Air Tool, What fittings and Hose Sizes are you guys using, Whats best?

[JOE.G]

Currently I am Running 3/8  Hose and  I/M Fittings ( 1/4 Inch I think ) On the 1 Inch impact I have a much larger fitting I am unsure what Size/style it is.

I use all of the basic tools,Rackets,Impacts,Grinders, sanders cut off wheels and so on. I don't have a sand blaster yet.

I Run a 80 Gal IR 2 Stage 175 PSI Max Compressor.

I have a bunch of I/M Fittings but would switch things over if it is worth it.

I Have head good things about V Style fittings.

If I was going to switch does anyone know of a kit that has a bunch of fittings in it instead of buying each one at a time. Thanks

[hardtailjohn]

I run 3/8" on my standard lines. I run a 1/2" line off the same tank (about the same setup as you have) and if I'm stretching out over one hose length (50') I use the 1/2" for the first leg.   do have a 1/4" "whip" line about 4' long that I use on some of my small air drills, for getting into tight spots too.
One of most important things in setting up an air system is to have enough distance between the compressor and the filter to let the temp of the air drop and the water begin to condense.  I taught painting for years and can't count how many times I saw someone with a good filter setup just a few feet or less from their compressor, and they wondered why the filter didn't do it's job.
I've bought fittings from Harbor Freight and had good luck with them, and they usually have pretty good prices.
John

[Al_Smith]

In my shop I have a 5 HP 2 stage set at 160 PSI dumping into two 60 gallon tanks .I usually only have one 60 on line but can tie into that second tank plus a 90 gallon if I need it .It's all homemade out of junk I picked up at auctions for next to nothing over the years .

I also have a 10 HP I haven't finished yet sitting on top of a 120 gallon tank .I think the compresser head is a Speedaire .About the size of a 4 cylinder Wisconsin engine .

The shop is plumbed with 1/2" black iron air lines and usually I use a 3/8" hose .Every air drop has a ball valve shut off with a ball valve blow down to get rid of the condensate that gets by the water trap .

I have an inground air lift with a 13.5 inch cylinder .It will lift a pickup truck on 60 PSI air .It has a Jeep sitting on it at the moment .

[JOE.G]

What fittings are you guys using?  How far away do you suggest putting the water filters and what not?

[Al_Smith]

Mine are all 1/4" .I have two blow down filter traps  right before it goes into the piping right after the tank .Spray painting I put a third trap right before the spray gun hose with  a regulator .

[DDDfarmer]

Most if not all the garages-home shops in the area use the " A " style fittings.  Makes it nice for borrowing tools.  Only need one hand to push onto a fitting.  Bulk packs can be bought at princess auto.

1/4"- 3/8" lines for most shops, of course the heavy equipment shops run larger.

[bill m]

My shop is plumbed with 3/4 inch. I have an overhead reel with 3/8 hose at the work bench and the outside reel has 50 feet of 1/2 inch flexzilla. Fittings are all I/M

[JOE.G]

Do you notice a difference between the 3/8 hose and the 1/2?

[bill m]

Yes, a big difference with my impact wrench. The 3/8 hose did not supply enough volume for it to work properly.

[Al_Smith]

Depends on the size of the impact .1/2" at 140 psi it probabley wouldn't but a big one 3/4" or 1"it would .

[bill m]

3/8 inch hose will flow about 42 scfm at 90 psig. 1/2 inch hose will flow about 75 scfm at 90 psig. Given the larger volume of air thru the 1/2 inch hose verse the 3/8 inch hose there will be less of a pressure drop at the tool with the larger hose. With my impact wrench I did notice a big difference in performance when I switched from 3/8 to 1/2 inch hose.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Not sure what style fittings I use.
My IR Thundergun recommends 90 PSI and works for most applications at that pressure.
Compressor is IR 5HP 80 gal. 3/8 h0se which  works pretty hard when sand blasting.

[JOE.G]

Man I was just about to order the 3/8 hose, now you got me thinking I should get the 1/2.

[tyb525]

When it comes to water lines and air lines, bigger is better, as long as the price difference isn't too much. ;)

[JOE.G]

There is a higher price, but I am just worried that the 1/2 hose will not be as easy to move around with and as flexible.

[Al_Smith]

Well like everything it's debatable .For example at 90 PSI the standard impact wrench uses 4 CFM,a 3/4" is 7 CFM .A paint sprayer probabley is the highest usage a person would normally run in a home shop and it's ran through a regulator .

When you talk numbers like 42 or 75 CFM that is a pretty large compressor and would be a huge amount of compressed air .FWIW a single stage 7.5 HP is rated some where around 17-18 CFM at 90 psi.

Now you can run a lot of air if you add storage ,like more tanks if you need them rather than invest in a larger compressor .Fact my father painted lot of cars using a 1HP Quincey single stage dumping into two 60 gallon tanks .Of course the compressor never shut off but it did keep up blowing paint out of a Binks number 7 gun .

[JOE.G]

I have a IR 2 Stage 5 HP 80 Gal Compressor, and I also have a smaller Craftsman 2 stage. I use the IR the most these day's. I plan on having a 50 Ft Run of hose, Right now I use 3/8 Hoses, but I need some new hoses.