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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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copper for air lines?
i need to rig some sort of air cooler/dryer for my compressor w/o spending a lot of money or taking a lot of space. i've seen some drawings of nice setups using iron pipe to cool the air and provide a drain for water. any reason i can't use hard wall copper pipe instead? max pressure is 150psi, which is about what the copper tubing in an espresso machine deals with. copper, for me, is much easier to work with, and means i can build something nifty, like a water-cooled condenser to pull the moisture out of the air system. --barry |
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copper for air lines?
"Barry Jarrett" wrote in message ... i need to rig some sort of air cooler/dryer for my compressor w/o spending a lot of money or taking a lot of space. i've seen some drawings of nice setups using iron pipe to cool the air and provide a drain for water. any reason i can't use hard wall copper pipe instead? max pressure is 150psi, which is about what the copper tubing in an espresso machine deals with. copper, for me, is much easier to work with, and means i can build something nifty, like a water-cooled condenser to pull the moisture out of the air system. --barry I use 3/4" throughout my shop and it works great. Easy to run and really helps to condense moisture. Be sure to use a short whip hose (Rubber) between compressor and start of airline. Slope up from the compressor a small amount and your in business. Ed Angell |
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copper for air lines?
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#4
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copper for air lines?
About 5 years ago I designed and installed an air distribution system
in a 13 bay auto garage for a friend (the owner). It was all 3/4" copper lines with brass ball valves throughout. The tool connects and lift connections all had condensate blow-off drops with valves. He chose to use a commercial air dryer in line with the compressor. I soldered all of the connections with Harris Stay Brite 8 and Harris Stay Clean flux. Not a single leak or problem to date. My advice.. Do it.. You will be very happy with the results and never look back.. It's super easy to do also.. Just my 2¢.. PJ "Barry Jarrett" wrote in message ... i need to rig some sort of air cooler/dryer for my compressor w/o spending a lot of money or taking a lot of space. i've seen some drawings of nice setups using iron pipe to cool the air and provide a drain for water. any reason i can't use hard wall copper pipe instead? max pressure is 150psi, which is about what the copper tubing in an espresso machine deals with. copper, for me, is much easier to work with, and means i can build something nifty, like a water-cooled condenser to pull the moisture out of the air system. --barry |
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copper for air lines?
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#7
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copper for air lines?
On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 18:25:03 -0400, Gary Coffman
wrote: I use copper in my shop and we use copper at work. There's only one caveat, use a piece of flex between the compressor and the lines. Copper can work harden from the compressor's vibration and fracture. there's definitely going to be a flexi hose between the compressor (portable and usually in the way) and the hard line (run along the joists above). |
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copper for air lines?
Barry Jarrett wrote:
i need to rig some sort of air cooler/dryer for my compressor w/o spending a lot of money or taking a lot of space. i've seen some drawings of nice setups using iron pipe to cool the air and provide a drain for water. any reason i can't use hard wall copper pipe instead? max pressure is 150psi, which is about what the copper tubing in an espresso machine deals with. copper, for me, is much easier to work with, and means i can build something nifty, like a water-cooled condenser to pull the moisture out of the air system. --barry You can get a used commercial air dryer for about $200, so I wouldn't invest too much money in a homemade one. |
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copper for air lines?
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#10
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copper for air lines?
"Barry Jarrett" wrote in message ... i need to rig some sort of air cooler/dryer for my compressor w/o spending a lot of money or taking a lot of space. i've seen some drawings of nice setups using iron pipe to cool the air and provide a drain for water. any reason i can't use hard wall copper pipe instead? max pressure is 150psi, which is about what the copper tubing in an espresso machine deals with. copper, for me, is much easier to work with, and means i can build something nifty, like a water-cooled condenser to pull the moisture out of the air system. --barry Also mentioned elsewhere in the thread - soft copper coils work well for this. No need to go to the complication of putting coils inside water drums unless you really want to. I've used 12 feet of 1/4" soft copper coiled around a mandrel and streched slightly to drop scalding hot air to within ~15 degrees of ambient (was for a dedicated air bearing supply compressor). The output of the coil dropped into a tall/thin pressure tank with a drain valve. Still used a drier after the tank for good measure - megabucks if the robots rusted =). The only time the drier got any work to do was when the tank didn't get drained and water filled up to the output tap =). Could hold the coil in my hand (by the cool end...) StaticsJason |
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copper for air lines?
On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 04:47:12 GMT, "Statics"
wrote: Also mentioned elsewhere in the thread - soft copper coils work well for this. No need to go to the complication of putting coils inside water drums unless you really want to. no room for drums... no fridge... but i do have cold water, so i'm going to run a length of 3/4" copper air pipe through a length of 1" pipe (water jacket), which is hooked to the cold water line. instant condenser. |
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copper for air lines?
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