[TheForge] Shop Air using Copper

[Paul]

Cindy and James wrote:
> My only comment is that you can drive a nail thru a copper line and you 
> can't usually hurt a steel pipe.  But copper is a lot easier to use than 
> steel. 
> I plumbed my shop air system w/ 3/4" sch 40 pvc, about 250' of it so 
> far.  It has far more limitations than copper but is even cheaper and 
> easier. 
> I just turn the valve at my compressor each night, isolating the 
> compressor in case the line breaks or I have a leak.
> James
-snip-
As far as copper and steel are considered, there are advantages to both. 
Steel pipe is easy to change and to install. If you want a different 
country of origin I suggest that you look up local plumbing supply 
companies such as Ferguson or Columbia Pipe or whoever you have in your 
area. Even though they say 'wholesale only' they will generally sell for 
cash to anyone that walks in the door. Cooper does not corrode in the 
presence of moisture like steel pipe does. While black pipe is the 
industrial standard in most areas you can certainly use galvanized steel 
pipe in lieu of the copper if you like. Most industrial installations 
use clean, dry oil free air, so the moisture corrosion problem does not 
exist with black pipe industrially. What I do take exception to is the 
use of pvc pipe for compressed air. It is not a good idea. PVC is 
extreamlly frangible at lower temperatures and the initial fill phase is 
particularly dangerous sue to the solvent vapors present after 
installation and the much higher partial pressure of oxygen. Think of a 
potato gun... Manufactures do NOT even recommend using air to test PVC 
installations. Pex is ok I hear from one local rep, but I still would 
use steel or copper. Any plastic need to be protected from heat sources 
(read hot sparks and such). Think of this as a challenge to learn a new 
piping system rather than a excuse to use the easiest install. PVC is 
great for water and waste lines. If the manufactures felt safe and 
confident that there would be no problems or lawsuits from the use of 
PVC for air piping they would be the first to recommend it rather than 
exclude its use...
--
Paul Sperbeck  WB9HCO

  "The difference between genius and stupidity is that
genius has its limits." -Albert Einstein
"Life is hard...it's harder if you're stupid" John Wayne - Sands of Iwo Jima

No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number 
of electrons
were terribly inconvenienced.