Complete newbie needs help!

[rossdagley]

Hi guys

I'm a complete novice with air equipment so please treat me as someone who knows nothing at all. Not a thing. You won't insult me I promise!

I'm in the process of fitting out my garage how I want it, and to that end want fixed airlines at various points around the garage (it's a 30x20ft garage so not small, but not huge either).

I'll be running mostly some airtools (impact tools) but want to be able to spray panels and small items also with good clean air occasionally too, so I know I'll need filters on these lines and lube on the others. Eventually I'd like to add a small shotblast cabinet in the garage too.

I've read some guides on how to route the pipework etc, but I'm stuck on what I actually need to connect it all together. What I was kind of thinking was to run a line down either side of the garage, one side for air tools and with oil added, one side without oil and with perhaps additional filters. Is this a good/ugly idea? In my head, I had it as a line coming out the tank, to a regulator on the wall, up to the rafters, appropriate slopes, downpipes with ball valves where I want outlets.

What I'm asking is for help on the actual parts I'll need to put this all together. The compressor I've bought has an outlet that appears to be unregulated from the right hand side, and the normal regulator on the left. See the photo:



Is this outlet likely to be large enough to support everything I need to use or do I need to get air out the tank through both ends etc?

I'm completely confused on what fittings are used for what too - any help here on how to actually plumb (rather than the guides I've read about routing) lines would be appreciated. IE, how to physically connect the tank to any fixed lines I install.

I know I've waffled a bit and I'm appreciative of any help. Like I say I know what I want to achieve I just don't know how to get there and would love for some guidance so I don't buy the wrong thing, or blow myself up

Thanks!

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

No, there will be a big plug in the end of the receiver (the tank) this is where you would connect a compressed air ring main

 

[Julian_P]

I've read some guides on how to route the pipework etc, but I'm stuck on what I actually need to connect it all together. What I was kind of thinking was to run a line down either side of the garage, one side for air tools and with oil added, one side without oil and with perhaps additional filters. Is this a good/ugly idea? In my head, I had it as a line coming out the tank, to a regulator on the wall, up to the rafters, appropriate slopes, downpipes with ball valves where I want outlets.

What I'm asking is for help on the actual parts I'll need to put this all together. The compressor I've bought has an outlet that appears to be unregulated from the right hand side, and the normal regulator on the left. See the photo:


Thanks!

That outlet on your comp is fine, Fittings are just BSP(T) and you need to decide what sort of plumbing you wish to use (malleable iron is the old method but largely superseded today)

Forget running oil through the pipes for lube, just a few drops in the tool is all you need every once in a while. In my opinion your ideas sound a bit 'overkill,' I think I'd just couple the compressor up to a decent wall mounted regulator/water trap and use flexible pipe direct to where you need it.

BES.co.uk for BSP fittings, and if you really want to go daft with an industrial type installation as you allude to then Manflex will sell you all the various options. (at a price!)

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Outlets are fine for 1 tool, not for a ring main, you need to take your feed from the big plug on the end of the receiver

 

[Daz1968]

Take a look at John guest air lines and fittings, its what I used and it has worked out very good and not to expensive.

 

[rossdagley]

Thanks all.
In the end I went down Bedford Compressors and talked to a human rather than spending any more time scaring myself on the internet!

Those guys were incredibly patient and talked me through what I needed to achieve what I wanted. I've bought some bits to get me up and running, but that will also allow some future proofing of the system if I get the hard lines installed etc. It's actually a lot simpler than I thought, but boy was I intimidated by all the variables!

I've changed to a 1/2" outlet on the compressor, got a good regulator and filter with 1/2" inlet/outlet so I can run a blast cabinet later if I want, some airline and fittings. Everything works perfectly!

Thanks for the pointers I got here and sorry I'm a complete newbie asking what might be silly questions but for a total novice, even the fittings are hard to understand!