Sugestions for plumbing in the compressor.

[rtbcomp]

^^ I guess partly - the thing starts up OK but after a few minutes stops with frozen pipes. Leave it for while it's ok and once the compressor's warmed up it's ok for the rest of the day. I've had the drain plug freeze solid when draining the tank in winter too.

 

[armalites]

I have had my pressure switch freeze in winter, that was the first time I found out the pressure relief valve worked, scared the life out of me

 

[rtbcomp]

That's one I haven't had. You wouldn't expect it either because air doesn't flow through it and at the top of the tank it's in the warmest place.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Used to have a big twin v thing star delta control gear with a solenoid wired to the timer as it would not start up on load.
That would ice up over night, then on the odd extra cold morning, i used to have to go out to the compressor house and warn it with a blow lamp.

 

[Gareth J]

Blue plastic MDPE water pipe is rated at 175psi (12bar).

There are neater solutions. But not many cheaper ones.

I've run a length along my workshop. Plasson fittings are as customisable as Lego.

 

[Mee]

Out of curiosity I just googled "blue air pipe" and some John guest stuff came up, the pvc stuff doesn't look too expensive actually (£5 for a 3 m length) and being proper compressed air stuff should be plenty strong enough.

But yeah, copper is easy to get hold of and would be what I'd probably use.

I would avoid plastic pipe all together where any hot work is done, seen several pipes exploded where they have been hit with welding sparks and grinder sparks and its not pretty having a large tank of air draining itself out through a split or exploded pipe.

 

[daleyd]

I would avoid plastic pipe all together where any hot work is done, seen several pipes exploded where they have been hit with welding sparks and grinder sparks and its not pretty having a large tank of air draining itself out through a split or exploded pipe.

I'd have no problem grinding or welding around the John guest nylon stuff (the proper air pipe), ive seen it used in factories all over and never heard of any issues. If that was the case I'd have holes all over my flexi hose (going to be much weaker/susceptible to sparks than any rigid plastic and is subject to the same if not worse conditions being on the bench right next to where I'm welding/grinding most of the time).

I don't know what plastic pipes you have seen "explode" from grinder sparks, were they McDonald's straws?

 

[Mee]

I don't know what plastic pipes you have seen "explode" from grinder sparks, were they McDonald's straws?

Typical nonsense reply.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

We use plastic pipe for high pressure gas suppression systems.
I have serviced them in a ship component manufacturing plant. The only place metal was specified was in the open flame area and the casting bay.

The rest was all plastic pipes. The main reason, was weight.

In Germany you will find plastic pipe is replacing metal pipes.

 

[EddyP]

I used one of these to go onto 15mm copper in my old place.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/d20/Flexible+Connectors/sd2807/Pushfit+Tap+Connector/p65696

I'll do the same when I install at this place but in 22 instead. They're good for 15 bar which is fine.