Compressed Air Piping

[radioman]

thanks curly dave- i thought of using the hair dryer triuck but its a plastic housing, last thing i need is a melted unit. I just simply didnt have the time to stand there and watch it melt. Anyways it finally melted duing the mini january thaw, but I am afraid of it filling up and freeze again over the winter.

 

[spo307]

what about schedule 80 pipe, grey not the white stuff, its meant for direct bury in the ground, so it should be able to hold air pressure.

 

[wedge40]

I'm guessing most of the reason for choosing one method over the other is Co$t. Those on tight budget will use PVC, those who just won the lottery will use copper. I looked at HD yesterday and there was a big difference in price between PVC and Galvanized. Not so much between Galvanized and Copper.
I figure when the time comes if I can plumb my air for 1-2 hundred that wont be too bad.

Wedge

 

[Redneck in training]

PEX is good for 160 psig at 73 F, 140 psig at 110 F etc. Burst pressure is about four times as much. PEX doesn't shutter. I think PEX would do fine in shop air installation. I have some leftovers from my heating installation and I will definitely use it for compressed air. Google REHAU for more info.

 

[ray66v]

I think PEX would do fine in shop air installation.

If it would do fine, the manufacturers would have gotten the rating, so that it would be approved for air.

Some people have used pex sucessfully.

Three short comings for Pex that I have noticed of are: Compressed air can get much hotter than the working pressures can allow. Pex is not supposed to be exposed to UV light once installed. Pex is very hard to get to lay flat in horizontal installations, so the condensate water can be drained out of the system.

 

[ray66v]

what about schedule 80 pipe, grey not the white stuff, its meant for direct bury in the ground, so it should be able to hold air pressure.

Sch 80 pvc is stronger, but also more expensive, and still not rated for compressed air. Pressure is not the only issue.

 

[ray66v]

I'm guessing most of the reason for choosing one method over the other is Co$t. I looked at HD yesterday and there was a big difference in price between PVC and Galvanized. Not so much between Galvanized and Copper.

Wedge

Black iron is about half the cost of galvanized, and around here is pretty much all anyone uses.