I put black pipe up in my shop for my airlines. I have runs with drops to eliminate condensation and it works now but holey smokes it was a pain in the ass to install and get everything air tight and not leaking at the joints.? That and the maneuvering needed with fittings to go up and over and around things.? I swore never again and am hoping the person that buys our house when we moves wants me to leave it installed.? I'm leaning towards a Rapid Air installation in my retirement shop.
I use rapidaire maxline 3/4 with their fittings to run lines from a 5hp vertical compressor.? I use this system to distribute to my cnc which has an auto tool changer, and to various drops. The system has a neat drop feature that allows you to put drop stations wherever you need.?
The tubing is Pex-AL which is rated for pressure and so far it’s worked flawlessly. The drop stations are great for quickly hooking up tools and for draining condensation.?
I think however a system of this size might be a bit of overkill for Macs clamps and some dust blowing but once you have it in place you might find more utility for it.?
The one gripe I have is that the tubing is semi flexible and getting the pipe straight takes a lot of time and still looks a little less than straight in some areas - the upside is that you can just bend it to make angles and corners.?
Andy?
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 12:52?PM netanel.belgazal via <netanel.belgazal=[email protected]> wrote:
If you are just extending to the saw, I'd suggest staying cheap and flexible with a 50 or 100 hose extension off your current compressor. The saw/clamp needs very little air. However do yourself a favor and add another splitter at the saw that makes it easy to plug anything else (or a retractrable?spool).
After that you might consider spending big money on a more substantial install. We ran for years on flexible 1/2" and 3/8" hoses to tools and it was fine mostly. It's better now that we have a fully redundant 3/4" Pex loop system and extra receiver tanks, but the widebelt is an air hog when all the blowoffs are activated and still outruns the supply after a while. If you aren't running air sanders or pneumatic hose spray guns, you don't need much air movement. Even one of our CNCs is just a push-lok 6mm or 8mm tubing supply and it is constant bleed air at the spindle.?
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 12:12?PM Andy via <andy.raynor08=[email protected]> wrote:
I use rapidaire maxline 3/4 with their fittings to run lines from a 5hp vertical compressor.? I use this system to distribute to my cnc which has an auto tool changer, and to various drops. The system has a neat drop feature that allows you to put drop stations wherever you need.?
The tubing is Pex-AL which is rated for pressure and so far it’s worked flawlessly. The drop stations are great for quickly hooking up tools and for draining condensation.?
I think however a system of this size might be a bit of overkill for Macs clamps and some dust blowing but once you have it in place you might find more utility for it.?
The one gripe I have is that the tubing is semi flexible and getting the pipe straight takes a lot of time and still looks a little less than straight in some areas - the upside is that you can just bend it to make angles and corners.?
Andy?
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 12:52?PM netanel.belgazal via <netanel.belgazal=[email protected]> wrote:
So far I only use my air compressor for small things like pin nailer and blowing dust.
I ordered mac clamps and I need to distribute air across my shop.
I wonder if you have any recommendations on air hoses/manifolds/fittings?
--
Brett Wissel Saint Louis Restoration 1831 S Kingshighway Blvd (at Shaw Blvd) St Louis, MO 63110
I bought California Air model below to run clamps. It worked fine.
Then I got mini WBS and K975 so I needed a distribution system. If you want to break all the rules, this was done in few hrs and has been in service for 4 yrs hobby use. It supports 2 machines with clamps, ceiling hung hose reel and WBS.
On Jul 16, 2024, at 1:12?PM, Andy via groups.io <andy.raynor08@...> wrote:
?
I use rapidaire maxline 3/4 with their fittings to run lines from a 5hp vertical compressor.? I use this system to distribute to my cnc which has an auto tool changer, and to various drops. The system has a neat drop feature that allows you to put drop stations wherever you need.?
The tubing is Pex-AL which is rated for pressure and so far it’s worked flawlessly. The drop stations are great for quickly hooking up tools and for draining condensation.?
I think however a system of this size might be a bit of overkill for Macs clamps and some dust blowing but once you have it in place you might find more utility for it.?
