Garage Air Mounted Lines

[dieselscout80]

Are the air line kits available at like Northern Tool and Amazon a good option?

I want to run air around my garage it’s 20’x30’.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/rapidair-maxline-3-4in-100ft-master-kit-compressed-air-piping-system-model-m7500-20923

Amazon.com

What concerns me is the lack of available parts.

It seems like you must buy a big kit more drops / connector.

 

[arto98607]

Some have used high pressure rated glued together PVC piping.

IE. the same as is being used for water lines...

But looks like these kits would be pretty convenient to install.

 

[TMGT]

Are the air line kits available at like Northern Tool and Amazon a good option?

I want to run air around my garage it’s 20’x30’.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/rapidair-maxline-3-4in-100ft-master-kit-compressed-air-piping-system-model-m7500-20923

Amazon.com

What concerns me is the lack of available parts.

It seems like you must buy a big kit more drops / connector.

You can buy individual parts from Rapidair directly. I prefer the ridge pipe style Rapidair myself, but it is a bit more expensive. Avoid PVC, it works until it doesn't. It can fail pretty spectacularly, and be dangerous is someone is nearby.

Iron or copper pipe is another option.

 

[arto98607]

Yes I agree being pressurized air any pipe would be a big hazard if it exploded, and the more volume the bigger the issue.

 

[5030]

I ran all mine 40 x 40 heated and cooled shop with an overhead crane in 100% black iron with multiple drops and all air lines slop back towards the compressors about 2.5 degrees so condensation runs back but even so I have ball valves at each drop.

My static pressure is 150 psi and I don't trust anything but threaded black iron. 150 psi in exploding tubing or plastic pipe equals a grenade in your face or worse and I also have employees to worry about so it was total black iron, large diameter as well. All the main runs are 1.5" pipe and the drops are 1".

Was it expensive, you bet your butt it was but lives are way more valuable in my view.

Bought all the pipe in mill lengths and threaded it myself and all the fittings I purchased from WW Grainger.

 

[dieselscout80]

Some have used high pressure rated glued together PVC piping.

IE. the same as is being used for water lines...

But looks like these kits would be pretty convenient to install.

Not sure I believe PVC is a good option.

I know the pipe is rated high enough but what about the glue joints and fittings

 

[Rebeldad1]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

 

[dieselscout80]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

How long have you been using it?

What glue and primer did you use?

Have you protected it from welding and grinding sparks?

 

[oldnslo]

I thought there was a concern on the oil from air compressor potentially degrading PVC over time.

Aluminum tubing is becoming a popular option today since lighter than black pipe and doesn’t rust

 

[M59]

when i had my mechanics shop I ran CPVC. a lot stronger than plain PVC. easy to run and long lasting

Here are some of the strength properties of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC):

• Tensile strength: Ultimate tensile strength is 1310–11600 psi, and yield tensile strength is 7020–8410 psi
  
  
• Elongation: Elongation at break is 15.0–650%, and elongation at yield is 2.30–7.00%
  
  
• Working max pressure: Schedule 40 CPVC has a working max pressure of 450psi

Rebeldad1,
Those ratings you specify are very diameter and temperature dependent. As the dia gets bigger the ratings, especially the pressure ratings, drop.
The following link is to temperature derating for CPVC. If you see 120'F, a hot day, in an enclosed space the CPVC gets derated to 0.65 of working pressure at 80"F. I'm personally not a fan of plastic for air pressure systems since they shatter when stressed. Sweated copper is my preference and threaded black iron as 2nd go to. Both can be used in long unsupported runs without sagging and thus prevent water ( condensation ) accumulation whereas plastic sags and is harder to keep dry. Personally, I place a "T" in long runs and a leg that catches condensate and can be bled off.

Plastic fittings have their own pressure ratings which may cause system derating due to being weak link and plastic lines need protection from blows and crushing as plastic does not tolerate these.

CPVC Tubes - Pressure and Temperature Ratings

CTS (Copper Tube Sized) CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) tubes temperature and pressure ratings.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

For grins and giggles, here is copper pressure rating by size.

