Shop air

[dtygart]

Does anyone use this, or know of anyone who does www.garage-pak.com?





thanks,



david

 

[DieselTweaker]

I dont know much about that system but something ive been seeing alot of people doing and it's probally what I will do when the time comes is using PVC pipe, quick and easy to work with,,, and very easy to add onto or change.

 

[MSchweigert]

I have'nt seen the system from that web sight. But I am looking into building a system for my shop 1200 sq ft. useing the same DOT push together pipe and fittings used on 18 wheelers. If it will stand up to the vibrations of an OTR rig it should last for years in a shop.

 

[MFalkinham]

It looks rather expensive, and the problem is it won't cool the air to release moisture the way metal piping would. You might as well just run cheap rubber air lines everywhere and pocket the savings.

 

[lcaad1249]

A company I used to work for sold this piping. It was more into the industrial applications, but was really well liked. One advantage to this system is that if you decide to change things, the tubing comes apart and can be rearranged.



I would warn you about the PVC too. With that much pressure over time, it will explode. And with the fiber composition of the PVC it comes apart pretty nasty.



Also it was installed on Horsepower TV or TRUCKS, or something on Spike in one episode I think.

 

[dshatzer]

FWIW, Garage-Pak 's best system uses aluminum tubing. Saving my pennies for the barn...

 

[Nate]

Nah I don't really think so. My Dad's garage/shop is pumbed with 3/4" PVC for the air lines. Been like that for around 10 years. Never had a problem. Runs 125psi in the lines, and it's been though negative temps in the winters and hot temps in the summers.

A company I used to work for sold this piping. It was more into the industrial applications, but was really well liked. One advantage to this system is that if you decide to change things, the tubing comes apart and can be rearranged.



I would warn you about the PVC too. With that much pressure over time, it will explode. And with the fiber composition of the PVC it comes apart pretty nasty.



Also it was installed on Horsepower TV or TRUCKS, or something on Spike in one episode I think.

 

[WDixon27]

our warehouse and shop is plumbed with 3/4 pvc at 125 psi and has been fine for the last 10 years, the one run is a little over 300' long from the compressor/shop to the front of the warehouse

 

[BDeArmon]

PVC is fine until it gets hit with something. It can get ugly at that point. No, it won't blow apart if you bump into it with a stack of boxes you are stacking against the wall... . but rub up against it with a forklift while putting a mill in place, and it will certainly wake you up. The last 3 (large industrial) systems I put together, I used copper. Many of the same benefits as PVC, but won't blow apart. Only problem is that it is getting expensive.

 

[Paychk]

I know a lot of people have used PVC in compressed gas applications & so far nothing has happened. But read this:



http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety/news/PVC&comp_air_lines.htm



and If you want to continue its use; then enclose it it some fashion so when it ruptures, the only thing you're digging shrapnel out of is drywall.

 

[dtygart]

Thanks for all the info, guys!

david

 

[dtygart]

BTW they use aluminum piping good to 232 psi across the temperature range, not PVC. I don't know how expensive it is compared to iron pipe, just looks like much easier to make connections than iron pipe.

david

 

[KWentling]

We had a small portion of the machine shop I work in plumbed with pvc and it ruptured. No one hurt but shards of pvc flew 100+ feet. It was a 1" line running 125 psi located about 10' above the floor over a man door where it broke.

 

[MEREDOG]

i ran 3/4 pvc thru our shop in 1985 and it has had 170# in the lines all the time with no problems.

 

[cojhl2]

Im putting up a new shop and was going to use 3/4 in main line and 1/2 for the feeders.



All joints would be soldered.



Is this OK?

 

[LesStallings]

TP Tools has what many consider the best recommendations on shop air piping. It can be found at:



http://www.tptools.com/statictext/airline-piping-diagram.pdf



This may seem overkill to some. It is really not that expensive since Home Depot has all but a few parts. I used a small version of the setup in my last shop and will be doing the whole nine yards in my new shop that is currently under construction.



If you want the best...

 

[nickleinonen]

when i get my own place and shop setup, i will pipe the shop with 1/2" and 3/4" sch 80 black iron. unthreadded isn't too expensive when you get it in 20'-25' lengths. then borrow a threadding machine and stock up on some pipe fittings, then good to go. .

 

[robertyoke]

I used all type m copper 3/4 inch lines and in 5 years no problems.

I run 140 psi max ( or my nail guns go boom. )

-robert

 

[MLeppen]

My pole barn has a 60 gal vert. in the shed behind the barn plumbed into barn with 1/2" black pipe that goes into a regulator filter then a water seperator. Follows the outer wall and every 8' on the pole a "T" with a coupler to allow various points of hose connection. All I did was have home depot cut 10' pipes into 6' and 4' pieces and thread,bought various nipples 2" - 12" with couplers and a dump at the end,took a few trips to buy and exchange but am very happy with the results and never have to hear a compressor run.

 

[Evil Otto]

that kit is nice if you got a tone of cash. pvc works but can become airborne when it brakes. and it brakes real easy at the quick connects when it is cold out push your hose in to hard and snaps. also pvc warps over time and looks like crap. copper is your best bet. and it does not rust.