I am going to be plumbing my air compressor throughout the garage in a month or so and am wondering what material is the best to use? PVC or copper? If PVC, white or black(I know there is some sort of difference, but know sure what it is exactly).

Thanks!

I just use the regular white pvc, it's been about 8 years and no problems ;)

If you have the cash - go with metal lines.

If you decide to use PVC here is a chart that may help :D
Follow this


link (http://www.csupomona.edu/~rkumar/lis231/231tables/pvcsch40t.htm) :D

I reccomend PVC, but it has to be supported at least twice as much as metal lines.

Do top take offs, and one down drain on the end of the line.

Use big line on the header, it's like adding a aux tank.


:D

PVC will do, but I would also suggest using steel the last couple of feet, to help advoid breakage.

A neighbor plumbed their garage air with regular Sch 40 PVC. In behind the sheetrock, tied to the studs and everything. Sure was a bitch to fix when it got broken. At work all of the air lines are copper, and I haven't seen any of them broken. Mine will be either black iron or copper; iron is cheaper, but I've already got a bunch of copper.

I've seen one done up in black pipe (gas lines?). Very nice.

Originally posted by Lloyd
A neighbor plumbed their garage air with regular Sch 40 PVC. In behind the sheetrock, tied to the studs and everything. Sure was a bitch to fix when it got broken. At work all of the air lines are copper, and I haven't seen any of them broken. Mine will be either black iron or copper; iron is cheaper, but I've already got a bunch of copper.

Thanks all, I think I may just spent the extra cabbage and go Copper... It is very easy to work with...

Copper would be good also.

Black pipe scales and gets more shit in your tools, and air powered equipment, than other choices.

If you do by change use PVC go sch 80

I've used copper with no problems. Many people have warned about shrapnel from PVC lines (long thread about 4 months ago???). PVC would be very brittle in cold climates. Top take offs are good. Also, designing the system to drain into a tank so it can be eliminated would be a good idea. That could be the main tank, or, I tied in a second tank from a dead compressor down line to allow the air to cool (condense out the suspended water) before it hit the main lines. You don't want any low troughs in the lines that would collect water and hold it where you couldn't remove it. Support the lines properly and especially near the connects because they get tugged on allot.

My thoughts on black iron air lines. If you decide to use black iron pipe, I would put a good filter in front of each quick connect. You will get water in the lines and the black iron will rust inside. You don't really want rust particles going through your nice air tools.

the white is PVC and the black is ABS. I just use PVC, no probs yet, but its only been up about two months. I like the idea of metal at the ends for strength, might do that myself.

Copper or iron for me. I've been in the same room with PVC explosion- never again.

One thing that can help any system is the top take offs mentioned earlier and ball valves at the bottom of any horizontal runs to drain out crap when you need to.

Buy a good water trap and filter for the comp end- its worth the money

Also make sure the header drops something like 1/2" per couple feet towards the final bottom take off drain.

The cooling is a good idea, but it might not be needed if you don't put a heavy load on the compressor often.....it won't hurt to do, though...

Building code required me to use black pipe in my CNC shop.

JP

DON"T USE PVC. It is never recommended.

Our shop had PVC for a couple years until one night when a line exploded and sent shrapnel all over the shop. Thankfully no one was there to get hurt.

Use type M copper.

Originally posted by JohnC
DON"T USE PVC. It is never recommended.


It's used in a lot of plants for not being a good choice. It breaks because of improper instalation, or poor maintainence. I would rather have PVC than black pipe.

i notice not many of you have talked about the black ABS vs PVC. ABS would be my choice, its lots stronger than PVC and doesnt' shatter if it ruptures, thats why most smart people use ABS for their potato launchers and not PVC.

Dallas

I have a friend that has had the PVC inhis shop for around 15 yrs with no problems..I do not remember for sure but I think that PVC is rated for 200 psi and most compressors are set for 125 psi which leaves a 75 psi safety margin which is 60% most Items are manufactured with a 50% safety margin...
MY shop is plumbed with 3/4 stainless steel tubing for a couple of reasons.. Plusses in my opinion #1 will not rust--#2 light weight--#3 easy to route--#4 easy to add on to for additional drops or shop expanson--#5 easy to repair when your buddy drills a hole from the other side of the wall through it.. #6 fairly rigid so it does not need a bunch of extra support--#7 very durable.. now the draw backs #1 Price The tubing is expensive and the fittings are expensive #2 difficult to find in some areas

Copper:: 1 will not rust--#2 light weight--#3 easy to route--#4 easy to add on to for additional drops or shop expanson--#5 easy to repair --#6 cheaper than SS--#7 easy to find
Drawbacks#1 soft easy to damage--#2 water can corrode and weaken

