Shop tech: Compressor hard air lines?

Avanteone · Jan 3, 2007

I need to re-do the air lines in my shop. Currently all are PVC and I know that they are not safe, and may not even be legal. We need to change and move some stuff around anyways so I figured this would be a good time to re-do the whole system. SO, what to make it out of? Copper? Black pipe? Is there another grade of plastic? Cost is always an issue, especially since I'm going to need like 150 feet of it, plus the pieces to drop down for the hoses. This is in a 3500sq foot shop.

Thanks for any help, John

Jaydog · Jan 3, 2007

Here is a good article.

http://www.hydraulicspneumatics.com/200/eBooks/Article/True/24755/

HillbillyPlumber · Jan 3, 2007

What PSI do you run? Copper would probably be best but not cheapest,

superglock · Jan 4, 2007

I have thought about a plasic line they use on big trucks called synflex [i think]. Its a plasic hose that big trucks use for air lines, The stuff is tough, I have seen it rub a grove in frames. You can use normal pipe fittings. I dont know what it costs.

Avanteone · Jan 4, 2007

HillbillyPlumber said:
What PSI do you run? Copper would probably be best but not cheapest,

150psi IIRC. Copper sounds slightly more expensive but much easier to work with. I've also been looking at that blue stuff that was featured on Extreme 4x4 TV. I'm waiting for a reply from them /w a quote.

J

welder_nick · Jan 25, 2007

Avanteone said:
.... Currently all are PVC and I know that they are not safe, and may not even be legal. .......

thats funny when i started at the shop i currently work at, pvc was used though out the shop.
the problem we had was the fitting coming for the compressor kept expoding out(fixed it three times in one week) once one of the elbows just popped out
the ownerfinally replace all the pvc with black pipe last summer
ps. its not legal

slim83 · Mar 26, 2007

i would use copper
the plastic air line for trucks that was mentiond is pretty strong if you go with that make shure it is dot air brake line but the fittings you need are about ten dollers each and i think the line costs almost as much as copper
so copper line would probably be your best bet

cheesemaker · Mar 27, 2007

A buddy of mine has a motorcycle shop thats plumbed with white 1" pvc pipe. It's been that way for the last ten years with no problems! Some of that stuff has a psi rating on them!