[AT] Air lines for shop: Finished with review

[Steve W.]

Spencer Yost wrote:
> So, I finally finished the air lines.   Here is my unvarnished option:   
> Maxline is a good choice but not quite the slam dunk I thought it was.
> 
> I was impressed with:
> 
>      -   Lack of air leaks in the fittings (provided you installed them 
> correctly).
>      -   Gentle turns and bends are easy and don't require elbows and 
> what not(see below)
>      -   Completely modular system:   You can get most any kind of 
> fitting or hardware that is compatible and don't need to "hack" anything.
>      -   Seems good quality (see below though). time will tell.
> 
> What I learned:
> 
> As far as handling its the worst of both worlds.
>      -   Shorter lengths:  I've never used PEX-AL-PEX but I understand 
> its akin to that so this was a learning process.  It is fairly stiff and 
> difficult to shape shorter lengths. Its a bit like wrestling a dead 
> snake with rigor mortis.  Unrolling it straight from the roll was the worst.
>      -   Longer lengths:  It is flexible enough that you can't lift 
> longer lengths without help.   Long lengths are like partially cooked 
> spaghetti: the far end just won't come up if its over 12-15' long.  My 
> wife was so happy to have to assist (-:
> 
> 
> What I didn't like:
>      -   One of the fittings designed to attach the line to a standard 
> female NPT fitting (a regulator in my case) had weak/bad threads and a 
> few 12-18mm sections of the thread broke during installation.   So air 
> leaked and I almost could not remove it. Removal did minor damage to the 
> female threads in my regulator but I saved it by chasing it with a pipe 
> tap.  Since the fitting is steel and regulator housing is aluminum and 
> was undamaged (other than trying to remove it) I assume the problem was 
> with the fitting and its thread cutting during production.
>      -   Its way too easy to kink it when bending a 90 degree or greater 
> by hand.  Had to buy the bender.
>      -   If you don't want it to look like an eighth grader installed it 
> you really need their tubing straightener to unroll it and give you nice 
> crisp lines.
>      -   Instructions state that you tighten each fitting by hand and 
> turn 3/4 more.   I never could get a full 3/4 but none leaked so not a 
> biggie but I have 10' ceilings so standing on a ladder using all my 
> might to try to hold a fitting with one wrench while torque-ing that 
> sucker down with another was zero fun.
>      -   The lines are, as Steve W stated, very blue.   Matches my 
> compressor but could be unsightly if that matters.
> 
> 
> All in all I was glad I used it.   I bought the straightener and bender 
> and also glad I did.    As for money:  I can resell the straightener and 
> bender but counting the loss on the resale I am way over copper - 
> probably $100 over copper.  But still happy.  It went in faster and 
> leak-free.  Plus soldering on a ladder is zero fun as well (-:
> 
> 
> Hope this helps.   And if anyone needs a straightener and bender I'll 
> make you a great deal......
> 
> 
> Spencer

Sorry you didn't like it that well.

Personally I didn't have the kinking issue, maybe I wasn't trying to 
bend that tight? I used a universal bender as well, already had it for 
bending lots of metal anyway.
Straightening was a bit easier for me. I just used some wood blocks 
nailed to the bench and unrolled the tubing through them. Wasn't really 
looking for perfect but I also was installing the line up against a 
trim/light mount strip as well, so that sort of helped it stay straight.
Didn't seem like the line was that droopy though, wonder if they have 
made things lighter since I installed mine?

Sorry for the bum steer Spencer.

-- 
Steve W.