PVC#1 will not rust--#2 light weight--#3 easy to route--#4 easy to add on to for additional drops or shop expanson--#5 easy to repair--#6 cheaper than SS--#7 easy to find-- #8 will not corrode.
drawbacks--#1 brittle when cold #2 needs lots of support

Black pipe --#1 easy to find-- #2 durable #3 rigid does not need lots of support..
Drawbacks--#1 difficult to repair--#2 difficult to add new drops

I have had PVC plow up on me. I always wear safety glasses in the shop and this one blew up about 2 feet from my face (because i smacked the pipe with a piece of metal) anyway I had a few minr scrapes on my face and neck, but if I hadn't been wearing the safety glasses I could have lost an eye. This was in a friends garage. When I do mine I will use copper. Also PVC schd 40 is rated at 200 psi for liquids not recomended for use with gasses. There is a huge difference in the energy stored by a gass at 200 psi and a liquid stored at 200 psi, event hough the stress on the pipe is the same. It is the same as a winch cable verses a rope that doesn't stretch.

ABS is used for sending yer shit down the drain, dont use it for air, besides if you cut it you will see tiny air bubbles, its not rated for pressure. but it does make a fine tater launcher.
if you go pvc, go sch.80, its got a 400PSI rating.
but,,i would use copper myself.

I used Victaulic press fit in 304 Stainless - rated to 300PSI. I got all I needed as "scrap" off of a construction site when the company I work for was demobilizing. Very easy to install, and there is a full range of fittings available.

Thanks for the PVC info guys!! I'll replace mine this weekend, I just have a two car garage with a hard line going to both sides mounted on the wall, so it will be a fast and cheap re-fab. I learn so much from this place:smokin:

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler

Copper:
Drawbacks#1 soft easy to damage--#2 water can corrode and weaken



Black pipe --
Drawbacks--#1 difficult to repair--#2 difficult to add new drops

HUMMMM I'm looking at my Chemical resistance chart for copper and can't see why you stated it can corrode and weaken from water?

Black pipe will rust will it not:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Old Scout


HUMMMM I'm looking at my Chemical resistance chart for copper and can't see why you stated can corrode and weaken from water?

Black pipe will rust will it not:flipoff2:

You beat me too it :flipoff2:
Iron pipe is not used for water because it corrodes, copper is used for water because it does not corode like iron.
I know it is air and it would take a lifetime to fail.

I used 5/8 od copper tube. "free from work"

Originally posted by CJ


You beat me too it :flipoff2:
Iron pipe is not used for water because it corrodes, copper is used for water because it does not corode like iron.
I know it is air and it would take a lifetime to fail.

I used 5/8 od copper tube. "free from work"

So this bring in another question.. I was going to use 1/2" Copper tubing(the thicker style).. Any reason to run larger diameter? I see you used the 5/8" because you got it from work, but would there be any benefits to running larger stuff?

I forgot to put the rust factor on the black pipe so that one I will give you..
Now for the copper I stand by my statement that it can corrode from the water..That is why mine are SS, the lines that were here in my shop when I moved in were copper and there were two low point where they had corroded complete with the green fuzzy junk around the hole that had corroded in them.. It it true that copper pipe is used to carry water,however, the water is not allowed to sit and stagnate in low spots. I do attribute the failure to the water sitting in the low area stagnating and electrolisis.. I am not saying this is a common failure but it can happen over time..I do not how long it took this system to reach th state it was in as the property had been out of use for a few years when I bought it and moved my equipment in..

Copper doesn't corrode when it's full of water. Copper doesn't corrode when it's full of air. Copper DOES corrode when it contains water and air together, which it always will for this application.

Mines all 1" black pipe (about 100 feet of it). It was there when I bought the house and works fine.

Originally posted by Lloyd
Copper doesn't corrode when it's full of water. Copper doesn't corrode when it's full of air. Copper DOES corrode when it contains water and air together, which it always will for this application.

Thats exactly what I am saying..

I would use copper. but to keep from the corrosion, I would plac drain petcocks at every out let and run your system in a complete loo-p with one corner of the loop lower than the rest, this way the water wil all go to the lowest point (in theory) and could be drained there, but you have the other drain petcocks throughout to drain the entire system.

I worked for an autobody service where we would go to the shops and repair the airlines and paintbooths. I have seen a beautiful corvette one day, the next day we went in and the PVC line had errupted and F@#Ked the corvette all up.
~Erik

Problem with PVC is that oil makes it brittle, and most compressors throw a bit of oil.