PVC air line

Gunner · 2004-02-05T05:04:56+00:00

Today I got a call from one of my A List customers to come in andreplace some air lines. So I went in to check out the project.The entire shop had been plumbed in Sched 40 pvc..about 500 ft of it,most at least 14' off the floor. It blew out yesterday about quittingtime. No visible shrapnel, but the shock was such that itcatastrophicly disassembled itself in at least 5 seperate areas breakingbranch lines loose, drains sagging and broken..the normal.The plastic was brittle. Cutting a chunk with a PVC cutter simply causedit to snap to pieces rather than cut. Looks like compressor oil damage.All of it had been hung with plumbers strap, and no signs of abrasionwere noted. Im unable to tell where the plumbing failed first, but nowhere was there any possibliity of it being struck.So for the next few day$, Ill be hanging off a forklift and a reallyshitty ladder installing all new 3/4" black pipe, area drains, sandblaster runs, a number of CNC machines, etc etc.A good reason not to run PVC pipe.GunnerThe two highest achievements of the human mind are the twin concepts of"loyalty" and "duty." Whenever these twin concepts fall into disrepute -- get out of there fast! Youmay possibly save yourself, but it is too late to save that society. It is doomed. " LazarusLong

Feb 05, 2004 41 Replies

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gradstdnt 22 years ago

I've posted this in the past as well. Almost every compressor I've ever seen has a copper tube that connects the compressor head to the tank. On top of that, most all quality two stage compressors have finned copper tube intercoolers between stages.

Theories of variation in presure causing work hardening of copper to me sounds like real nonsense.

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Mark Rand 22 years ago

I was under the impression that AC lines run under higher pressure than most shop air lines as well. Makes you think, doesn't it?

Mark Rand RTFM

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