What type copper pipe for compressed air

Steve in Mi Well-known member. The tables indicate all 3 will handle the pressure however the thicker wall may offer an added measure of protection from physical abuse.

Last edited: May 13, StingRay Well-known member. Type M is fine. I have worked in many shops with plain old M. There has never been a pipe blow out.

We've had regular solder joints get yanked off from abuse though. I'm talking 75, square foot shops that have been in operation for 20 years.

Use a silver bearing solder and away you go. Like said if it did let go then all it would do is split and you'd have a helluva noise. You will not get a brittle fracture with schrapnel like you would with some plastics. If you get a bargain on L go for it otherwise it's a waste of money. I'm about a anal as you get when it comes to safety and doing it right and am a Mech Eng Tech by profession. I researched all of this and yes I consulted the copper handbook.

I plumbed my shop in M and I'm not losing any sleep. Charles in GA Well-known member. Joined Jan 11, Messages 12, Location 50 mi south of Atlanta. Pages 25 and 26 will have charts of L and M pipe in various sizes and pressure ratings at various temps for both drawn and annealed condition. Wingnut65 said:.

Joined Mar 21, Messages 2, Location starvation lake,mi. I put all the lines in the walls. Never had a leak or failure,its still working now because my son is there useing it.

Thanks Charles for the info on the copper selection table. When I first found that table, it was in Greek. Grumpy Well-known member. I am using ACR for my air lines. Go to your local refrigeration supply company for a price. Also refrigeration supply houses carry 20' sticks. Joe B. Well-known member. Joined Jan 2, Messages 2, I just use those cardboard tubes that come wrapped around wrapping paper.

NewShockerGuy Well-known member. Need help installing or updating your compressed air system piping? Contact us to set up a consultation with a compressed air system engineer. Plastic Pipe Plastic compressed air piping is cheap, lightweight, easy to install and non-corrosive.

The materials are lightweight and easy to work with, requiring no special bracing or supports. Plastics can be easily cut and fit using standard tools and can be glued together rather than welded. The interior surface is smooth for maximum laminar flow. Plastic does not corrode, so plastic piping minimizes the risk of particulates making their way into the airflow. Metal Pipe Piping options made from various types of metal are the more traditional choice for compressed air distribution.

Black Iron Pipe Black iron piping has long been considered a standard for compressed air delivery. Iron piping does have a few drawbacks. Iron pipes are very heavy, so anchoring must be used with suspended piping systems. Iron can be difficult to cut and join, requiring a skilled plumber or welder to install.

Leaks often develop along joins or welds. Most critically, black iron piping is highly susceptible to corrosion when it comes into contact with moisture from the air compressor. When rust develops inside iron piping, it can cause blockages or make its way into the compressed air stream, fouling the air lines and causing problems for production processes. Galvanized Steel Pipe Galvanized steel piping has many of the same advantages and disadvantages of its black iron counterpart, with one major exception: galvanization significantly reduces corrosion.

Stainless Steel Pipe Stainless steel is highly durable and resistant to corrosion, making it the longest-lasting and most expensive choice among the steel and iron piping alternatives. Copper Pipe Copper pipe is another corrosion-free choice for compressed air piping. Aluminum Pipe Systems Aluminum compressed air piping systems have grown in popularity over the last 10 to 15 years, and with good reason.

Aluminum offers a number of benefits, including: light weight three times lighter than iron piping , zero corrosion, high leak resistance, and ease of installation. However, as with many plastics, PVC gets brittle over time and can crack, break, or even shatter.

The presence of air compressor oils in the line and heat from the compressed air accelerates the degradation of PVC. These failures, combined with air under pressure, are potentially fatal due to the airborne, razor-sharp shrapnel. Galvanized Pipe Galvanized piping is commonly used for water distribution and for general plumbing.

Galvanized coating resists moisture in compressed air but pieces of the coating will flake off and end up in your tools. The debris will cause severe damage to cylinders, pneumatic tools, and other components. Even more importantly, when exiting a blow gun, little flakes can cause serious bodily harm.

It is readily available, it is strong and durable and most people are familiar with how to install it. With all of the advantages black pipe provides, however, it will produce rust contamination that damages pneumatic tooling. Google Sponsor Google Sponsor. L is thicker and preferred for your application. Unless you are running 1" line or over, or if you are running psi in the line, I would feel safe using either. Regulate the pressure going into the header, and you should be around psi in the header anyway.

Type M is not recommended for air line applications. Edit: I posted the following in an earlier thread but will add them here. One of my drops is in my finish spray area so I have the following arrangement. Two other drops are in my milling and assembly area and are like this: In both cases, the pipe extension and valve allow moisture to accumulate and be expelled.