Air Compressor Stuff

[Hellion]

I have a Crapsman 3.5HP 25 gal air compressor that I use regularly but it's not as convenient as I'd like the way it is currently set up. I still have the 15 foot OEM air hose attached, so to air up car tires, for example I often unplug the compressor from the wall socket and wheel it out to the car because it won't reach otherwise. It's not long enough to go around the car to get to the other side either, so I have to wheel it around again. I do have a really long 100ft (I think) hose with a quick-connect fitting to add to the 15 feet but forgetaboutit, what a hassle.

What length hose is ideal but not too much? I also don't want to spend a lot of time coiling up a super long hose.

What kind of hose?

A. Rubber
B. One of those hard plastic lines that stay coiled up
C. Polyurethane
D. PVC
E.

What do you guys use?

For example (might not buy HF stuff).........

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Run a hard line out to your garage door area with 1/2 or 3/4 pvc. Put a few hose tap along the way and use shorter hose.

The plasticy hose suck huevos.
The coiled ones catch on everything.

I have a green Flexzilla. Its better but still doesn't want to roll up nicely.

If you want a tame hose use hydraulic hose. It coils nicely and lays flat on the floor so you dont trip over it all the time.

Has Project Farm done a hose showdown?

 

[Master Hack]

X2 on pvc pipe.1/2 inch pvc has a 3XX PSI pressure rating. It does shatter when broken, but if yer careful where ya throw things when get PO'ed you'll be fine.
30 some years ago l plumbed the shop with 3/4 inch pvc. Thinkin l would put hard line in someday. Still waiting for someday.
A couple of strategicly placed hoses and yer set.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Although it is not yet a reality, I echo what the two fine gentlemen suggest above. On my long list of plans for the compound is a dedicated compressor at the top of the driveway in a little home of its own, with a PVC feeder line going down the fence row to service the tires of the fleet.

Having air and electricity all the way down the driveway, just... fancy.

 

[Sparkwizard]

I use a 3/8 rubber hose, hanging on the wall to service the garage. If I need to use a nail gun, stapler or sprayer out in the "tractor barn" where the small engine magic happens, I unroll a 100 foot lightweight plastic hose with quick connects and leave it laying in the grass until I need to mow.

 

[Hellion]

Interesting. I was thinking steel plumbers pipe not PVC, have seen that done to put air all over a shop. But this is a simple wheel-able compressor. Looks like this one:


Think I'd need one 2x that size to consider doing the pipe thing.

On the tire subject, I've been using a simple ball shaped air chuck or whatever you call it, for airing them up. Forcing such a small piece over the Schrader valve ain' no fun. You're really forcing it over the valve to make a good seal and you have to overcome the line pressure plus the escaping air. It sucks when your hands are cold. Was wondering if the combination things with the pistol grip and gauge are good to go?

What do you all use?

Again with the HF stuff:



I like the idea of the pistol grip but with the rigid extension pipe thing, more to grab onto:

[Clicky to embiggen the pic]


?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Yes and yes.
The long ones is much easier on the hands and the valve grippy is nice too.

 

[Master Hack]

Yes and no! Here at MTL we have found simple is mo bedder. fancy shyt breaks.
The staff here at MTL can't handle the high tech shyt anyway.

 

[Denny]

1/2” rubber hose 100” hose. But I paint cars. I’ve seen pvc pipe explode and had to duck the shrapnel (unsuccessfully I might add). I’ll stick to 1” black pipe.

 

[Kartorbust]

We have 50' Flexzilla hoses at work. They seem to hold up better than rubber hoses, especially if drug through oil or diesel. Definitely want something longer than 50' at work, or wish they would make us 50' extensions.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/flexzilla-air-hose-3-8-in-x-50-ft-1-4-in-mnpt-fittings-3909520

 

[Master Hack]

. I’ve seen pvc pipe explode and had to duck the shrapnel

Denny is right for a change, the correct way to do air lines is with hard metal pipe.
So there always has to be a do- right ninny nanny
In every group!

If ya should choose pvc always use schedule 40 or 80. Never that thin wall shyt.

 

[Kartorbust]

Some of the solid air lines at my work are threaded black pipe I believe and some appear to be a high pressure rated almost like PEX, not 100% sure. A house manifold system for compressed air would be nice.

 

[Hellion]

Denny is right for a change, the correct way to do air lines is with hard metal pipe.
So there always has a do- right ninny nanny
In every group!

Denny Do-Right ninny nanny

 

[Hellion]

Alright, what about these reel contraptions?

[Stole the image out of a HF product review]

 

[Kartorbust]

We got rid of all of our auto hose reels. Few too many hoses went full send, foing damage to vehicles. Hand crank is still least reliable.

 

[Denny]

We had them at the dealership. If you like listening to air leaks alll day they’re great! I’ll just coil up my hoses and hang them on an old car rim.

 

[Kartorbust]

The only down side to a manual reel or an auto reel, is sometimes the air chuck will beam you square in the 'nads.

Life's hard, wear a cup.

 

[Master Hack]

We had them at the dealership. If you like listening to air leaks alll day they’re great! I’ll just coil up my hoses and hang them on an old car rim.

Thats old school right there. Probably have the bench grinder on an old truck brake drum to! That shyt worked. Never broke, never wore out, leaked, shocked or caught fire.
engineers had to reinvent things to justify their existance! Then it started downhill!

 

[mikecoinc]

I know I'm brand new here just trying to help if I can: Start out with a threaded brass ball valve at the tank when you turn it ninety degrees its either on or off. Into that screw a pipe nipple and a filter/ water trap. Any piping you need to run make out of galvanized iron threaded pipe that is inclined (sloped) back to the trap so that any water that accumulates in the line will tend to run back to the trap where you can blow it out. Along the way screw in a tee fitting 1/4 inch npt for a spring loaded quick disconnect and terminate the line with as many quick disconnects as you want. for your rubber hose that plugs in and goes to whatever tool blow gun etc your using you coil in your hand one over one under one over one under no twists this way. sounds so simple so why can't I do it? Oh I just remembred use silicone pipe dope on the pipe threads cause air is thin and sneaky it will find a way out if it can. maybe just use a long rubber hose no problem. Mike

 

[Hellion]

Maybe one day I will have a large work area and can run some static air line around the place. Definitely need to clear out some junk in the garage. For years it has been useless junk storage while cars costing thousands of dollars are outside exposed to severe weather.

The only down side to a manual reel or an auto reel, is sometimes the air chuck will beam you square in the 'nads.

What I want to know is, how in the hell does that happen!?