outlets, looks like a pretty good system.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Rapidair 9 Master Kit, 1/2-Inch x 1-Feet - Air Compressor Accessories - Amazon.com

 

[newbury]

The place I bought has airlines running along the walls of 3 of the 4 shops put in by a prior owner.

It's all black iron pipe about 3/4". Must be almost 200 linear feet of pipe, joints, etc. It's hooked to a 120 or 200 gallon tank with a 5HP compressor. Unfortunately the pump sounds like it blew a valve or something so it needs replacing and is moderately low on my to do list.

 

[KennyG]

Best would be threaded pipe. If you want to avoid the cutting/threading just make up air hose sections to go between sections and to avoid transmitting vibration. I think copper would be OK but I think the cost would not be favorable. The specialized air distribution line systems look great but they cost is pretty high.

Whatever you do, don't use PVC. I know people have used it for years, but if something falls on a line, someone can be killed.

 

[bigtiller]

When going through the wall into the basement, I would use 3/4 black iron pipe. Making sure that it is sealed to the wall well and secured hard enough that the seal won't break when making a connection. Before and after the wall, I'd probably just use a rubber air hose. But it sure would be nice to have 3/4 black iron all the way.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Copper refrigeration tubing would work, refrigeration pressures and temperatures are higher than what you will see on a compressed air system. It comes in roll form and with the proper bender you would have less joints, compression fitting and/or soldered/brazed joints can be utilized.

 

[M E Cook]

Copper refrigeration tubing would work, refrigeration pressures and temperatures are higher than what you will see on a compressed air system. It comes in roll form and with the proper bender you would have less joints, compression fitting and/or soldered/brazed joints can be utilized.

I'm starting my shop lines this weekend using 3/4" copper 10' lengths need about 100 -125 feet expensive yes but will last for years had it in my old shop for 12 years and it is still in use no problems if you figure the cost over how many years you get out of it not a bad choice

 

[newbury]

Best would be threaded pipe. If you want to avoid the cutting/threading just make up air hose sections to go between sections and to avoid transmitting vibration. I think copper would be OK but I think the cost would not be favorable. The specialized air distribution line systems look great but they cost is pretty high.

Whatever you do, don't use PVC. I know people have used it for years, but if something falls on a line, someone can be killed.

I never done it but how difficult is it to use a pipe threader?
HF has them for $75.

 

[prichard]

Never used HF one but I've threaded a lot of pipe with a ratchet threader. Not terribly difficult just make sure pipe is secure.

 

[roadhunter]

After looking at all the choices PEX seems like it has many advantages.

Copper seems like way overkill from a cost standpoint and is more difficult to work with. I just don't see any advantages to using copper but to each thier own.
Steel pipe is nice but all those threaded connections and fittings will likely cost more than the pex and is much more time consuming.
PVC works and is easy but certainly has drawbacks from a safety standpoint and from a UV exposure standpoint.

I'd probably choose pex of all the choices. Seems to win from a cost standpoint, ease of installation standpoint, and for most applications be very durable.

 

[prichard]

I used to work where we had PVC air lines. there was a blow out or two. Fortunately no one was hurt. I would use PVC if it was somewhere it couldn't hurt anyone like a crawl space or attic

 

[KennyG]

I never done it but how difficult is it to use a pipe threader?
HF has them for $75.

It's actually very simple. I've done lots of threading, both with machine driven and by hand. (The threading tool is the same in both cases, the machine just turns the pipe.) However, I always used Rigid tools. The HF gets mixed reviews, but if I had a need today, I'd probably try it. Two tips - use lots of thread cutting oil and don't thread too far. If you overthread (past the depth of the die) you may bottom out on some fittings or damage threaded valves.

 

[Midniteoyl]

PEX should work.. there is PEX-Al-PEX made for compressed air too. More expensive though. HDPE and HDPE-Al_HDPE for compressed air also work (most 'systems/kits' are this) If ran on the wall surfaces, run it through PVC for protection.

 

[Deere Dude]

I have run tons of iron pipe in factory settings but in my garage and basement I find copper works best. It is easy, light, durable, nice looking.

Black pipe works if you want it to look like a factory. CPVC works in Bubbas garage.

But, I ran copper around my garage and put outlets every so often, but then I just used a 50' hose out of the compressor most of the time and didn't use the fittings, but sure does look nice.

 

[Bird]

I certainly would not RECOMMEND PVC, but that's what I used in my shop several years back. And I never had a problem with it, but may have had such if I'd used it a few more years.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have a 200 ft run of pvc air line to an out building , then it transitions to copper . It has been under constant pressure going on about 20 years . And its thin wall sdr 21 pvc its rated for 220 psi ( I am an irrigation contractor ) .