| It's really easy to pick up a low cost air | | | | will have a 1/2" I.D., regardless of the O.D. |
| compressor at the local store anymore. But, | | | | of the line. Different air line manufacturers |
| how do you get the air from the compressor to | | | | will have hose with different wall thickness, |
| your application? Folks that are plumbing up | | | | so the outer diameters will vary.To connect |
| compressed air lines for their garages or | | | | PVC or RVC air hose together, you can use the |
| workshops at home, as well as the | | | | aforementioned couplers and connectors. |
| professional plant person, have a variety of | | | | Usually the coupler and connector has a |
| options with which to do connect the various | | | | "barbed" male protrusion, though other styles |
| air-lines available to them.Usually the air | | | | are certainly available. Make sure the "barb" |
| compressor will come with a rudimentary kit | | | | size of the coupler / connector corresponds |
| which will include a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) | | | | with the internal diameter of your air hose. |
| or RVC (Rubber Vinyl Chloride) air hose. If | | | | A gear clamp (do yourself a favour and |
| not, these kits are available as | | | | purchase stainless steel clamps over carbon |
| accessories.Rather than having a clutter of | | | | steel. A few pennies more, but much longer |
| air hose running across the floor (a trip | | | | life) is installed on the hose first, and |
| hazard) consider emulating the factory | | | | then the barb is inserted into the I.D. of |
| installation. Have the discharge air line | | | | the hose. After insertion of the "barb" the |
| from the compressor run up to the ceiling in | | | | gear clamp is brought up the air hose, over |
| the garage or workshop, and then install | | | | the area where the "barb" is inserted, and |
| "drop lines" down to the various locations on | | | | tightened firmly. Using a small wrench to |
| the bench where compressed air might be | | | | tighten the clamp is preferable over a |
| used.The discharge from the compressor should | | | | slotted screw-driver which have a tendency to |
| have, at the very least, a compressed air | | | | distort the nut.There are a variety of other |
| filter where the air exits the receiver / | | | | fittings available to join air hose. "Barb" |
| tank, and the smaller home-compressors will | | | | to "barb" connectors, "barbed" elbows, |
| often have a regulator there as well. | | | | "barbed" T's, and so on.If you are planning |
| Compressing air causes water problems, and | | | | on using a lot of compressed air, hours worth |
| you can read more about this in my article in | | | | of tool use at time for example, your drop |
| this E-zine entitled "Why does water run out | | | | legs should have a manual valve at the bottom |
| my compressed air lines...". The regulator is | | | | of them and the supply to your tool should be |
| necessary too, and you can read about this in | | | | taken about six inches from the bottom. The |
| an article titled "Why use a compressed air | | | | manual valve will allow you to drain the |
| regulator" also on this site.Commercial | | | | water that will accumulate there. See for |
| installations of compressed air will have a | | | | more extensive information on plumbing for |
| large general purpose compressed air filter | | | | compressed air.As to the smaller air lines |
| at the compressor discharge, and then a | | | | themselves, perhaps running to an air valve, |
| filter, regulator and sometimes an in-line | | | | joining an air valve to a cylinder, or even a |
| lubricator (oiler) at each of the points | | | | small air brush or air tool, P.E. |
| where the compressed air is to be used, to | | | | (polyethylene) is the air tube of choice. It |
| help deal with compressor generated water.The | | | | is chemically inert, won't rust with |
| regulator will provide the ability to control | | | | air-borne water, has a variety of fittings |
| the pressure of the air to that particular | | | | available, and is inexpensive.P.E. tube has a |
| application. You might want 90 PSI of air to | | | | variety of fitting styles available.It can be |
| run a grinder at one drop line, but farther | | | | connected with compression-ring (ferrule) |
| along the bench you might only want 12 PSI | | | | type fittings. A nut, and then the ring fits |
| for an air brush paint set up. Individual | | | | over the tube, and once the tube is inserted |
| regulators give you this capability. If you | | | | into the fitting, the compression-ring is |
| are installing a regulator at each drop | | | | brought down over the tube and then the nut |
| location, remove the regulator at the | | | | is tightened onto the thread, compressing the |
