Pex for air lines?

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  • dbhost
    Slow and steady
    • Apr 2008
    • 9209
    • League City, Texas
    • Ryobi BT3100

    Pex for air lines?

    I know we don't want to use PVC for compressed air lines because it can become hazardous shrapnel if it fails.

    However PEX tends to be much more subtle and not prone to explosive fracturing during.

    Has anybody used PEX for compressed air in their shop?

    What would be needed?

    My thoughts are, and they may not be great so bear with me... As best I can tell, PEX uses sharkbite, OR crimp fittings. The crimp ferrules appear to be compatible with standard barb fittings. PLEASE correct me if I am wrong!

    1/2" ID PEX x100', Red. Not sure about the color scheme, but the air hoses are red. I can also go with white. Or if I wanted to look like a Rapidair system, go with blue... so.... https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x...0012/301541204

    1/2 compatible copper PEX crimp sleeves. Pack of 100. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apollo-1...00JR/303254606

    1/2" PEX barb tee x 3. 1 to carry over to workbench, one to carry over to lathe bench. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-B...XT12/301541257

    1/2" PEX barb elbow. x 6. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-B...XE12/301541111

    1/2" PEX barb elbow x 1/2" surface mount FPT. 3. elbow. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-B...EE12/301541098

    1/2" x 1/4" MPT reducing nipple 5 pack. https://www.homedepot.com/p/LTWFITTI...8405/313805785

    2 hole 1/2" pipe hanger strap 10 pack. x3. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-1-...3542/303434708

    Brass quick couplers. I use a mix of Milton and Central Pneumatic, depends on what I have handy. https://www.harborfreight.com/air-to...-pc-68241.html

    And of course to make the PEX connections, assuming I can't rent the crimper, I can buy a cheap one for $41.00 on Amazon... https://amzn.to/3wRzyxK


    The thought process would be as follows. And I may need more pieces for this.

    Come out of the compressors via custom lines, to the quick connects as close as possible to the compressors, while allowing for vibration. Lines to Tee, tee feeds off line to oil separator / dryer,

    Single line comes out of separator / dryer, up wall to ceiling, then over, across to over the workbench, tee down to fitting for bench zip tied to DC tubing. Line continues along ceiling.

    Next tee goes over to lathe bench, down with a 90, then out with a 90 to thread, and quick connect.

    Line continues along celing to moved hose reel between roll up doors. straight up install of hose, no QD there.

    Line goes to front wall, 90, down to just below electrical outlet between doors, and 90 to QD.

    This arrangement would allow me minimal hose just flopping around. I could use the reel in the driveway and gain that last 15 added feet so no worries about getting all the way around a car in the rear most driveway slot. I can at that point use the Hitachi hoses in the shop, lighter, and less issue prone than the rubber ones...

    My initial plan was to go with copper pipe, but costs, and honestly fear of soldering that close to sheetrock has kept me from doing that.

    The PEX looks like a good alternative. The barbs looks reusable for moving shops down the road, just would need new cheap line, and crimps.
    Last edited by dbhost; 11-13-2021, 08:25 PM.
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  • LCHIEN
    Internet Fact Checker
    • Dec 2002
    • 20920
    • Katy, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 vintage 1999

    #2
    Never worked with Pex.
    But I see there's a ton of information, articles, and you tube videos about using Pex for compressed air on line. Did you read them?


    Apparently Pex is not approved for air, but its widely used. One drawback they say is that it is extremely UV sensitive and causes its failure.

    Loring in Katy, TX USA
    If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
    BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

    Comment

    • dbhost
      Slow and steady
      • Apr 2008
      • 9209
      • League City, Texas
      • Ryobi BT3100

      #3
      Originally posted by LCHIEN
      Never worked with Pex.
      But I see there's a ton of information, articles, and you tube videos about using Pex for compressed air on line. Did you read them?


      Apparently Pex is not approved for air, but its widely used. One drawback they say is that it is extremely UV sensitive and causes its failure.
      Yeah, I kind of figured a windowless garage workshop wouldn't be exactly high in UV exposure, so there is that.

      Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree.

      I am looking for a reasonable cost, relatively easy to set up permanent surface mount air distribution system. Basically speaking I want to avoid dragging hoses out across the shop when I can have a connection and a coil hose right there as it were...

      There is so little actual pipe in use in a residential shop, that I am not really worried too much about cost factors with the pipe. I am looking for ease of assembly.

