Upgraded shop air

[BSDeality]

I was up at TSC today and they had a good deal on a 75' wall mount self-retracting hose reel. So I tossed it on the cart, then when I got back to the shop I was out of QC's to plumb it so I was thinking, why not bump the rest of the shop airlines up a notch too? I had been using 3/8" lines with 1/4" QC's which I noticed was killing the performance of my air chisel and impact guns.

Just upgrading to 3/8" QC's improved the flow a lot. I was really impressed. My shop has a 1" copper rail that runs along one wall with several QC's plumbed in at T's. I upgraded the feed from the compressor to the rail while I was at it too. While upgrading the rail I noticed there was a T on the compressor that was plugged off. I removed the plug and I added a second QC so I have both a 3/8" and 1/4" QC on the compressor now too.

I then converted all my air tools, HVLP paint sprayer & pressurized sandblaster over to 3/8" QC's and 2 of my 4 hoses. I left smaller hoses 1/4" qc's for stuff like the plasma cutter and one of my blow-guns. I even made myself two adapters from 1/4->3/8" and vice versa so I can run either-or if I have to make hoses longer or someone else is using my air source with their tools.

I'm not sure if its worth going to a 1/2" line to the rail from the compressor since the compressor only has a 3/8" feed on it (just a 28gal/dir. drive unit). Any ideas? Other than upgrade to a nice commercial belt-drive unit?

Overall cost was $75 for the reel, and about $50 in new QC's. It should be worth it for using the sandblaster, HVLP gun and impact guns.

[hlntoiz]

I have been looking for a retracting real myself. I will have to head up there tomorrow.

[atgreene]

I've started plumbing my entire shop with 3/4" iron pipe. I'm dropping down to 1/2" where needed. I still need to upgrade my compressor and then switch to the 3/8 qc. Sounds like they would help.

[BWhite]

I picked up a 50' reel at Harbor Tool . Its not to bad for what I will use it for .

[Pickering Snow]

Theres big advantages to running 1/2 inch pipe most things you list take large volumes of air somthing thats tough to do on small line.

A Tip for guys running smaller single stage compressors is take 4 100lb propane cylinders tap and plumb so your compressor now fills all 4 i just moved this system into the new shop the compressor which is a commerial IR unit runs about three times a day tops. Next big thing is protecting your tools from water traps, filters, become so critcal since sand doesnt blow well wet from water in the lines, plays hell on paint jobs too.

[BSDeality]

I do need to add a water trap pronto. I took a nice frosty wet bath when I pulled one of the lines off today.

I was also thinking about putting in an in-line oiler. The question is how to do it, I don't want to oil the plasma cutter or the paint gun.

Matt, they have 50, 75 and 100'ers at TSC. Figured the 100' was overkill. With the 75' I can reach anywhere in the shop if I had to, plus a fair amount outside since my shop is 30' deep

[paulsoccodato]

I was also thinking about putting in an in-line oiler. The question is how to do it, I don't want to oil the plasma cutter or the paint gun.




Matt, In my experience, the inline oilers are more trouble than they are worth. Your better off just oiling the tools as you go.

Water seperators are worth every penny, buy a good one.

[Pickering Snow]

Nelly on the preoilers not worth the hassle... Spend the money on a system of Traps, Seperators, filters.

Even the shop behind my house which the one end use to be my paint booth has a complete drying system for air has for painting even today with all the traps and seperators we use i still buy disposable inline air filters for the paint guns there cheap insur .

Also the smaller the compressor the longer it runs the more water it makes thats why even using larger compressors i still use the sister tank system. Biggest tip by the way to making a sandblaster work longer than 5 mins with out icing up.

You can buy the air kits from Napa or any parts stores that sell paint they usally sell the traps , seperator, regs, and filter units in a kit.

[snowplowjay]

Oil/water separator, regulator and filter in line systems are definitely worth it...

I have 12 compressors that we maintain here in the plant ranging from small to large HP ratings and I run inline setups all over the place on top of the main oil/water separator unit that runs off of each compressor.

Living in a changing climate of temperatures/humidity definitely increases the need for such units.

[hlntoiz]

Matt, Picked up a 50' tonight. Also a heater and 40lb propane tank.

Thanks for the heads up.

[BSDeality]

did you get the auto-rewinder or the manual cranker?

Really got to use the air today since we swapped on the snow tires, and bolted down the new spreader in the ford. The impact gun has a much more impact now :grinz

[hlntoiz]

did you get the auto-rewinder or the manual cranker?

Really got to use the air today since we swapped on the snow tires, and bolted down the new spreader in the ford. The impact gun has a much more impact now :grinz

Auto Rewind. Was going to put it up today but ran out of time Took all day to get my Roadwatch installed.

[BSDeality]

Well, I found out that the hose isn't plasma cutter proof today. :mad: I had a new mold board made for one of my plows so I cut the old one off. I noticed the compressor was running a lot when I was cutting but didn't think much of it. After I had finished cutting it off I heard a mysterious PSSSSSSSSSSS like the plasma cutter makes when it's cooling the tip after you finish cutting.... only I had just turned it off. HMMMM. I burned a pinhole in the hose about 3' from the end with a rogue spark-glob.

Tried to patch it temporarily with some tape and a hose clamp, but it pops like a balloon when you do that. LOL. Guess my 75' hose is about to become 72'

[SCB]

Well, I found out that the hose isn't plasma cutter proof today. :mad: I had a new mold board made for one of my plows so I cut the old one off. I noticed the compressor was running a lot when I was cutting but didn't think much of it. After I had finished cutting it off I heard a mysterious PSSSSSSSSSSS like the plasma cutter makes when it's cooling the tip after you finish cutting.... only I had just turned it off. HMMMM. I burned a pinhole in the hose about 3' from the end with a rogue spark-glob.

