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PEX for air

Brad White_9
Brad White_9 Member Posts: 2,440
in THE MAIN WALL
do NOT use PVC. Makes great potato guns though!

I am so bad.....

Comments

  • Guy_6
    Guy_6 Member Posts: 450
    air

    Have any of you used pex (or similar) tubing for compressed air? This is for my own personal garage, where the air compressor would not be turned on unless needed , average homeowner stuff. The problem is to get the compressor to a spot where it it convenient, it is also a target. I want to run air lines out from a corner. My first thought was copper, but then plastic came to mind. Any experiences with this?

    Thanks,

    Guy
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    Rehau makes all Kinds of pex,

    and tubing for Beacoup applications. *~/:)

    one thing that comes to mind is copper is so easy to dial in i wouldnt bother with specialty tubing.
  • Brad White_9
    Brad White_9 Member Posts: 2,440
    Polypropylene and Polyethylene Tubing

    is used all the time in pneumatic systems. Used principally for jumpers and where it connects to vibrating machinery.

    So long as the pressure rating is good for it (and at temperatures lower than HW the pressure rating increases), you should be fine. Barbed connectors, clamps, crimps, all the good common sense things apply of course.

    Most PEX has a 100 PSIG rating at 180 degrees F. Not sure how much higher at room temperature.
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    I think Kitec

    has a product approved and listed for this use?? Please don't use PVC :)

    hot rod

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  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    There...

    ... are a number of applications where screwing some steel pipe together is the right thing to do. This is one of them.
  • Kevin O. Pulver
    Kevin O. Pulver Member Posts: 380
    Guy,

    If you are real particular about removing moisture, the copper would work much better. For instance, painting etc... the cold metal will condense the moisture in the pipe where it can be drained out at a "drip leg". This would be in conjunction with a water separator/filter.
    If you are not concerned about that, as in filling tires, blowing dust around etc... I would be perfectly comfortable using plastic. Perhaps a combination would be in order. If you bother to drain your air compressor in the summer, you will find you can get a LOT of moisture in just one day of use. Undrained water will of course reduce your air storage capacity and rust out your tank. Kevin
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    I just completed

    a large commercial truck repair shop (radiant)

    The compressed air contractor installed some type of very thin aluminm pipe with a blue plastic coating. It used a hand tightened compression / gripper fitting of some sort, even in the 1-1/4" sizes!

    Came in straight lengths and had the compressor manufactures name printed on. Kaeser Compressor.

    They did have a bunch of leaks. Installer error, from what I could see. They were not careful in getting the pipe pushed deep enough into the fittings.

    Nice looking stuff, though :)

    hot rod

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  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    Soft Soldered...

    ... copper pipe joints can fail if there's ever a fire. I've seen copper used for compressed air, but to do it properly, it needs to be silver soldered by somebody with a proper licence.
  • Brian_18
    Brian_18 Member Posts: 94
    I Did It

    After laying down 2500' of 3/4" pex-al-pex in my new workshop slab, I had a number of "ends" leftover. After researching it, was rated for 600psi working, and 1175psi burst. It used multi-piece compression fittings. I ran a loop around the shop perimeter, with numerous drops for connection. Nice clean & easy job. No problems at all.
  • Guy_6
    Guy_6 Member Posts: 450
    Thanks

    I appreciate all of the input. The air lines will seldom be used- just for tires and such, so I didn't want to go to the expense of copper. I also didn't want to string several Wal-Mart coily air lines across the garage. Plastic seemed durable and neat enough.For what it's worth, I could drain the pressure out when not in use.

    Besides, I have a friend who may have enough leftover pieces to get the job done ;-)

    Thanks again,

    Guy

  • mark smith
    mark smith Member Posts: 112


    if theres a fire ,...
    i won't be there filling my tires .....
  • Kevin O. Pulver
    Kevin O. Pulver Member Posts: 380
    HR

    I've seen that stuff. It's really neat. kevin
  • Tony Conner_2
    Tony Conner_2 Member Posts: 443
    It's...

    ... a funny thing - a lot of accident reports I've read over the years have included a statement like that in it somewhere. It's your garage so you should do what you like, but I'd run steel pipe if it were mine.
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    I test my radiant PAP

    to 100 psi often. I'm sure it would work for compressed air lines. it's just not listed for that use. Sure would make for a nice clean fitting free system.

    hot rod

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This discussion has been closed.

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