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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Air compressor plumbing

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Scott KY

10-27-2005 10:53:23




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I just put in a 5 hp 2 stage air compressor. I am using 1/2 inch black pipe. I will be using a blasting cabinet. Should I use 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch fittings. I assume the blasting cabinet will require a higher volume of air. Any advice would be appreciated.




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Ken Crisman

10-27-2005 18:39:23




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Scott KY, 10-27-2005 10:53:23  
Scott , you should not ever use black pipe for air . Most manuals will tell you that . I've installed several new compressors for shops & personal garages in the past . Really you should start with 3/4" pipe at the compressor so to give you volumne . Always use Galvanized pipe . Also use a good filter & seperator in the line with a drain valve . Air compressors produce moisture when pumping air . Moisture will in turn to rust rust in the black steel pipes . I guarantee you will experience very poor paint jobs & will eventually have rusty water & flakes blowing out of hoses . Start over & not wish you would've done it right the first time . Ken

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Cliff Neubauer

10-30-2005 15:59:48




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Ken Crisman, 10-27-2005 18:39:23  
Galvanized pipe is only galvanized on the outside so it won't last any better than black iron pipe. I used 1/2" black iron pipe in our shop about 5 years ago and have not seen any rust in the system at all.



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CNKS

10-27-2005 19:26:02




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Ken Crisman, 10-27-2005 18:39:23  
I've heard that galvanized flakes off too. Galvanized may be better, but I have had black pipe for 3 years, keep the lines drained and have a good water separator. Everytime I take the separator apart to clean it, I find virtually nothing in it. Any foreign material will never make it past the separator. Keeping the system clean is more important than the type of pipe. I have nearly 120 feet of pipe and 6 drains.

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Ron in Nebr

10-27-2005 23:19:39




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to CNKS, 10-27-2005 19:26:02  
We've had 1 1/4" black pipe air lines in our shop for the last 15 years since it was built new. They all slope downhill to drains and the other outlets are plumbed with risers before they drop down to the couplers. Never once has anything but a minimal amount of water come out the drains themselves(LOTS out of the tank), and they've never acted like they had any type of foreign material like rust or flakes of any type in them either. Granted this is a home/farm/hobby system and not used steady every day like a commercial system, but it's seen alot of use, darn near daily, and probably should be drained LOTS more than it is.

For what it's worth I've seen lots of rusty galvanized pipe in other applications too. I think anything will deteriorate if not maintained at least once in awhile. I wouldn't be scared to use black pipe again, and probably will on the smaller shop I'm working on now.

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CNKS

10-28-2005 05:57:01




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Ron in Nebr, 10-27-2005 23:19:39  
I drain my compressor tank each day I use it, along with the water trap. The lines get drained whenever I think they need it depending on usage. With something like a sandblaster, that takes continuous running, daily, occasional use, every week or two. The point you made about sloping the lines downhill away from the compressor is important.



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R Bedell

10-27-2005 12:17:42




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Scott KY, 10-27-2005 10:53:23  
3/8" fittings



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Scott KY

10-27-2005 13:47:02




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to R Bedell, 10-27-2005 12:17:42  
Will 1/4 inch work ok for most air tools?



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Charles (in GA)

10-27-2005 17:24:22




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Scott KY, 10-27-2005 13:47:02  
For virtually anything else, 1/4" should work OK.

Charles



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poor tom

10-28-2005 05:32:07




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 Re: Air compressor plumbing in reply to Charles (in GA), 10-27-2005 17:24:22  
I have been spraying custom furniture for years with black pipe running from my compressor. I would use 3/4" pipe and put in some up and down loops, floor to ceiling, with drains on the bottom. Sand blasting uses lots of air. This amount of air doesn't get a chance to cool, so it will hold onto all the water in it. This water may clog up your tip. Longer, larger pipes with lots of loops and drains will give the compressed air a chance to cool and drain. Talk to a body shop or restorer. The black pipe is fine. All systems need filters anyways.

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