Garage air line installations

[Henrik]

What kind of pipe/setup for compressed air have you chaps got in your garages/sheds?

I'm moving into a new garage and thought I'd set some air system up. Ideally I want outlets in at least three corners of the garage (the garage is 6x4m), but I'm unsure as to what setup I should be aiming for.

With other renovation projects going on, I'm not exactly flush with cash at the moment either, so need something cheapish. I saw that tool station do some blue plastic tubing for this purpose, but I don't know if it's any good.

 

[rtbcomp]

Some useful tips here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/spray-painting.htm

If you do use plastic, make sure it's suitable for compressed air. Some types of pipe designed for plumbing can shatter under certain conditions if used for compressed air.

I did a "temporary" installation using ordinary nylon air hose, buy it by the 30m roll. Still working fine after 3 years

EDIT - It's PVC hose, see posts #5 & #6

 

[brightspark]

Some useful tips here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/spray-painting.htm

If you do use plastic, make sure it's suitable for compressed air. Some types of pipe designed for plumbing can shatter under certain conditions if used for compressed air.

I did a "temporary" installation using ordinary nylon air hose, buy it by the 30m roll. Still working fine after 3 years

i bet its used inside . if it was outside it would last about a year then go brittle then shatter

 

[rtbcomp]

It's outside and so far no problems. It is proper air hose. I'll keep an eye on it though.

It does stiffen up in cold weather and leak slightly at the joins, presumably because the brass fittings contract, but a turn on the jubilee clips cures it.

One tip when using nylon hose, allow extra length because once it's been tightened onto a hose tail it's a sod to get off and you usually end up cutting it.

EDIT - It's PVC hose, see posts #5 & #6

 

[tigler]

When you say nylon air hose do you mean the braided reinforced stuff ? If so it's PVC with polyester braided reinforcement.

 

[rtbcomp]

Yes you're right it is PVC - just assumed Nylon for some reason!

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S080009

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S080008

 

[brightspark]

Yes you're right it is PVC - just assumed Nylon for some reason!

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S080009

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S080008

thats the diffrence i was on about nyon 10mm pipe with compression fittings same as beer lines it degrades with the sun

 

[shenion]

Mine is 1/2" copper pipe.

 

[Shox Dr]

I've just installed 20mtrs of 1" bore Braided hose from the workshop the comp is in, to my main workshop. I did have 1/2" bore, but found it throttled the supply too much, causing air hungry tools such as Impact drivers to not have enough kick.

It had been in constant use for the last 12yrs, with no problems at all, running through underground ducting. If fact I'm now using it as a fly lead.

I bought 30mtrs of 1" bore braided hose off you know where for 39quid delivered. Not sure what I'm going to use as tee's ect, most likely 22mm Yorkshire fitting as they have a built-in bulge to stop the P-clip from flying off.

I'll run it around to to the outlets in what I have left of the 1" hose, to max the effects of a mini Res and CFM

 

[tigler]

For T pieces use a maleable iron female T piece with brass Hex male serrated hose tails screwed in to each branch. They have the correct tail design to properly secure flexible hose.

 

[Henrik]

Thanks for the pointers.

The PVC hose looks easy enough to install, but if I were to go for copper instead, would I be OK using normal plumbing copper pipe, or does it need to be reinforced?

 

[brightspark]

Thanks for the pointers.

The PVC hose looks easy enough to install, but if I were to go for copper instead, would I be OK using normal plumbing copper pipe, or does it need to be reinforced?

use 22mm pipe with either compression fitting s or soldered joints. it will give good heat disipation and take the pressure no problem u can drop off to each point in 15mm pipe

 

[hareng]

Reminds me i have to redo mine but rip out half the 15mm copper first.
Soldered copper definately holds the 10bar pressure, easy to bend and looks neat.

 

[rtbcomp]

For T pieces use a maleable iron female T piece with brass Hex male serrated hose tails screwed in to each branch. They have the correct tail design to properly secure flexible hose.

I used plastic T hose connectors

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S010156

These are made from Nylon

 

[Shox Dr]

I was going to use Plastic-ish, just needed to give a supplier a call to make sure they would hold up to the pressure cycling. But since they are for air no neeeeeed.

Cheers


doh, only go to 3/4"

 

[tigler]

I used plastic T hose connectors

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S010156

These are made from Nylon

Thats another option. There are aslo the purpose made plastic pneumatic pipe systems, all push together installation so very quick and easy to fit.

 

[rtbcomp]

Another advantage of plastic joints is that the expansion & contraction will be nearer that to the pipe's than metal ones.

Push-fits are expensive, and the plastic pipe is Nylon so issues raised by Brightspark may be a problem?

It's expensive too

http://www.airlines-pneumatics.com/webcat/Detprod.asp?ProductCode=S080001

 

[tigler]

The experience I've had with the plastic pneumatic pipe systems has been nothing but good and totally without any problems. Even after years of use they are still problem free. It is a more expensive option though.
The differential expansion between metal fittings and plastic hose isn't a problem in practice in my experience. The fact is that most hose to fitting interfaces are metal to non metal by neccesity so it's an accepted and normal practice.
I'm just thinking of some of the extreme examples I've had past experience of. Like the job we did for the MOD, 6" bore plastic layflat hose used for water and or diesel at 300 PSI, that had steel line pipe fittings.
On smaller jobs plastic fittings are generally ok unless they are in an application where the hose is moving or being handled, then I'd be wary as they can fatigue from a combination of the pressure and mechanical force. In a static installation they should be fine though.

 

[bluebobtail]

For my air line i used this stuff with no problems.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mdpe-blue...ting and Plumbing-_-MDPE Blue Pipe 25mm x 50m

with these fittings
http://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-mdpe-coupler-25-x-25mm/17684

 

[tigler]

Good solution, simples to install and will last virtually forever.