Whether you’re a home or professional air compressor user, you’ll need a dependable air hose to get the most out of your air tools. TOP TIP: If you have to extend your reach to use an air tool, it’s always better to use a longer hose than an extension lead. Using an extension lead causes you air compressor to have voltage dropouts, eventually leading to a burnt out compressor. If you compressor has a good size motor, amp up the pressure and choose a larger hose I.D. You can always use an air regulator next to the tool to step down the pressure at the tool end.
On a compressed air distribution system, pressure losses greater than 3% are considered excessive, and a well-designed system having a steady rate of air flow is usually designed for not more than a 1% loss or 1 PSI for a 100 PSI system. Figures in the body of the chart above are pipe sizes recommended on a 100 PSI system to carry air with less than 1 PSI loss. If carrying 120 PSI pressure these sizes will carry slightly more air than shown, or pressure loss will be slightly less than 1 PSI. If carrying 80 PSI pressure these pipes will carry slightly less air at 1 PSI pressure loss than shown in the chart.
The required pipe size for an air compressor depends on two factors: the distance of the application and the volume of air being carried to the endpoint. Any Google search on how to calculate the correct compressed air pipe size will bring up links to charts that show the ratings of a system’s cfm. Regardless of the application at hand, it is important to know what size of piping your compressed air system needs to meet a given set of demands.
Choosing the best air hose for your industrial compressor system can feel challenging, with a plethora of options designed to fulfill different purposes. “Air hoses are measured by their internal diameter, and come in standard sizes of ¼”, ⅜” or ½” or metric sizes of 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm. Since higher ID correlates to higher air capacity, selecting your ideal air hose diameter requires an understanding of the CFM needs of your air tools. The material of which an air hose is made will affect its weight, performance, longevity, and flexibility, so it’s crucial to understand the differences in materials before making a decision to purchase a new hose.
You would choose a long hose to paint a vehicle in a large body shop, but a short compressed air hose for a fixed workstation requiring fewer movements. Choose the inside diameter sizing based on the length of the compressed air hose and on the air consumption of the pneumatic tool or equipment. The safest approach is to select a compressed air hose based on the fact that the flexible air hose will receive its air supply at the pressure of the compressed air system.
what size air compressor line Related Question:
What size pipe should I run for my air compressor?
A shear will require anywhere from 8 to 16 cfm at 90 psi through a half-inch pipe. If the pipe exceeds 100 feet in length, you will need a 3/4-inch pipe to accommodate the pressure and velocity of applications that exceed 15 cfm.
How do I know what size hose for my air compressor?
Air hoses are measured by their internal diameter (ID), and come in standard sizes of ¼”, ⅜” or ½” or metric sizes of 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm. Since higher ID correlates to higher air capacity, selecting your ideal air hose diameter requires an understanding of the CFM needs of your air tools.
What size air lines do I need?
The rule of thumb when picking your hose I.D is the higher the CFM requirement of your air tool, the larger the diameter hose you’ll need. Hand held tools such as spray guns and nailers tend to require 1-3 CFM and will work perfectly well with a 6mm hose.
Does the size of hose matter on an air compressor?
The greater the distance between the pneumatic tool and the air compressor, the greater the loss of air pressure. Always choose a hose length that balances maximum manoeuvrability for the pneumatic tool and as little pressure loss as possible.
What pipe is best for compressed air?
A great choice for compressed air piping is stainless steel because it is strong and resists corrosion. Like with copper, corrosion resistance in stainless steel piping produces a cleaner, more consistent stream of air.
How do you size an air pipe?
Generally accepted practice for sizing piping for pneumatic systems is to use a pressure drop of 10% of gage for nominal pipe sizes up to and including 1/2″, and 5% of gage for nominal pipe sizes of 3/4″ and larger.
Is 3/8 air hose big enough?
3/8 inch air hose is the standard size to use for the household or for other common purposes. It has an inner diameter of 3/8 inch and an outer diameter of 0.600 inch, which is enough to convey pressurized air to valves or other devices. 3/8 inch is also big enough for an impact wrench with a 1/2 inch size.
What’s better 3/8 or 1/4 air hose?
Many people choose 1/4-inch hose because it’s lighter than the 3/8-inch variety. It’s easier to roll up, carry around and store. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the price tag for 1/4-inch hose is lower than its 3/8-inch counterpart. A wider inside diameter, however, can also have benefits.
Are all air compressor hoses the same size?
Most hoses for air compressors range in size from 1/4″ to 1″ in diameter. You should be able to find which hose diameter is suitable by looking at your air compressor.
Can you use PEX for air compressor lines?
Q: Can I use PEX pipe for compressed air applications? A: No, PEX pipe is not intended for compressed air applications.
How does pipe diameter affect air pressure?
Because if the diameter of a pipe decreased, then the pressure in the pipeline will increase. As per Bernoulli’s theorem, pressure can be reduced when the area of conveyance is reduced. In the narrower pipe, the velocity can be high, and pressure can be higher.
Is it OK to use PVC for air compressor lines?
However, using PVC pipe in any compressed air application is extremely dangerous and NOT recommended by multiple associations and manufacturers. PVC piping is often used to transport liquids, mainly water, for multiple applications.
Can I use black pipe for air compressor lines?
Black pipe is the most commonly used pipe RECOMMENDED for compressed air systems. It is readily available, it is strong and durable and most people are familiar with how to install it. With all of the advantages black pipe provides, however, it will produce rust contamination that damages pneumatic tooling.
What can I use for air line in shop?
Use copper instead. It’s available at most hardware stores and home centers. Solder it using the same fittings as you would for water supply lines. If you don’t want to solder, use galvanized or black steel pipe.
How many CFM can a 3/8 air hose handle?
3/8″ = 4.5 to 5 cfm.