Copper Tubes Type K, L and M - Working Pressures vs. Size

ASTM B88 seamless copper water tubes - working pressures.

www.engineeringtoolbox.com

Sweated copper tube an fittings is very robust and retains its rating even when suffering minor damage such as squeezing or minor crushing.

My last word is the following link that provides guidance, dated 12 July 2024, from OSHA on use of plastic pipe.

Plastic Pipe Selection in Industrial Compressed Air Applications

Compressed Air Best Practices Magazine informs industrial sustainability, facility and energy managers on compressed air energy conservation measures deployed by compressed air auditors and technicians.

www.airbestpractices.com

 

[dieselscout80]

After some reading I’m considering nylon air line that’s used on semi trucks and trailers as it’s available in 1/2”.

 

[TMGT]

Pvc and cpvc degrades from uv and other environmental factors. Also, be careful. Some pressure ratings are for liquids, not gasses. There's a big difference in danger from 150psi air and 150psi liquid.

I like the rapidair type systems, the coated aluminum tube is easy to install, light weight, doesn't rust, and has good thermal transfer. I do prefer the straight pipe, not the coiled type that the OP linked.
The cost of copper these days makes plumbing a large shop financially prohibitive!

 

[4570Man]

Not sure I believe PVC is a good option.

I know the pipe is rated high enough but what about the glue joints and fittings

PVC is rated to like 600 psi. It’s plenty strong enough to do the job. But the issue is water doesn’t compress and air does. If the pvc holding water ruptured nothing happens besides water sprays out. If the pvc holding air ruptured the contained energy will blow the shards of pipe everywhere. The pvc gets more brittle with age and if something ever hits the pipe it could very easily explode. I’d trust pex with air. The pex is more elastic land doesn’t split into shrapnel like PVC does.

 

[Jaybr]

I ran the RapidAir kit in the link in my current garage and have had no issues at all in 4 years. I run a Quincy compressor with 150+ psi in the tank and about 10' of line, then regulate down to 90 psi for all my drops, most of my tools run at 90.

Recently bought a new place and new shop was just completed 2 weeks ago, I'm planning to run RapidAir in it as well. One tip, get the straightener tool and have a second person to help get it strait. I put the tool in the vice and fed tubing in while my buddy pulled it through, it's pretty stiff to do solo.

 

[kennyd]

After some reading I’m considering nylon air line that’s used on semi trucks and trailers as it’s available in 1/2”.

I used that on my pole barn, it works very well.

DOT AIR BRAKE TUBING | Trausch Dynamics

DOT (Dempartment of Transportation) For Air Brake Systems SAE Type A (Single Wall Non-Reinforced Nylon) SAE Type B (Fiber Reinforced) Temperature Range: -40°F to +200°F Ultra-Violet Stabilizer Nylon Core and Braided Fiber (3/8" and Larger)...

www.hydraulicstore.com

DOT AIR BRAKE - PUSH IN | Trausch Dynamics

Typical application: air brake systems Not for fuel, water or oil Operating pressure up to 200 PSI depending on tube selection -40° to +200°F temperature range CA360 brass (straights), CA377 brass (shapes) Easy, fast assembly One-piece fit...

www.hydraulicstore.com

 

[mikester]

Neighbor who does car restoration used copper pipe. He says benefits are no rust in the lines and water condenses out easier and is better for painting.

 

[Fallon]

I'm happy with the kit I got. Blue plastic lines, dont remember if they are aluminum lined or not. I did a half ass job installing them, so they aren't straight & sag. But thats on me & not the kit. Way easier than black iron & cheaper than copper. I used hydraulic lines to connect the tank to regulators, dryer & what not. I figure 3000psi rated on a 120-175psi compressor is fine, evemn if it gets warm.

PVC is brittle & compressed air stores a lot of energy, which makes for a bad combo. The blue airline kits aren't PVC or brittle.

 

[Engineer42]

I thought I remembered someone on here using Pex-A for air lines. I could be wrong.

 

[Billrog]

1/2" schd.40 pvc in my shop for over 30 yrs. now 150psi comp. so far so good.

 

[4570Man]

1/2" schd.40 pvc in my shop for over 30 yrs. now 150psi comp. so far so good.

It will probably be good until it suffers an impact while pressurized.