RapidAir Maxline 3/4" or Black Iron Pipe for shop air plumbing?

[5030tinkerer]

Looking to finally plumb the shop for compressed air instead of having hoses all over the place and noted the RapidAir Maxline 3/4" kit (Maxline M7500 Master Kit, 3/4-Inch x 100-Feet - Air Compressor Accessories - Amazon.com). It seems simple enough and way cool.

Trouble is, I've always battled moisture in my air lines despite air/water separators and had an issue with rusty moisture in the lines leading to my sandblasting cabinet until I switched out the black iron fittings for brass. At least now, any moisture that gets there is clean (despite the cast iron compressor tank, I suppose).

Now, I see in the TPtools (tptools.com) catalog that they are selling the RapidAir kit on page 46, but on p.49 there are two pages devoted to metal piping kits with the heading 'METAL PIPING - minimize moisture in your air lines and add years to the life of your air tools".

So...which is better? I took a snapshot of the TPtools catalog pages so that those interested can read the blurb.

Thoughts?

 

[Larry Caldwell]

A filter and regulator at every tap will keep crud out of your air tools. For grinders, sanders and such I also use an in-line automatic oiler on a 3' pigtail off of the tool. Of course, a line dryer, filter and regulator are absolutely mandatory for any spray gun. I don't think plastic lines are going to get you away from that.

 

[rswyan]

... copper ...

 

[mikehaugen]

There is a lot of airline info and suggestions in this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318700

You will get all kinds of opinions there.

 

[farmer2009]

I would go with the black pipe.
As for the water problem. Draining tank daily should be first on your list.
Then instead of the separator try a dryer. Seen a commercial shop salvage two dryers off a couple tractor trailers and hook them to batteries and an auto charger. They said they no longer had water in their air lines.
Last add a filter at each drop.

 

[boomer1025]

I vote for the RapidAir kit

 

[5030tinkerer]

There is a lot of airline info and suggestions in this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/318700-black-pipe-galvanized-shop-air.html

You will get all kinds of opinions there.

Awesome! Thanks!! I can't believe that I turned into one of the guys that didn't do a quick search before posting a question. I'll add to that other discussion, letting this thread die.