Airline fitting conventions?

[JonE]

I'm wanting to install some hard lines for air around my home workshop, and just wondering if there is a convention for the gender of the BSP fittings on the drops.

The female quick release couplings are available with both male & female BSP threads, with no obvious difference in price or availability.. Before I buy parts, I figure I may as well do this the 'correct' way - if there is one? Thanks!

 

[mike os]

Use female where you can , minimise the use of fittings wherever practical

 

[frank horton]

some say copper pipe is ok but I always use galv steel pipe but I do have the means to thread it....

plus
if u have drops, best not to put the airline coupling straight on the end because of moisture/condensation ends up in the bottom of the pipes....plus inevetably u'll end up with rust scale and other debris down the bottom, yhats not so good for tools either....
even if u have a seperator u'll get water down there...........
I always put a U section at the bott of the drop pipe with a drain valve / ball valve (they are very cheap).....
so with the airline fitting say 4-6inches above the drain valve u wont get water in the tools.....
when my new place is finally built it'll get the same on every outlet...10.....
then first job before u use any particular airline is to open the valve a tad to get rid of any moisture.....
ALSO,
another must I reckon......
my comp will be in the farthest conrner of my workshop and the main elec incomming will be right by the door....
so as I walk out I'll kill the electric.....mine is 3phase....(there will be a seperate 240v system for the emergency lighting and alarm systems)....
that way if u have a burst airline the comp wont run till it dies.....ask me how I know......!!!!

all the above is a FAG but the long term effect is well worth the initial effort....promice...

 

[JonE]

Thanks. Am going to try black mdpe pipe, just because I have some. Was planning to put a ball valve on the bottom of each drop for drainage, with a horizontal tee a few inches above for filter/regulator and coupling..

 

[RWD3M]

I'm wanting to install some hard lines for air around my home workshop, and just wondering if there is a convention for the gender of the BSP fittings on the drops.

The female quick release couplings are available with both male & female BSP threads, with no obvious difference in price or availability.. Before I buy parts, I figure I may as well do this the 'correct' way - if there is one? Thanks!

Hi Jon,

I've just gone through the whole process of installing air lines in my shed. I went galv but you might find some useful advice here:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cutting-1-2-bsp-threads.103086/

Good luck.

 

[Agroshield]

my comp will be in the farthest corner of my workshop and the main elec incoming will be right by the door.... so as I walk out I'll kill the electric...

That is very clever.

If logistics or budget dictate that the meaty compressor supply has to be near the compressor, you could use a contactor with minimal CSA cable to run to a switch at the door.

 

[JonE]

I've just gone through the whole process of installing air lines in my shed.

Thanks, lots of useful tips in there

 

[badabec]

This is on my list too. How do you connect the compressor to the pipe work? A flexible hose? If going down the plastic route, which fittings are needed?

 

[Morrisman]

some say copper pipe is ok but I always use galv steel pipe but I do have the means to thread it....

plus
if u have drops, best not to put the airline coupling straight on the end because of moisture/condensation ends up in the bottom of the pipes....plus inevetably u'll end up with rust scale and other debris down the bottom, yhats not so good for tools either....
even if u have a seperator u'll get water down there...........
I always put a U section at the bott of the drop pipe with a drain valve / ball valve (they are very cheap).....
so with the airline fitting say 4-6inches above the drain valve u wont get water in the tools.....
when my new place is finally built it'll get the same on every outlet...10.....
then first job before u use any particular airline is to open the valve a tad to get rid of any moisture.....
ALSO,
another must I reckon......
my comp will be in the farthest conrner of my workshop and the main elec incomming will be right by the door....
so as I walk out I'll kill the electric.....mine is 3phase....(there will be a seperate 240v system for the emergency lighting and alarm systems)....
that way if u have a burst airline the comp wont run till it dies.....ask me how I know......!!!!

all the above is a FAG but the long term effect is well worth the initial effort....promice...

I had a separate switch for mine, one with a red light built into it, so as I left the ‘shop and killed the lights the red glow stood out like dogs ballcocks reminding me.

 

[JonE]

This is on my list too. How do you connect the compressor to the pipe work? A flexible hose? If going down the plastic route, which fittings are needed?

Yes, a flexible hose from the compressor to one of the drops, and there are compression to BSP fittings for MDPE pipes. I know some people frown on plastic pipework for air, but the pressure ratings seem okay and enough people do it without problems, so am willing to give it a go. Think I'll just dip my toe in with a couple of drops first to see how it goes..

 

[brightspark]

you could use hydraulic hose its heatproof