Bill,
I'm still looking into this for my shop, but what I found is that the black
pipe is suck a cheaper, safer solution that the others don't make sense.
Even if you rent a threading machine, the cost is much cheaper. Air lines
are not something that you need to take down and put up all the time, so
'quick fittings' are not really needed. They just add to the cost. Plus,
each type is propiretary, so if the manufacture goes out of business in 5
years, and you need to fix a branch or add a leg, you might be up the
creek.
My neighbor is a steam engine nut. Every time I talk to him, he has some
great ideas with black pipe, (Like running a LARGE diameter pipe for the
main leg and teeing off that.) The large pipe will act like a mini tank
and help the compressor work more effectively over a longer run. (I have
over 200' of lines to run in my plan.) Alot of these "speciality" air
lines don't offer large diameter pipes (or do so at such a great cost.)
Plus, black pipe fails the nicest. A slow leak is way better then a larger
"pop" and no pressure.
Just my $.0206 worth (with state sales tax)
Inch
"We all know we're dying, And there's no sign of a parachute."
Tori Amos
-----shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net wrote: -----
To: "Shop-Talk Mailing List" <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
From: "Bill Gilroy" <wmgilroy@gmail.com>
Sent by: shop-talk-owner@autox.team.net
Date: 12/22/2006 03:20
Subject: Air line piping
I know this has been beaten to death on this list but what the heck. I
need
to run air lines in my new garage. I figure I have several choices:
1) Black iron pipe.
2) Copper lines
3) PVC lines
4) Some type of AL pipes that are sold for this purpose with quick
connects. I don't remember the name.
#1 is out since I don't have a pipe threader and don't intend to buy one.
I have used #2 before and it worked fine. I am leaning towards #3 since it
looks easiest. Anyone one have any opinions or ideas? Am I missing any
other choices? I am looking for something that will work and is somewhat
simple to install.
Thanks,
Bill Gilroy
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