What do you guys prefer for air line plumbing? The plastic tubing kits, metal pipe, or something else? I saw some plastic tubing kits on amazon around $100, but they were all 3/8 ID and I feel like that starve my 1/2" impact wrench. Kits with bigger tubing cost about twice as much.
I'm 100% sold on the rapid air setup I have. It's lovely.
DILYSI Dave covered it all here. Make sure to grab the V type fittings.
Rapid Air in my last two shops. Love it.
My last shop had HF rubber hose run all over the place and anchored to the ceiling. I did Rapid Air for the current one and my garage, and it's a lot nicer (and less likely to explode). Very flexible installation options.
One thing I do recommend heartily is hose reels, especially one that will go out the door. Makes life so much easier.
I went for just a hint of Steam Punk, and did soldered copper tubing, scuffed satin, and clear coated.
Keith Tanner said:My last shop had HF rubber hose run all over the place and anchored to the ceiling. I did Rapid Air for the current one and my garage, and it's a lot nicer (and less likely to explode). Very flexible installation options.
One thing I do recommend heartily is hose reels, especially one that will go out the door. Makes life so much easier.
At one point I had ambition to run galvanized pipe all over my shop with various connectors at key locations. I ended up just getting a big hose reel that can reach everything, and it's much simpler and less prone to leaks.
I went with Pex everywhere after the water separater/cooler. Works great. I can expand just by running to the box store. I did run copper from the pump to the cooler though. The only downfall is that I frequently have two fittings to get to something that works with air connections. It likely isn't any cheaper than Rapid air but I like it. Running daily for several years at this point.
In reply to singleslammer :
That's interesting to me because I already have a bunch of pex and the tools for it, but google says its rated for a max pressure of 160 psi, and my compressor runs 155. I feel like that's going to be to close.
I was at lowes earlier and sticks of black pipe were about $25 each no matter the length. Once I buy the pipe, fittings, rent a pipe threader, I dont see it coming out any cheaper than the $200 for the 3/4" air line kits.
Black pipe can introduce corrosion and debris into your lines and tools as the moisture rusts it all on the inside. Might not be a big issue, but certainly an avoidable one.
In past shops Ive run copper and iron pipe. In the latest shop build I bit the bullet and used the rapidair system. I hope this is my last shop but if I build another I wont hesitate to go with rapidair again. Easy to install and very flexible in configuration.
I ran all soldered copper. Once and done.
SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:I went for just a hint of Steam Punk, and did soldered copper tubing, scuffed satin, and clear coated.
Pics or it doesn't exist... I love the steam punk look.
My shop has a HF hose reel fed by a pancake compressor currently. Reel reaches everywhere in the shop and 1 vehicle out. When I finally get a 30gal+ oiled unit I will charge the reel and probably a hard line to my work bench.
Air comes in the shop at the ceiling, and declines at a slight angle around the perimeter of the shop, thus draining to the last leg, which is just a drain. All drops come out the TOP the feed line (thus making it harder for moisture to head down the drop), and terminate with a ball-valve drain below the connection.
Since this picture, I've removed the coupler and mounted three retractible hose reels up high instead - less tripping over hoses.
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