| compressor to ensure you have full pressure | | | | ferrule and created a seal. This type of |
| and flow to the air main overhead and the | | | | fitting is available in many configurations |
| drop lines.The oiler use is dependant on what | | | | including straight fitting, elbow, 'T' and so |
| it is that the compressed air is running.On | | | | on.The easiest fitting for plumbing P.E. tube |
| your work bench, at the bottom of each drop | | | | is the "instant" variety. There will be a |
| line, you can install a coupler. A coupler is | | | | hole, correctly sized for the O.D. of the |
| a device into which you can insert a | | | | tube, into which the tube, after it is cut |
| connector. The coupler will be "checked", | | | | squarely, can be inserted into the fitting. |
| meaning that compressed air is trapped at | | | | Inside the hole will be an "O" ring type |
| that point until a connector is inserted into | | | | seal, and then a collar of small metal |
| the coupler which opens the "check" and | | | | fingers through which the tube passes. When |
| allows air to flow.Compressed air can then be | | | | the air is turned on, the P.E. tube swells a |
| supplied to the air tool or whatever you wish | | | | bit, and these "fingers" dig into the surface |
| to drive with compressed air via an air-line | | | | of the tube, holding it in. The "O" ring |
| extension cord. You can purchase ready made | | | | prevents escape of the compressed air. There |
| or you can make your own. They are lengths of | | | | will be a small ring on the exterior of the |
| air hose or tube with a connector at one end | | | | fitting which, when depressed, will "bend" |
| and a coupler at the other. The air tool will | | | | the fingers out of the way, allowing the tube |
| have a connector in it's air port. When ready | | | | to be removed from the fitting when |
| to supply compressed air to your tool, you | | | | necessary. This should only take place if the |
| simply insert your air-line extension cord | | | | air is off."Instant" type fittings may not |
| connector into the drop line coupler, and the | | | | work on soft air-line tube, such as |
| other end, which will be a coupler, has the | | | | polyurethane. Copper tube may present a |
| air tool connector inserted into | | | | problem too, as the "fingers" cannot easily |
| it.Connectors and couplers are not all the | | | | grab the smooth surface of the tube.There are |
| same. Different manufacturers have differing | | | | some manufacturers that offer a line of |
| styles and they are not usually | | | | miniature barbed fittings for tube. If you |
| interchangeable. When you first start | | | | are installing many fittings in your |
| purchasing couplers and connectors for your | | | | application, they may offer a lower cost |
| air line, make a note of the brand first | | | | solution. The downside is that they |
| purchased, and purchase the same brand as | | | | significantly reduce the air flow through the |
| your needs continue.I remember the difference | | | | smaller I.D. plastic tube.For a good |
| between a coupler and a connector by making a | | | | selection of air line couplers, connectors, |
| mental image of a "cup" into which I insert | | | | hose, tube and fittings, consider locating |
| the connector. The "cup" is the coupler.If it | | | | and visiting your local industrial supplier |
| were me installing an "air main" and drop | | | | of fluid power or compressed air components, |
| legs down to my workbench in my garage, I | | | | rather than your local hardware or department |
| would use soldered copper pipe. Copper pipe | | | | store. Not only will the industrial supplier |
| won't rust, and there are more than | | | | likely have everything you need in one |
| sufficient adapters available to convert from | | | | location, undoubtedly, they too will have the |
| the soldered (sweated) copper to a thread.If | | | | expertise to provide the advice that will not |
| opting for an overhead main, know that the | | | | necessarily be available at the other retail |
| longer the supply line to the application, | | | | outlets.If you have questions, please don't |
| the more pressure loss there will be. Each | | | | hesitate to visit my site and send me an |
| elbow and every turn creates a loss in | | | | email through the contact page there.Bill |
| available pressure at your application, so | | | | Wade's experience in compressed air and other |
| make the air main as large as practical. How | | | | industries spans decades; from field sales |
| big? Why not 3"' copper pipe at the ceiling | | | | positions through to the corporate |
| and 3/4" copper drop lines for the home | | | | presidential office. His sales agency |
| workshop?Remember that PVC or RVC air hose | | | | represents a select group of industrial |
| size is measure on the I.D. A 1/2" air hose | | | | firms. Mr. |