I bought a Rapid Air Maxline kit at Northern Tool today to run air around my shop. I took it home and promptly went into analysis paralysis. Where should I put the drops? How high (or low)? Should I buy more line and T fittings so I can run it around the entire shop or are 3 drops enough? Would it be stupid to run a line up and over and down the lift column?
I've been using a small portable compressor and a 20 year old rubber air hose for the past year, so you'd think I'd just put some damn lines up..
Anybody have any wisdom to share, things you've done/wish you'd done differently?
My last shop I got stuck in that mode for a while. Ended up going overboard: put too many drops, low point drains I didn't ever drain, etc. Ended up just using one hose reel like 80% of the time.
Current shop, I went too far the other direction. Have an 80gal compressor that I haven't even hooked up, and have to go to the house where I have a compressor in the attached garage for air when I need it. Which is also silly.
So, I don't guess I have specific advice beyond maybe what you already said? Just throw some damned lines up! Haha.
I have one connection on my lift post (geographical middle of the garage), one right by the work bench (outside wall), and one between the two garage doors in case I need to run air outside. I got two 25' hoses, and they've gotten me anywhere I need to be. The lines run down from the upstairs (where the compressor is), to a pressure regulator by the workbench, which is where the drop is, then up and around to the other locations.
I am about to add another drop, since I got the CNC machine... That should have it's own drop, but I've been using one of the rubber hoses for it since last year.
Other than hard-plumbing the CNC, I'm completely happy with this layout.
I think the two of you have covered the probable outcomes. I wanted to put a drop near the outside door to run a hose outside, and if I do that, I need more line (have to run around the shop or up and over the trusses). So.. I ordered another 100' kit which will give me more Ts and drops. It'll probably all be wretched overkill that I'll never use, but I'm moving forward. Gonna run the first tees and sections of line tomorrow.
When I set-up our motorcycle dealership, I put a drop at each work bench, a reel by the garage door and a reel in the center of the workspace overhead. In my last building, everything was mounted overhead on a beam(air and electric). I'm my current shop, because of the layout, I have storage against most of the walls, so currently I have electrical reels mounted on the ceiling and once my lasy @ss gets to plumbing the compressor, they will be overhead as well as by both garage doors. It's just what I've found the most convenient.
Oh, and don't forget to grab the Milton V-Type connectors. They're amazing compared to the parts-store M-Types.
I switched to these and have been pleased:
Another vote for one by the door, it's really convenient. I have a reel there, a reel above my workbench near the lift and two drops: one for the laser engraver, one for the bead blaster.
While we're on the topic: there a preferred brand for "quality" hose reel?
Mine are from Harbor Freight and are probably a decade old by this point. I have to trim off the last few inches every couple of years as they crack, but most of the time they're rolled up and protected from damage and tight bends so the body of the hose is in good shape. I have one 25' and one 50'.
In reply to Spearfishin :
These are the exact ones I've bought back in 2015. Although they look a lot dirtier now :)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MBKH8Y/
I'm not sure I get the purpose of the reel mounted up high. Isn't it going to end up down on the floor anyway? I do like the idea of a retractable reel near the lift though..
In reply to Kendall Frederick :
In my case, the reel in the pic is out of the way and easily accessible from the workbench. If it was at floor level, I'd have to crouch down every time to reach it. There was no room to put it waist high at that end of the shop because I had workbenches everywhere. Having it hang from the ceiling also means it's out of the way when retracted, which is the whole point of a reel.
The one at my door is about waist high, but it wasn't as good a picture of the reel :) Functionally, it's not really any different to use.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Yes, I like the waist high version. May do that. Thanks for the pics!
On the beam are 2 electrical outlet reels, one air reel and a lift clamp/strap. Over by the garage door is another smaller air reel. I truly don't like dragging 20-30' of hose across the floor every day.
Don't mind the mess.
For hose reels you can also add one if these
Masterforce Air Hose Reel Swivel Mount $14.99 at Menards. That way it can move towards the area of use. Also adding a bit of hose to let any moisture in the line condense at a lower area could be helpful.
Lotus, I like your setup where you can slide it back and forth, that looks handy. I did a beam with a chain hoist in mine, but since it's 14' up I think I'll leave it to picking things up.
MyMiatas, I think a lot of the ones you hang on the wall swivel already. (?) That one looks well made and cheap, which is not a common thing. :-)
The drops for this kit feature a drain at the bottom of every drop, which I like.
I finally got out to my garage, here's my solution to hanging the hose on my lift-post connector... I made this little sheet metal shape and it let's me wrap the hose around it. I don't want a retractable reel here, as it would be in a common walk through.
Dunno if it helps you, but it works fine for me :)
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
Looks like it works well! I see you're also using a 45 degree connector for the quick release. I looked for those locally, didn't find any; I need to order some.
In reply to Kendall Frederick :
Yessir, they work swell.
Also, I didn't specifically call it out above, but since my airline comes down by the bench to the pressure regulator, I got a water trap/regulator, so when I open my drains at the at least once every 6 months or so, I rarely get more than a single drop of water there.
I never did take any good pics but I ran the stuff all around the shop, ~150 feet of line all in all. 7 drops including one next to the main rollup door. It holds pressure at least 24 hours without much discernible loss, and I'm happy with the results! Thanks to all for the ideas and input. Some of the line and drops shown here.
