90 - Get the Most out of a Plunge Router, страница 38

90 - Get the Most out of a Plunge Router, страница 38

Shop

putting

Air Power to Work

in your shop

Upgrade the performance and versatility of your air compressor with a piping system.

Split-ring standoff mount works for walls or ceilings

Quick-disconnect fitting--"

It's only been a few years since 1 bought an air compressor for my shop. But since then, it's become a tool I can't do without. The only problem is it isn't easy to move a "portable" compressor around. For a long time, I left mine in one place and used long hoses. However, they always ended up in a tangled mess.

Fixed Piping. A solution is to run piping around the shop. This way, you can have an air hookup wherever you need one.

But there's more to plumbing your shop for compressed air than just going out to the home center and buying a bunch of pipe. It'll take some planning and a little "inside" information on just what to include to get the best results.

The Right Material. The first thing to think about is the type of piping to use. A stop in the plumbing aisle at your local

home center has a number of options — galvanized iron, black iron, and copper. (Don't bother being tempted by low-cost PVC. It's brittle and any break in a line under pressure will cause it to shatter.)

Copper Works Best. Of the suitable choices, my preference is copper for a number of reasons. First, it won't rust from any water in the line. Second, the smooth inside walls allows the air to flow freely for better efficiency. And vou'll discover the

3/4"-dia. copper pipe provides extra air capacity

Valve lets you unhook the compressor without losing air in the system

"Snubber" hose is a simple, vibration-free

connection to the piping

I

Riser connects compressor to main line so water can

run down and stay out of tools

IhopNotes No. 90

-Valve at bottom of riser allows you to easily drain water