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black pipe v/s galvanized

T

tom upton

Member
The post below on shop airline made me wonder why hardly anyone suggested galvanized pipe for shop air lines? I know there is a lot of hype on the internet about how the zinc will come off and contaminate air tools and actuators etc, but by my experience I have only seen one case where a galvanized fitting caused any issue, and it was a fitting that had an abnormal amount of zinc built up and restricted air flow not the pipe itself. We have been using Galvanized pipe both in our 65000 square foot fab shop, and in 95% of our sawmill installations for over 40 years with one complaint! I would hazard a guess that we have ran enough galvanized pipe for airlines to stretch from coast to coast. Recently a customer has requested we use black pipe. I think because of what he has read on the internet, not because of problems, but not sure. I cant see where black pipe would be better as it is definitely going to corrode faster. Maybe pickled and oiled would be better but this can get expensive. Just wanting to get opinions and experiences of YT people as I know there is a vast amount of real world knowledge on this site.
 

The only place that I've learned not to use galvanized pipe is for L.P. gas.

And yes I use galvanize pipe for air lines. I also put in drip traps/legs with a drain valve.

Dusty
 
I was taught black pipe is for natural gas which is a dry gas so no worry about rust.
Galvanized is for water lines.

What would I use?

Whatever I can get for FREE or almost free.
 
I had always thought you shouldn't use galvanized for propane also but the main expert and instructor in my state said he prefers to use it and pointed out there is nothing in the code against it. And to be honest I have seen more problems from old copper flaking. But I guess that is what sediment traps are for.
 

I ran a short piece of galvanized for LP because it was outdoors. The LP company made me change it to black iron.

Natural gas does have a fair amount of moisture in it so it's best to use galvanized for natural gas.

Natural Gas will corrode copper and plug up the controls.

Dusty
 
You and Frank are both with it. I have seen were crappy galvanized pipe flakes
off all over the place. You get those tiny flakes inside of you gas regulator
or the unitrol valves ,you sure will be blessing it. LP really doesn't like
copper tube pipes. You get tiny little black flakes that look like pepper.
 
I plumbed the entire shop at work with galvanized pipe.

That's been about 20 years and no problems.

At least the water that does get through is clean and not rusty water.

I have worked at shops with black pipe air systems, there was so much rust it would actually clog quick couplers!

Very nasty and stinky when water would come out!
 
Black is considered pressure pipe. Doesn't really matter for this but steam lines are a whole nother ball game.
 
For generators. We were told Black Pipe only for Diesel,LP,Propane,Gasoline.Galvanized was a big NO NO.Warranty voided if we hooked up the unit to it.We could be fired for doing so.
 
(quoted from post at 11:38:24 01/18/20) The post below on shop airline made me wonder why hardly anyone suggested galvanized pipe for shop air lines? I know there is a lot of hype on the internet about how the zinc will come off and contaminate air tools and actuators etc, but by my experience I have only seen one case where a galvanized fitting caused any issue, and it was a fitting that had an abnormal amount of zinc built up and restricted air flow not the pipe itself. We have been using Galvanized pipe both in our 65000 square foot fab shop, and in 95% of our sawmill installations for over 40 years with one complaint! I would hazard a guess that we have ran enough galvanized pipe for airlines to stretch from coast to coast. Recently a customer has requested we use black pipe. I think because of what he has read on the internet, not because of problems, but not sure. I cant see where black pipe would be better as it is definitely going to corrode faster. Maybe pickled and oiled would be better but this can get expensive. Just wanting to get opinions and experiences of YT people as I know there is a vast amount of real world knowledge on this site.
Click to expand...
Here's one man's opinion on black pipe versus galvanized pipe: the only difference for shop air is price.
 
We have always used galvanized pipe for air lines,with moisture drops for condensation and heavy walled copper for our long runs.
 
(quoted from post at 10:38:24 01/18/20) We have been using Galvanized pipe both in our 65000 square foot fab shop, and in 95% of our sawmill installations for over 40 years with one complaint!
Click to expand...

Oh No not another sawmill builder!
What company are you with?

I don't build sawmill products but have setup, built and expanded 3 sawmills for my friend.
No local suppliers had galvanized pipe in 2" so we ran black iron, some has been in use for nearly 30 years and still holding.
Only thing I use galvanized on today is water.
 
TS MFG. Currently starting up Mills in Vance AL, Neosho Missouri, Leitchfield KY, and Hazlehurst GA. Seems like the sawmill industry in USA is doing very well? Anyone on this board work at any of these mills?
On the 2 inch black pipe you used was there a dryer and or a lubricator upstream or just straight from the compressor?
 

Leitchfield is only 40 miles south of me, couple of companies there that I hauled lumber to.
My friend runs HMC debunkers and carriages, Helle and Corley edgers.
We installed screw compressors with refrigerated dryers and filters but still get some moisture. Not so bad at the new mill, with 3 air tanks totaling nearly 500 gallons and a 2" trunk line the compressor doesn't cycle as often and the air temp doesn't change much.
 
The only time I think galvanized pipe failed me was when I used a galvanized elbow and nipple for a wood splitter return line. When the pump failed soon after that I took the fitting out and you could see all the galvanize was gone into the return screen and the inside of the elbow was bare steel.

I fan 1/2' galvanized to distribute the air in my shop in 1987 and have had no problems.
 
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