Garage air lines, what do you use?

[Uniuno]

I've been wanting to hang my hosezilla air line reel on the ceiling of the garage for almost a year now. Things have come up and it just hasn't happened. I'm looking into options again for ways to run the air to it. I'd also like a couple drops over at the workbenches. The shop I used to work at had a very nice (very expensive) blue plastic system. Obviously they had a contractor install it but who knows where they got it from.

Common systems:

PVC: I see this as very dangerous, I know people still use it anyway. PVC is UV sensitive and I have quite a bit of natural light in my garage. Indirect as it may be I don't see it as worth the risk.

Copper: I've heard about 50/50 saying this is the way to go or it's dangerous from moisture collecting and freezing causing it to burst.

Black pipe: Easily the strongest of all of them but moisture will cause it to rust inside and possibly damage air tools.

Are the failures I've heard of just flukes, poor installation, or not properly maintained?

Any other options? What do you use?

[LeRoyDL]

We've had pvc in our shop for years with out any issues. Have tons of natural light but its all up on ceiling so not direct sunlight.

[RealMcCoy]

We've had PCV in the shop for 20 years... Definitely not the approved method, but it's been very reliable. We've had a couple failures over the years from stress points, but overall very few issues.

I had black pipe in another shop that worked very well also... Pretty easy to build in low spots with water traps and drains. If done correctly, I don't think it would rust any more than your compressor tank.

[anyonebutme]

I ran copper in mine. I didn't want to run iron pipe or PVC, PEX and PVC didn't have the pressure ratings I wanted, and copper is something I had and work with a lot. I like how it cools and condenses the air and allows the traps to work, I get quite dry air.

The blue aluminum/plastic line (rapidair and garagepak) is available from tons of places, best prices are online like anything.

[Uniuno]

Good to know, thanks guys.

I never run over 100 PSI so schedule 40 PVC should handle the pressure without issue. However, I do some occasional painting so maybe copper would be best? It's pretty easy to work with too.

[sublime_whatigo]

The max operating pressure of sch. 40 pvc if something like 350 psi, sch 80 is 500. I've seen it done tons of times and never heard of the uv rating.

[wingnut]

PVC here, as much as i like the garagepak stuff, it looks kinda pricey in comparison...

...as for UV rating, mine goes up the wall and on the ceiling, no direct sunlight ever hits it

[Maximal]

We use black pipe. Have had them up for a few years with no problems. We use the compressor so much the water doesn't sit much and we also drain the compressor tank and water traps regularly.

[Uniuno]

I should have made this a poll. Looks like anything will do, ABM brought up a good point about the copper cooling the air which I could see the steel doing as well but not so much the PVC.

So I guess it's up to pricing and how easy it is to incorporate the air line fittings to each system.

PVC I would have to tap into plugs which isn't a big deal, I already have the tap from my boost leak testing tool.

Steel has already threaded fittings.

Copper obviously has fittings available that are threaded.

Here's a nice looking copper install:

copper airline installation (dialup beware) - The Garage Journal Board

I see lots of money involved with all those fittings lol.

I would prefer the ease of PVC install over copper with the whole gluing rather than soldering thing.

I guess the final question is which system will cause the least amount of grief when selling the house? I don't think I'll want to take it down.

[Alex3000gt]

I should have made this a poll. Looks like anything will do, ABM brought up a good point about the copper cooling the air which I could see the steel doing as well but not so much the PVC.

So I guess it's up to pricing and how easy it is to incorporate the air line fittings to each system.

PVC I would have to tap into plugs which isn't a big deal, I already have the tap from my boost leak testing tool.

Steel has already threaded fittings.

Copper obviously has fittings available that are threaded.

Here's a nice looking copper install:

copper airline installation (dialup beware) - The Garage Journal Board

I see lots of money involved with all those fittings lol.

I would prefer the ease of PVC install over copper with the whole gluing rather than soldering thing.

I guess the final question is which system will cause the least amount of grief when selling the house? I don't think I'll want to take it down.

Sounds like a fit and forget type of thing. Perhaps install the piping knowing that it is staying with the house - for -ev -er - and be fine with that because it suits your needs.

The setup in that link is awesome. I'm all for getting the air compressor OUT of the workspace so that you can keep listening to the radio when the compressor kicks on.

Alex