air compressor question- what size lines/fittings ?

[cgarr]

Originally Posted by rick-l

I read that 50' of 3/4 black pipe before the water separator will cool the air enough but when I use my cheap sandblaster it still turns into a water nozzle.

Cooling it back down does not get rid of the water it just condenses it back to water but you still need a trap/filter after that to collect that water.

I had to setup a system in our food plant which needs clean dry air to meet the critical standards for packing such products. It starts with a Quincy air screw compressor then thru a pre-filter water/oil separator before the storage tank. It then runs thru a 5 micron filter then a .01 micron filter and finally it passes thru the chiller to remove any moisture before it enters the plant. There are 5 auto drains in the system to keep any collected water purged from the system too.

[A930Rocket]

I installed three water traps in a row about 20' away from my 60 gal IR compressor. Each one took out some water, but not all, as it showed up 75' later, especially on a hot humid summer day. I think the only way to remove it is with a drier of some sort.

[cgarr]

If you don't chill the air and drop the dew point it does not matter how many traps you have it will just pass right through. Pack some ice around the pipe before the traps and see how much water you get out of it.

[Green 912]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Flexible tubing is ok since it does not shatter in failure like rigid PVC pipe.

I was not questioning the flex just the size and at the time unknown material used. Many air tools would suffer a debilitating pressure drop when the trigger was pulled with 1/4 or less ID. Fish tank tubing will balloon and fail, and per the second post this is not fish tank air line. That said any flex tube will whip like mad if the non pressure fed end comes loose of the fitting. Push to lock fittings can be knocked loose while being handled. Bump the lock ring in and the tube flies out and whips until the air flow is shut off. I don't think push lock reusable fittings are recommended for hand held use.

Good air hose is cheap.

[HarryD]

Green 912,

I do not think that you and I disagree. I would assume that any tubing used would be rated for the intended service.

You correctly point out that the fittings used need careful consideration as well to ensure that they do not fail.

[Green 912]

Pressure / temperature ratings and Service use ratings are often not be the same. Tubing that can take the pressure but does not have good abrasion or cut resistance or resistance to attack by commonly used automotive chemicals might not be the best pick for tool end use. Fine on static machine use but when in end users hands subjected to conditions where it can get hooked, pinched, make contact with hot or sharp surfaces and all the other fun stuff we knuckle dragging happy wenchers subject air hose to.

One thing is sure, schedule 40 PVC hard pipe is 100% not rated for any air service. I know it is cheap and easy to get and work but please just say no.