      And as I mentioned above. I want to avoid soldering. Kind of worried about catching the house on fire.

      I am pretty sure soft copper tubing would work with compression fittings no problem, HOWEVER, I don't think soft copper would be strong enough for compressed air.

      I do not know if they make compatible compression fittings for hard copper pipe. Honestly, if that is avaialable, and suitable for pneumatic applications, I am pretty sure I have my issue solved.
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      • capncarl
        Veteran Member
        • Jan 2007
        • 3564
        • Leesburg Georgia USA
        • SawStop CTS

        #4
        Pex downfall, uv has been mentioned. 1/2” was referenced a lot. Remember the wise man saying to buy your last saw first? Install 3/4”.
        I have a 1/2” stainless steel braid line feeding 2 hose reels. It is fine for filling tires, small air grinders and light air impact use. Several times I have had to come directly off the compressor tank to break some stubborn bolts with an impact wrench. I suppose it could be the length of the 1/2 hose and the restriction of a full open pressure regulator and restrictions in the hose reel, hose and disconnect fittings.

        Comment

        • atgcpaul
          Veteran Member
          • Aug 2003
          • 4055
          • Maryland
          • Grizzly 1023SLX

          #5
          I didn't use a lot of air tools but a ceiling mounted HF retractable air hose reel worked really well for me. I could reach every corner of my shop with it and when I didn't it, the hose was out of the way.

          Comment

          • capncarl
            Veteran Member
            • Jan 2007
            • 3564
            • Leesburg Georgia USA
            • SawStop CTS

            #6
            HVLP was one of the biggest air hogs that I had to come straight off the compressor for.

            Comment

            • dbhost
              Slow and steady
              • Apr 2008
              • 9209
              • League City, Texas
              • Ryobi BT3100

              #7
              Okay, so HVLP works fine via 3/8 jumper and hoses. I am solo in my shop. My BILs body shop runs 3/4 but they have 6 guys. After reviewing engineering toolbox, looks like to carry 20 scfm i need 3/4. Adjusting...
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              • dbhost
                Slow and steady
                • Apr 2008
                • 9209
                • League City, Texas
                • Ryobi BT3100

                #8
                Okay, I have been doing research on pipe capacity for size.

                Over 100' run 1/2 carries 22 SCFM.
                Over 100' run 3/4 carries 64 SCFM
                The 29 gallon compressor delivers a max of 7.3 SCFM @ 40PSI
                The 12 gallon compressor (sorry, double checked, 8 gallon( Delivers a max of 6 SCFM @ 40 PSI
                Combined compressors should be capable of delivering a maximum of 13.3 SCFM.

                The air tools I have are.

                Central Pneumatic Framing nailer
                Central Pneumatic finish nailer
                Central Pneumatic pneumatic stapler
                ​​​​​​​Central Pneumatic Brad nailer
                ​​​​​​​Central Pneumatic 3/8 air ratchet
                Blue point 3/8 air ratchet
                Eathquake 1/2" Impact wrench.
                Husky 6" Dual action sander.
                ​​​​​​​Central Pneumatic air powered vacuum pump.
                ​​​​​​​Central Pneumatic HVLP
                Husky standard siphon gun.
                Blue point die grinder
                Misc blow guns, air chucks etc...

                My largest draw tool, and there are quite a few listed here, pulls 6 SCFM max.

                I am a solo home hobby workshop and would never run 2 air tools at once.

                Given the data above. I don't see it making a whole lot of sense to go too big on my setup.

                As mentioned above. At least I hope I mentioned it. I want the following drops for my air system.

                #1. Workbench / Finishing cabinet.
                #2. Lathe bench.
                #3. Hose reel.
                #4. exterior / between rollup doors.

                At a bare minimum, and assuming say using a Rapidaire system or similar, and assuming I can easily curve the line without kinking it, puts me at 3 T fittings, some line, some clamps, and 4 outlet blocks.

                Again, let's not undersize this either...

                I am thinking, ease of assembly, suitability to purpose, and cost, I am probably looking at the Klutch 3/4 Master Air Compressed Air piping system from Northern Tool.

                https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

                It looks like to get this to work with Quick connects, and the air hose reel, to this I would need to add one additional 3/4" Tee, most likely Rapidaire,
                1 3/4 tubing x 1/4" FPT fitting for the hose reel, and It looks like 1/2x 3/8 FPT reducers for the others. Not sure why thread sizes don't match but there we are...
                Last edited by dbhost; 11-17-2021, 03:36 PM.
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