Coupling, connectors, air hoses, etc

[h3rman]

As I said in my other thread, I'm looking at getting a SIP 3hp, 50L, 14 CFM compressor, and I already know what tools I will be getting to go with it.

Tools I'll be running for now will be Clarke gravity fed spray gun, Clarke short blow nozzle and a Sealey impact wrench. Obviously as time goes by, my selection of air tools will grow.

Now, it's the hoses, regulators, couplings & connectors that confuse me (even tho it's prob the easiest bit to understand, haha!). What length & size (internal bore) should I go for? What regulator should I get that isn't restrictive, etc?

I just want something that will hook up to all the tools I have listed, and also ones I may buy in the future, and I don't want and part of the system to be restrictive so that I don't encounter issues with pressure loss, etc.

Most important, where is the best place to get this stuff?? If someone has any link to places that would be a huge help.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[rtbcomp]

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=15742

I'd go for 10 mm bore hose, 1/2" bsp regulator/filter.

I've been disappointed by Clarke regulators & rubber hose.

 

[brightspark]

As I said in my other thread, I'm looking at getting a SIP 3hp, 50L, 14 CFM compressor, and I already know what tools I will be getting to go with it.

Tools I'll be running for now will be Clarke gravity fed spray gun, Clarke short blow nozzle and a Sealey impact wrench. Obviously as time goes by, my selection of air tools will grow.

Now, it's the hoses, regulators, couplings & connectors that confuse me (even tho it's prob the easiest bit to understand, haha!). What length & size (internal bore) should I go for? What regulator should I get that isn't restrictive, etc?

I just want something that will hook up to all the tools I have listed, and also ones I may buy in the future, and I don't want and part of the system to be restrictive so that I don't encounter issues with pressure loss, etc.

Most important, where is the best place to get this stuff?? If someone has any link to places that would be a huge help.

Any help greatly appreciated.

machine mart have the 10mm rubber hose and all the fittings which will be pcl . there prices are verry reasonable. 8mm rubber hose will be fine on shortish runs eg 6meters. long runs best with 10mm. look on page 161 in there catalogue

 

[tigler]

Hose , on heavy demand tools like DA's , impact guns etc , go for 1/2" bore hose to minimise restriction. Other tools are ok with 8mm or 5/16". Rubber is best as it's flexibility does not change with temperature and it's more durable than the plastic generally available.

Regs , Norgren are one of the best IMHO.

Couplers , the most popular to the point of being an industry standard almost are PCL.

Try ebay for all the above , it's as good a place as any really !!

 

[brightspark]

Hose , on heavy demand tools like DA's , impact guns etc , go for 1/2" bore hose to minimise restriction. Other tools are ok with 8mm or 5/16". Rubber is best as it's flexibility does not change with temperature and it's more durable than the plastic generally available.

Regs , Norgren are one of the best IMHO.

Couplers , the most popular to the point of being an industry standard almost are PCL.

Try ebay for all the above , it's as good a place as any really !!

there flogging or trying to flog pcl fittings dearer than machine mart on fleabay

 

[tigler]

Well where ever it's cheapest but make sure it's genuine PCL , pattern stuff is about.

 

[tigler]

Also look for Schrader couplings , they are better than PCL but more expensive.

 

[rkde]

The SIP compressor 3/50L comes with a femail ¼"BSPP PCL type of fitting, machine mart only supply PCL and also all their equipment comes with a PCL fitting, I think from MM its £3 for a male end and £5 for a female end.

I run a ½"BSPP filter but in the other garage I actually run the Aldi equipment as it does what it says on the tin, the fittings for that equipment are schrader "I think".

I use a combination of 3 places MM, Thorite, and lidl when the equipment is there, only down side is sometimes with aldi you get what you pay for, have to say the last batch has for me been quality. MM always stresses me out ~ way too busy there though helpful.

As for sizes I have always used ½"BSPP regulators, the real restriction is all the spring connector valves, the more you have the more pressure drops will be apparent, it will also dramitically affect your flow rate.
The less amount of connections the les interrupted your flow will be.
Just remeber that the restriction is at the compressor of ¼"BSPP so don't go smaller and you will be fine. if you over size everything to ½"BSPP you will see a pressure loss due to the extra area mm³

Personally I now put a male PCL fitting on the tool and run a spring returned coil hose rapped on a wheel, I find that works for me with the exception sometimes the tools get pulled back by the spring. I used to use a spring hose but got fed up with them breaking.
All pesonal preference really.

Hope this helps

 

[brightspark]

The SIP compressor 3/50L comes with a femail ¼"BSPP PCL type of fitting, machine mart only supply PCL and also all their equipment comes with a PCL fitting, I think from MM its £3 for a male end and £5 for a female end.

I run a ½"BSPP filter but in the other garage I actually run the Aldi equipment as it does what it says on the tin, the fittings for that equipment are schrader "I think".

I use a combination of 3 places MM, Thorite, and lidl when the equipment is there, only down side is sometimes with aldi you get what you pay for, have to say the last batch has for me been quality. MM always stresses me out ~ way too busy there though helpful.

As for sizes I have always used ½"BSPP regulators, the real restriction is all the spring connector valves, the more you have the more pressure drops will be apparent, it will also dramitically affect your flow rate.
The less amount of connections the les interrupted your flow will be.
Just remeber that the restriction is at the compressor of ¼"BSPP so don't go smaller and you will be fine. if you over size everything to ½"BSPP you will see a pressure loss due to the extra area mm³

Personally I now put a male PCL fitting on the tool and run a spring returned coil hose rapped on a wheel, I find that works for me with the exception sometimes the tools get pulled back by the spring. I used to use a spring hose but got fed up with them breaking.
All pesonal preference really.

Hope this helps

its best using 10.0mm airline as i said earlier in the post preferably layed flat and not coiled up as this collects the moisture in the line and condenses and can build up .i use all 1/2inch bsp seperators and regs there rated to 90cfm flow . i also use eurofittings which have a 8mm bore . pcl are restricted to 4.5mm bore which restricts the flow considerably on a large air requirement tool .i use a 3m long 8mm rubber pipe conected to the 10mm pipe with pcl fitting on the end for flexibility .its ok to use 1/2inch bsp fittings even if the comp has smaller bore u wont loose presure due to volume . heres the pipe and fittings i use. one is the adaptor using a/ c coupling at 3/4 bore down to a eurofitting . the other is a 10mm pipe with eurofitting and pcl on the end

 

[rkde]

Didn't know that about the condensation ~ cheers