[AT] Air lines for shop

[Stephen Offiler]

Good call Spencer!  I have a Rapidair tab open on my work computer and I'm
chewing on the idea of replumbing my 5 CNC machines, which run off a
dedicated, separate 5HP compressor, originally intended to be temporary so
it was plumbed with rubber hose that's just draped in the rafters.  But I'm
thinking about making that system permanent.  It allows me to run the CNC's
24 hrs without having to run the big 25HP rotary all night long. Thanks
again to Steve W!

Steve O.

On Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 4:08 PM Spencer Yost <spencer at rdfarms.com> wrote:

> Hey Steve W.
>
> I finally got a few minutes at lunch today to check on Rapidair. I never
> knew they existed.  This kinda looks like the way to go.   That kit you
> installed has gone up a bit ($283) but still comparable or even cheaper
> than the alternatives.   I might just go with Rapid air .   Of course, I
> hate missing the opportunity to do things the long, hard, expensive way -
> my usual mode of operation - but I’ll get over it 😆
>
> Spencer
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Sep 14, 2021, at 1:36 AM, Steve W. <swilliams268 at frontier.com> wrote:
> >
> > Spencer Yost wrote:
> >> One of the reasons I have been thinking copper is because here in the
> humid south, water in air lines is a problem.  You can not paint without a
> desiccant filter for example. Nothing worse than seeing water droplets
> coming out with your paint (been there done that).  One benefit I thought
> copper would have would be  to condense water quickly and earlier in the
> run; therefore water vapor would be less of an issue at the tool
> end(assuming I slant the lines to run back towards the compressor) and my
> tool-end water filters wouldn't fill up so fast.
> >> Anyone with experience with copper find this to be true?
> >> Also, copper is less than $1 per foot more expensive(3.46/ft vs
> 2.69/ft) so for a run that will be less than 100' worth of pipe so I
> decided to not sweat (excuse the pun) the cost factor between black pipe
> and copper and just go on the merits.
> >> While continuing to look around at various options and along the way I
> saw 1-1/2" black pipe at Lowes with an oddly specific PSI rating:  231PSI
>   I'm beginning to think Brice might be right and they are using steam
> rating....
> >> Spencer
> >
> >
> > When I ran the new lines for my shop I went with a rapidair kit. Think
> > it was about 200 bucks for 100 feet of 3/4" line, three drop blocks,
> > line clips, cutting tool and a couple t fittings. It's basically
> > aluminum reinforced PEX. The aluminum makes it stiffer and a bit
> stronger.
> > My only complaint was the color, I like blue but once installed it
> > looked out of place, so I went over the entire thing with semi-gloss
> > black. Now it hides better.
> > Stuff is EASY to work with, can be changed or added to in minutes and
> > requires no soldering or threading. The blocks have extra ports on them
> so if you wanted to run a line through the wall you can do it straight out
> the back of a block. That's how I feed the system in the shop, compressor
> is outside in an insulated shed with a small heater and a flex line goes up
> to the 3/4 pipe nipple I ran through the wall.
> >
> > I added a cooler loop to my compressor using an A/C condenser that is
> plumbed between it and the tank, the tank has an auto drain that also has a
> remote switch if I want to drain it longer than programmed.
> >
> > I also added a couple remote tanks at the other end of the shop, those
> help a bit when you first open up a high flow tool like an impact or
> sandblaster. I did cheat a bit though, the remote tanks are ex FD air
> bottles from an old cascade system, rated for 2200 psi so my puny 150 psi
> air system doesn't make them sweat..
> >
> > --
> > Steve W.
> > _______________________________________________
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> > AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
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> >
>
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