compressor piping?

[aldochina]

i have read too much already on the subject! So naturally I am becoming confused:) I am in the process of getting my 80 gallon set up. I am about ready to pipe it. Waiting on the 1/2 inch flex line i ordered. Just wondering where to put the filters and such. Should I put something just out of the tank, or at the points of use? I have 1 nice coalescing filter, and a few water traps. garage run will be about 20 feet, maybe same for shop. 1/2 black iron. I will utalize gravity drain legs with ball valves. lets see some pics of your setups if you got them. thanks

[jays375]

I would look into the plastic air line.The moisture might be a problem with the black iron pipe.Even with water traps.The heat will create moisture.I put my filters right at the compressor.

[badass350x]

You will be fine with the filters coming out of the compressor just make sure you always drain the filters "unless auto drain" and use oil in all tools before and after use!

[El Camexican]

If you are going to paint at some point you don't want any oil on that line and don't use the same hose as you do for the tools

[Dirtcrasher]

Depending on whats required 1/2 copper should be good or 3/4 if it's a large volume. The inside of the hoses is 5/116 or 3/8 anyway. Sweat it all together; I find the moister separators work better down the line closest to the end. I HAVE 1 AT THE TANK AND ONE 20' AWAY at the end of the hose, tired not retyping that.....

[just ben]

I put my intake filter on the outside of my garage. It makes the noise from the compressor almost nothing. I have a water separator right off the compressor but if I paint I have another filter to put inline just before the paint gun.

[taiterator]

I have an 80 gal. Ingersoll/Rand piped throughout my shop with 3/4" pvc. I use dual water separators inline at the tank, and 1 more at my sandblasting/paint station.

[Dirtcrasher]

Do a search, PVC can explode and the pieces get sharp. Don't use PVC for an air compressor.

[Mr. Clean]

Do a search, PVC can explode and the pieces get sharp. Don't use PVC for an air compressor.

X2, I would never use PVC.

aldochina, not sure if you have been to this site but it is a pretty good forum. I have seen diagrams on how people setup plumbing for compressors.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

[Big Mike]

I would run a colascent filter on the supply off the tank, and then a water filter at the end of each extensive run. Copper would be better than black iron but don't be afraid to use the black iron. I would also install an auto drain at the tank, one less thing to have to remember to do each week.

I just started working for an air compressor service company as a field ttech

[taiterator]

You can think whatever you want about pvc, I have run it for 10 yrs. without an issue. It is rated for 300 psi, which my compressor would never even reach. The only time pvc would be a bad idea, is if it is exposed to the sun, otherwise there is nothing wrong with using it. This opinion is from real world experience, not something I've read about. I'm quite sure that any stories about it exploding were from someone who improperly used it. Just my .02.

[kokmatt]

i used pvc on mine too and and been in use for 5 yrs now i think the pressure rating was higher than 300 on mine though would have to double check.

[Mr. Clean]

You can think whatever you want about pvc

Thanks for letting me think whatever I want. I have my opinion and you have yours. What a beautiful world we live in where opinions are freely expressed.

[aldochina]

thanks for all the replies gentlemen! Helpful stuff for sure. I will be using 1/2 inch black iron, cause its free, and i have the threading dies available. The outlet on the 80 gallon tank is 1/2" so i will just go with that. I have to get a few regulators yet, and still waiting on the flex line! Bought a hydraulic line from TS, but i ended up returning it. I will have to look into the auto drain.

[Slingblade]

This is my system. The inlet from the compressor goes to a pipe that extends to about 6 inches from the bottom inside the large steel pipe, with a drain at the bottom. Gravity

displaces the moisture to the drain points. I also ran my intake outside, after I discovered the strength of urathane enamel fog. It will glue the valves of a compressor shut.

For the intake, I used PVC. I would not use PVC with compressed air, even schedule 80, I don't care what the psi rating is. IF it fails, You have a pipe bomb with plastic shrapnel.

Good call on the black iron, aldochina.

I got that tank from my Uncles body shop, check out that fine welding at the top, but it don't leak!!

[aldochina]

interested in the outside intake idea?? Can you just attach a hose to the intake and run it outside?? Maybe some oversize pvc stubbed through the soffit? then I wont have to leave a window cracked in the winter? pro's and con's to this?