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  #1  
Old 05-20-2015, 07:38 PM
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zampano zampano is offline
 
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Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 37
Red face Compressor Piping

Two sentence background before I ask my question: aside from minimal maintenance on my motorcycle and a pinewood derby car back in Cub Scouts, I have never built much of anything except Ikea furniture so simple questions are about to follow.

I picked up a 60 gallon 5 hp air compressor, Particulate Filter, Coalescing Filter, and Air Regulator; all are 1/2 inch NPT. This is where I get a little stuck; how do I connect it all?

What I was thinking: 1/2 inch by 6 foot 300 PSI lead in rubber air hose to go from the compressor to the first filter and then 1/2 inch NPT male pipe hex nipple to connect the two filters and then the regulator. Then some kind of brass hex reducing bushing to go from 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch? To that I could attach air hoses that lead to the tools.
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  #2  
Old 05-20-2015, 08:15 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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Default Good Job!

It looks like you have the bases covered. The bushing might need to be 1/2 X 1/4 as most hoses are 1/4 NPT ends. You might consider a quick connect at the pressure regulator exit, and a ball valve back at the tank going into the connector hose. Also, a friend got a small manifold, several compact quick couplers, and 10' (or so) super flexible hose for each of his tools. The manifold attached to his work bench. It is more useful than mine

Edit: You might want to put the compressor 20' away from the work area to save your hearing.

I think this is the kit my friend has. Easily mounted to the bench.
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Last edited by BillL : 05-21-2015 at 06:26 AM.
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  #3  
Old 05-20-2015, 08:38 PM
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JohnInReno JohnInReno is offline
 
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Location: Prescott Valley/Chandler AZ
Posts: 351
Default Other concerns

You have plenty of compressor for the jobs at hand. Most of the tools will lightly tax your system. The cut-off wheel being the major exception. Like BillR said, the most common air hose is 1/4 at the tool end. Also mentioned is the 10' super flexible hose. I had one of these on my bench:

http://www.cleavelandtool.com/Lightw.../#.VV1Dt0ZgchM

A couple of light weight hoses would have been even better.
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  #4  
Old 05-21-2015, 10:05 PM
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zampano zampano is offline
 
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Default

Perfect! Thanks for the advice/help. I wish I could put the compressor 20+ feet away but unfortunately putting it outside is out of the question. I left the hose coming off the regulator at 3/8" and I'll attach a manifold to the workbench then use 1/4" hoses off of that.

I couldn't find a quick connect in 3/8" that I liked; do you have a link where I should look? Any idea if the connectors from the manifold block kit are quick connect or not?
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  #5  
Old 05-22-2015, 02:58 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
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Default

I like the Milton M style couplers. Here is a Milton catalogue.

Look closely at the cleaveland link, yes the couplers are mini quick connect.
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Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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  #6  
Old 05-22-2015, 05:18 PM
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zampano zampano is offline
 
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Default

Thanks! They looked like it but always nice to ask someone who has seen them in person.
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  #7  
Old 11-06-2015, 06:55 AM
coffeeguy coffeeguy is offline
 
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Location: Lake in the Hills, IL
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Default How did you connect everything?

I'm in the same boat. I've got my compressor and filter/regulator and a 6' 1/2" whip to go between them. Should have got a shorter whip, but it will do. I picked up a 3/8" hose reel and a short whip to connect to it to my copper line.

My question is how did you connect everything and still be able to take out a component? The fittings don't rotate on the hose. I connected the whip to the compressor. Next is to connect the whip to the regulator. I can connect that and rotate the regulator as I tighten it. When it's tight I can slip it into it's mounting bracket. What about the other side? My plan was to connect to a copper fitting that I have already sweated to a length of pipe. That way I'm not sweating pipe next to the regulator. Then I can continue sweating pipe as I go.

What happens if I need to change the regulator? Serviceability? The way it looks now, I would have to cut the pipe on the downward side and work my way back and then sweat it back in. Are there quick disconnects for compressed air like on my natural gas fittings to my furnace and hot water heater? What did everyone else do? Should I just connect it all and not worry about it?

I was looking at the rapidair 1/2" so I could run from my garage to my basement. It doesn't look too sturdy and I'm wondering if it would leak, especially over time. The 3/4" looks better, but when I add everything up I think I can do copper for slightly less, although I think I could replace things easier with rapidair.

First timer, but trying to think ahead.

Regards,
Jeff
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  #8  
Old 11-06-2015, 08:01 AM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
Default 2 Regulators

I used black iron pipe and made a manifold with 2 regulators. One is set to 30 - 40 psi for the rivet gun, and the other is set to 90 psi for everything else. The 2 flexible air hoses are different colors and the regulators have quick disconnect fittings.

Dave
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  #9  
Old 11-06-2015, 08:54 AM
redbaron redbaron is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Lucerne,Ca
Posts: 272
Default Harbor Freight

Check out Harbor Freight as they Have most of what you might need. I have a 3in1 at the compressor and have the compressor outside in a storage shed to keep the noise level down. The 3 light weight manifold is so nice to use, wouldn't be w/o it.
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  #10  
Old 11-06-2015, 11:38 AM
BillL BillL is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by coffeeguy View Post
I'm in the same boat. I've got my compressor and filter/regulator and a 6' 1/2" whip to go between them. Should have got a shorter whip, but it will do. I picked up a 3/8" hose reel and a short whip to connect to it to my copper line.

My question is how did you connect everything and still be able to take out a component? The fittings don't rotate on the hose. I connected the whip to the compressor. Next is to connect the whip to the regulator. I can connect that and rotate the regulator as I tighten it. When it's tight I can slip it into it's mounting bracket. What about the other side? My plan was to connect to a copper fitting that I have already sweated to a length of pipe. That way I'm not sweating pipe next to the regulator. Then I can continue sweating pipe as I go.

What happens if I need to change the regulator? Serviceability? The way it looks now, I would have to cut the pipe on the downward side and work my way back and then sweat it back in. Are there quick disconnects for compressed air like on my natural gas fittings to my furnace and hot water heater? What did everyone else do? Should I just connect it all and not worry about it?

I was looking at the rapidair 1/2" so I could run from my garage to my basement. It doesn't look too sturdy and I'm wondering if it would leak, especially over time. The 3/4" looks better, but when I add everything up I think I can do copper for slightly less, although I think I could replace things easier with rapidair.

First timer, but trying to think ahead.

Regards,
Jeff
I used black iron pipe (1/2") for my distribution 20+ yrs ago and now it spits small rust particles. I like your options of rapidair or copper. 3/4" actual i.d. It will last a long time and remain clean. Look at solder selection, though, I would not use standard plumbing solder.

I went to an on-highway truck shop and got a 4' whip made of truck air hose with 37 deg flare fittings, that makes good break point. Today, I think they use a lot of solid nylon hose. Truck hardware is tough, reliable, and cheap. Use what they have in your area.
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Bill

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Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
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