The one gripe I have is that the tubing is semi flexible and getting the pipe straight takes a lot of time and still looks a little less than straight in some areas - the upside is that you can just bend it to make angles and corners.?
Andy?
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 12:52?PM netanel.belgazal via <netanel.belgazal=[email protected]> wrote:
So far I only use my air compressor for small things like pin nailer and blowing dust.
I ordered mac clamps and I need to distribute air across my shop.
I wonder if you have any recommendations on air hoses/manifolds/fittings?
U need a minimum of 1 gallon compressor to operate clamps,
Clamps come with osha shut off valve and adjustable regulator and water seperator i pre set at 60# with 90# magnet mount with non marring felt surface..
I my shop which is quite large i run 3/8" id rubber air house. use brass fittings and clamps, i purchase from Mc Master Carr.
you dont need anything fancy.
In my assembly lab i use pex tubing and pex fittings works great.
??
best mac,,
martin/campshure/co/llc mac campshure 7412 elmwood ave. middleton, wi 53562-3106 608-332-2330 cell
?I assume you are asking me. All 3 machines have pressure regulators. The hose reel is at compressor pressure. The compressor sits under rip extension of K975 saw and I cannot see the dial of the pressure gauge. So when using a nail gun with hose reel, it is a pain to adjust pressure.
My long term plan is to add a manifold (with pressure regulator) for distribution on the wall.
Depends on what you plan to do with it. Everybody has covered the option to just charge the clamps. Almost anything will work. If you want to get serious, like an HVLP system, then you're into a whole different ballgame.
?
I use a Quincy 5hp, 80gal compressor feeding a 3/4" copper header via a large desiccant filter. I used Harris Bridgit high temp and pressure solder. Regular plumbing solder gets soft at high temps and can blow out. The copper helps keep the air cool and doesn't rust like black iron. Then I have multiple 1/2" drops feeding retractable hose reels. I have a 1/2" hose for the HVLP, 3/8" for general purposes and a 1/4" reel above the workbench. This setup works great for me, but it's total overkill to just feed your clamps.?
?
Under no circumstances should you use PVC. It turns into shrapnel eventually.?
I used 1/2" pex to get from my compressor on the south side of my shop to the slider on the north.? The shop is wood frame and I ran the pex from the compressor into the wall cavity to the attic and back down the wall cavity on the other side of the shop.? Used the termination block below face mounted to both walls and a hose from block to Mac's regulator.? For those (few) of us who prefer their electrical and plumbing behind the drywall.? ?$10 for the aluminum termination block at home depot.??
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 1:36?PM netanel.belgazal via <netanel.belgazal=[email protected]> wrote:
I ended up getting the maxline kit by rapid air (1/2”ID and did 4 drops)
Now that I am about to test the system I see that my air compressor is broken is leaking (the gauge was also broken from something the fell on it when I moved from my old shop)
?
So I need to get a new air compressor.
My main air usage would be:
1)Mac clamps
2)air nail/staplers?
3)The SCM J/P FS7 uses air
4)I see in the future mini WBS.
?
I thought about getting the California air 2HP, 10 gallons with auto drain.
I have to second using PEX - I use 3/4, I have around 60’ with 5 drops - key for me was buying the Ryobi crimper for the Stainless rings - use it for all my plumbing/ hydronic heating and air connections I have made 500+ connections and truly cannot recall a leak on any. I have cable trays across the shop ?drops from their to the machines is a pex T to pex - to NPT thread + Quick connect or a faucet pex connector with screw flange.
A second point someone else raised is that I have two California air 2HP compressors (10 Gallon tanks) they sit next to each other. For normal use I only use one, if ?sandblasting I turn on both. They are connected to the airline system through two check valves (nomalising pressure).