Tried to patch it temporarily with some tape and a hose clamp, but it pops like a balloon when you do that. LOL. Guess my 75' hose is about to become 72'

We need to get some government control on plasma cutters, and now! Poor hose loses three feet due to a drive-by spark-glob. This world is sick!!!

[Big Dog D]

I've started plumbing my entire shop with 3/4" iron pipe. I'm dropping down to 1/2" where needed. I still need to upgrade my compressor and then switch to the 3/8 qc. Sounds like they would help.


Alan,

I redid my shop a few years ago, it was $ well spent. The only issue I had at the time was trying to figure out how to run the Black Iron up through the attic and rafters etc.... I ended up using the blue poly pipe that they use for city water supply lines it worked great. It holds 200 psi +/-?? and uses all pipe thread type fittings to terminate and it's cheaper than BI as I recall too. :wink

I just used it up high and the tough to get at places. We used BI to do all of the drops down into the shop & repair bay areas etc....

[Fastjohnny]

Well, I found out that the hose isn't plasma cutter proof today. :mad: I had a new mold board made for one of my plows so I cut the old one off. I noticed the compressor was running a lot when I was cutting but didn't think much of it. After I had finished cutting it off I heard a mysterious PSSSSSSSSSSS like the plasma cutter makes when it's cooling the tip after you finish cutting.... only I had just turned it off. HMMMM. I burned a pinhole in the hose about 3' from the end with a rogue spark-glob.

Tried to patch it temporarily with some tape and a hose clamp, but it pops like a balloon when you do that. LOL. Guess my 75' hose is about to become 72'


What kind of plasma are you running? If the snow season is good to me,that is high on my want list.

[BSDeality]

What kind of plasma are you running? If the snow season is good to me,that is high on my want list.It's a hypertherm 190 (i think 190). does up to about 1/4"

[Jerre Heyer]

Matt,

Ran our shop with 1" supply and 1/2" pigtails down to the hose reels. All Galvanized or black iron.

Next time it will be with Schedule 80 1 1/2 PVC or with 2"PVC. We re ran the fire house with the PVC and it made routing a breeze. Have to make sure to rough up and clean all the fittings before cementing them but otherwise worked awesome.

Hose reels have really helped to stop blown hoses. Got reels for the torch set too. Just waiting for a plasma reel:wink as we have the problem of crushing the torch lead.

Fred I agree on the filter and oiler system. I had to run a seperate line for the plasma though as it didn't like the oil.........

J

[Bandit]

The most important thing that You can do to insure having Dry Air is to All ways take take the airline tap off the top of the compressor .( at a minimum , turn the T , top side up .
Water is lazy , it will always flow along the bottom . I have been keeping Myself busy just re-piping air lines for shops that did it themselves , or like the last one I did , had there " Brother in Law the Plumber " install all there air lines in a Powder Coating Shop . He could of used the hoses and spray guns for fire fighting . Still 6 months , and Not a drop of water . Plumbers All ways take the T off the bottom .
Bob
Working on all types of compressors since 1978 , Owner of Air Repair Service since 1985
I have helped a few on this site with compressor questions , but if there question was answered OK , I don't usually butt in .
I don't like the 2,000 post , mostly saying I agree , or Ok .

[Bandit]

Matt,

Ran our shop with 1" supply and 1/2" pigtails down to the hose reels. All Galvanized or black iron.

Next time it will be with Schedule 80 1 1/2 PVC or with 2"PVC. We re ran the fire house with the PVC and it made routing a breeze. Have to make sure to rough up and clean all the fittings before cementing them but otherwise worked awesome.

Hose reels have really helped to stop blown hoses. Got reels for the torch set too. Just waiting for a plasma reel:wink as we have the problem of crushing the torch lead.

Fred I agree on the filter and oiler system. I had to run a seperate line for the plasma though as it didn't like the oil.........

J

Jerry
A few years ago , I had to completely re-pipe a machine shop and replace there " New Sch. 80 " piping with copper , the building inspector shut them down .
I don't recall the details right now , but boy were they P%^*$#@e Off .
I know some of the laws have changed ,and Products have too , but I still like copper best of all ,( $$$ for Me ) black iron RUSTS . Equals Rusty Water .

[Jerre Heyer]

Bob,

I agree on liking copper. Problem in a lot of shops up here is the amount of salt in the air in the winter time. Seems to attach to the copper pipe. Most of the plumbers down here don't do an adequate job of cleaning up there joints or the pipe itself for that fact and the Green and White corrosion start to show up.

There was a big debate in the city about plastic after the pre PeX tubing fiasco on the mobile homes from the 70's. Code approval for Sch 80 if it's inspected to 200 PSI. Code approval for PEX if it's done with the thick Crush ring fittings not the thin over end clamp rings.

T's from the top or Drip leg's with drains and side tees are the norm up here if there's any intelligence in the installer.

I've always loved your sig line. Moisture Relocation Eng.

J

[Fastjohnny]

But T's out the bottom require less fittings.:rolleyes:

[SCB]

I don't like the 2,000 post , mostly saying I agree , or Ok .

Maybe my brain's not working right today (again), but I can't quite decipher what this means.

[SCB]

Maybe my brain's not working right today (again), but I can't quite decipher what this means.

Nevermind, the melon kicked in while shaving.....DUH!