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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Air Compressor - Piping for Gunsmithing Equipment
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<blockquote data-quote="Mr1Fixit" data-source="post: 2535352" data-attributes="member: 80781"><p>I think you are on the right track with copper, particularly if you have the ability to solder it. I used to design compressed air systems for plants and laboratories (and have it in my shop at home). We specified Type 'L' or even type 'K' with soldered or brazed fittings. Most industrial, lab and hospital medical air systems are constructed of copper. I would never use PVC for compressed air because it can shatter and make shrapnel if something hits it and it is full of compressed air at 110 psi. I don't have an issue with plastic in small diameter tubing such as that in common use in pneumatically actuated / controlled systems at point of use. You have to remember that compressed air stores a lot of energy, way more than a water pipe at the same pressure. You can use pro-press and shark-bite type fittings, but they are expensive - I am a fan for repairs, but not new systems. Swagelok type double ferrule fittings see a good bit of use for small piping in industrial systems, but they are expensive. My shop system has steel on the old Quincy compressor, copper from the receiver to a threaded manifold with a gauge and a filter regulator, I use rubber hoses at point of use. If you are going to use it for spray finishing, you should dry it with a refrigerated dryer (and / or a desiccant type dryer) and use coalescing type filters to get the oil and particulate out of it. The Compressed Air and Gas Institute has some design guides you can Google, and you may find pipe sizing tables from the Copper Development Association Handbooks.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mr1Fixit, post: 2535352, member: 80781"] I think you are on the right track with copper, particularly if you have the ability to solder it. I used to design compressed air systems for plants and laboratories (and have it in my shop at home). We specified Type ’L’ or even type ‘K’ with soldered or brazed fittings. Most industrial, lab and hospital medical air systems are constructed of copper. I would never use PVC for compressed air because it can shatter and make shrapnel if something hits it and it is full of compressed air at 110 psi. I don’t have an issue with plastic in small diameter tubing such as that in common use in pneumatically actuated / controlled systems at point of use. You have to remember that compressed air stores a lot of energy, way more than a water pipe at the same pressure. You can use pro-press and shark-bite type fittings, but they are expensive - I am a fan for repairs, but not new systems. Swagelok type double ferrule fittings see a good bit of use for small piping in industrial systems, but they are expensive. My shop system has steel on the old Quincy compressor, copper from the receiver to a threaded manifold with a gauge and a filter regulator, I use rubber hoses at point of use. If you are going to use it for spray finishing, you should dry it with a refrigerated dryer (and / or a desiccant type dryer) and use coalescing type filters to get the oil and particulate out of it. The Compressed Air and Gas Institute has some design guides you can Google, and you may find pipe sizing tables from the Copper Development Association Handbooks. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
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Air Compressor - Piping for Gunsmithing Equipment
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