On Sat, Aug 24, 2024 at 10:21?AM Niel via <nv=[email protected]> wrote:
My two cents,
I have to second using PEX - I use 3/4, I have around 60’ with 5 drops - key for me was buying the Ryobi crimper for the Stainless rings - use it for all my plumbing/ hydronic heating and air connections I have made 500+ connections and truly cannot recall a leak on any. I have cable trays across the shop ?drops from their to the machines is a pex T to pex - to NPT thread + Quick connect or a faucet pex connector with screw flange.
A second point someone else raised is that I have two California air 2HP compressors (10 Gallon tanks) they sit next to each other. For normal use I only use one, if ?sandblasting I turn on both. They are connected to the airline system through two check valves (nomalising pressure).
I have to second using PEX - I use 3/4, I have around 60’ with 5 drops - key for me was buying the Ryobi crimper for the Stainless rings - use it for all my plumbing/ hydronic heating and air connections I have made 500+ connections and truly cannot recall a leak on any. I have cable trays across the shop ?drops from their to the machines is a pex T to pex - to NPT thread + Quick connect or a faucet pex connector with screw flange.
A second point someone else raised is that I have two California air 2HP compressors (10 Gallon tanks) they sit next to each other. For normal use I only use one, if ?sandblasting I turn on both. They are connected to the airline system through two check valves (nomalising pressure).
?N/
On 16 Jul 2024, at 12:54, David Davies <myfinishingtouch@...> wrote:
Or just get another small compressor and put it right by the slider.
Do not use black pipe !
Dave Davies
On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 11:52?AM netanel.belgazal via <netanel.belgazal=[email protected]> wrote:
So far I only use my air compressor for small things like pin nailer and blowing dust.
I ordered mac clamps and I need to distribute air across my shop.
I wonder if you have any recommendations on air hoses/manifolds/fittings?
I bought these kits on amazon for my new shop and have been very happy. cheap fast and leak free. I use aquarium grade silicone on every threaded connection and zero leaks. Never going back to tape.?
On Aug 24, 2024, at 8:46 AM, taylor donsker <tdonsker@...> wrote:
?
I bought these kits on amazon for my new shop and have been very happy. cheap fast and leak free. I use aquarium grade silicone on every threaded connection and zero leaks. Never going back to tape.?
The easiest and cheapest way to run compressor around your shop is with rubber or hybrid air hose quarter 3/8 half 3/4 with Barb fittings. There is a vast array of fittings.
Straight elbow, reduce increase T ?I use the cinch tool from McMaster pinch off..
Air hose typically as a 300 psi burst.
I’ve had this system set up in my Mill shop and machine shop for 20+ years.
At home in my assembly lab, I use PEX.
You can mont with pex brackets zip ties and so on.
On Aug 24, 2024, at 10:55?AM, Wade Dees via groups.io <wjdsignature@...> wrote:
?
Hi Taylor,
Are these designed with a push-in connection for the elbow and tee fittings? ?Can they be taken back easily too? ?Thx. For sharing.
Wade.?
On Aug 24, 2024, at 8:46 AM, taylor donsker <tdonsker@...> wrote:
?
I bought these kits on amazon for my new shop and have been very happy. cheap fast and leak free. I use aquarium grade silicone on every threaded connection and zero leaks. Never going back to tape.?
On 24 Aug 2024, at 10:59, Andy <andy.raynor08@...> wrote:
I recall reading somewhere that standard pex ?doesn’t have a high enough pressure rating compared with Pex-al which is what max line is made out of.?
On Sat, Aug 24, 2024 at 10:21?AM Niel via??<nv=[email protected]> wrote:
My two cents,
I have to second using PEX - I use 3/4, I have around 60’ with 5 drops - key for me was buying the Ryobi crimper for the Stainless rings - use it for all my plumbing/ hydronic heating and air connections I have made 500+ connections and truly cannot recall a leak on any. I have cable trays across the shop ?drops from their to the machines is a pex T to pex - to NPT thread + Quick connect or a faucet pex connector with screw flange.
A second point someone else raised is that I have two California air 2HP compressors (10 Gallon tanks) they sit next to each other. For normal use I only use one, if ?sandblasting I turn on both. They are connected to the airline system through two check valves (nomalising pressure).