Advice needed workshop air supply

[Kj1123]

Hi Guys

I have an old 50 litre sip compressors I use In my workshop mostly for painting and priming my steel fabrication work nothing fancy not spraying cars. I occasionally use some air tools and inflate tire ect. My current set up is just a 10ft peice of air hose and I gave to drag the compressors around everywhere and I get issues with condensation in the airlines. I want to fix the compressors in a fixed location and run outlets around my workshop and ideally fit some sort of water separater. Can I use regular 1/2 copper pipe or qualpex and if so what fittings/ adapters will I need to connect the two systems and can use just regular compression fittings will they hold air pressure. Any advice on how to do it safely and when to buy these fittings.

 

[knighty]

John Guest Compressed air ring main system, fast install and cheap prices

A push fit system of fittings and pipe providing rapid installation of a compressed air system. Both during and after installation the system can easily be modified. Can be installed with basic tools.

www.pipefittingsdirect.co.uk

I've had that link saved for years while I waiting to re-do my air setup

you can use the same fittings with coper pipe tho

look on here for compressed air cooler
(heres one https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...ter-compressed-air.120534/page-3#post-2055502 )

and add an auto drain to the compressor
(like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363462883893 )

:-)

 

[fizzy]

Is that 22mm nylon pipe the same stuff as the blue water pipe? Can you buy rolls of it? Don't fancy joints every 3 metres.

 

[MetalMonkey]

The JG stuff comes in 3m lengths, but has the advantage it is nice and straight, I'd hate trying to flatten out a roll. It is Nylon, so very tough.
The water trap T's are also a very cunning idea, saves making a gooseneck up for your drops.
My workshop is done in it, been very happy - does creak a little bit when you pressurise the whole thing up though.

You could use copper, might work out cheaper, and you can mix and match with the JG - the copper would give you the advantage of condensing more of the water out of the system before it reaches the regulator.

Make your own air cooler as suggested above, or the PCL dropout stuff is supposed to be quite good as well - you need to consider the design and layout so you have a drain at any low points and how the water is going to run, so it doesn't collect and sit in the pipes.

 

[Farside]

Hi Guys

I have an old 50 litre sip compressors I use In my workshop mostly for painting and priming my steel fabrication work nothing fancy not spraying cars. I occasionally use some air tools and inflate tire ect. My current set up is just a 10ft peice of air hose and I gave to drag the compressors around everywhere and I get issues with condensation in the airlines. I want to fix the compressors in a fixed location and run outlets around my workshop and ideally fit some sort of water separater. Can I use regular 1/2 copper pipe or qualpex and if so what fittings/ adapters will I need to connect the two systems and can use just regular compression fittings will they hold air pressure. Any advice on how to do it safely and when to buy these fittings.

My round-workshop system is a mix of 1/2" copper and Qualpex, with both compression, solder and push-on couplings.

 

[Kj1123]

My round-workshop system is a mix of 1/2" copper and Qualpex, with both compression, solder and push-on couplings.



View attachment 362811View attachment 362812View attachment 362813

View attachment 362810

Where do u get the adapters to connect the copper pipe to the air hose. Ie I have a quick release female socket on my compressor I'll need an adapter to go from this to Copper 1/2 " pipe can't see in your photos what are they called and where to buy? Also does coiling up your pipe work as a water seperater? I wish I had somebody near by to help me I know have use copper and qualpex ect but am clueless on air fittings.

 

[Farside]

The wall fittings are just plumbing 1/2" BSP wall tap holders. In them are just fitted some 1/2" BSP disconnect fittings from a compair supply place in Dublin... like these...

MALE QUICK RELEASE COUPLING - Dublin, Ireland | Compressed Air Centre Ltd

compressedaircentre.com

I use the higher flow PCL XF fittings, rather than the more commonly available PCL standard ones, which only flow half the amount.
The coil is a water seperator, the water runs out of the bottom and into a vertical pipe, keeping it out of the remaining air flow.

On the left is the vertical drain, on the right is the bottom of the pipe with the drain valve. I'll eventually run the bottom out through the hole in the wall and vent any water to outside.

 

[Kj1123]

The wall fittings are just plumbing 1/2" BSP wall tap holders. In them are just fitted some 1/2" BSP disconnect fittings from a compair supply place in Dublin... like these...

MALE QUICK RELEASE COUPLING - Dublin, Ireland | Compressed Air Centre Ltd

compressedaircentre.com

I use the higher flow PCL XF fittings, rather than the more commonly available PCL standard ones, which only flow half the amount.
The coil is a water seperator, the water runs out of the bottom and into a vertical pipe, keeping it out of the remaining air flow.

View attachment 362899View attachment 362900

On the left is the vertical drain, on the right is the bottom of the pipe with the drain valve. I'll eventually run the bottom out through the hole in the wall and vent any water to outside.

Thanks mate that's exactly what i was looking for so the water will get separated and sit in the lowest point and then u just periodically open the gate valve to drain off the water off? Is that the general idea ? How does it work for you?

 

[Mikes]

My round-workshop system is a mix of 1/2" copper and Qualpex, with both compression, solder and push-on couplings.



View attachment 362811View attachment 362812View attachment 362813

View attachment 362810

Nice to see an installation with the take-offs correctly positioned on the top of the pipe.

 

[Farside]

Thanks mate that's exactly what i was looking for so the water will get separated and sit in the lowest point and then u just periodically open the gate valve to drain off the water off? Is that the general idea ? How does it work for you?

That's it exactly. So far, there's not been much water collected, because the vast majority of the time I'm running an airline from the comp itself, but it's nice to know it's there for when I want to run a sprayer, or other air tools at the benches, etc.

 

[knighty]

bit off topic but saves starting a new thread....

I'd like some quick disconnects for tieing compressors together.... going to make a manifold on the air cooler to tie them together

new machine running soon needs 30cfm, so I have 2 big hydrovane compressors (redundancy) and a small one (save big ones running for small stuff)

manifold is easy, but what air fittings should I use for quick release to make maintenance etc/ easy?

all I can think of big enough are the type on road compressors?

 

[Mikes]

bit off topic but saves starting a new thread....

I'd like some quick disconnects for tieing compressors together.... going to make a manifold on the air cooler to tie them together

new machine running soon needs 30cfm, so I have 2 big hydrovane compressors (redundancy) and a small one (save big ones running for small stuff)

manifold is easy, but what air fittings should I use for quick release to make maintenance etc/ easy?

all I can think of big enough are the type on road compressors?

Or lorry airline couplings as used on 'suzies' .

 

[knighty]

are those that big? never really had a good look at them, but they don't look any larger bore than plc xf type fittings?

 

[carbon]

are those that big? never really had a good look at them, but they don't look any larger bore than plc xf type fittings?

The fittings are usually female threaded either 1/2" bsp or 22mm

 

[Mikes]

The 'palm' couplings used on lots of military lorries can be bought new quite cheaply from the surplus dealers and have the beauty of effectively being full bore so no restrictions. If not , the Atlas Copco couplings (the road compressor coupling) can also be bought cheaply.

 

[brightspark]

i use claw couplings mainly 3/4 and half inch bore both fit each other

 

[Tim W]

I use 15mm copper joined with these push fit connectors from Toolstation:

Compressed Air Elbow 15mm | Toolstation

www.toolstation.com

seal well and easily disconnected if you need to move anything. Been in for 10+yrs so last well enough