Running Air from shop to garage

[lml999]

Folks,

I have an air compressor in my basement shop. I will be using it occasionally in the shop for finish carpentry work...

I'd like to have access to air in the garage, mostly for filling tires and running an occasional air tool. Right now for the latter I'm using a cordless impact wrench, which, when the batteries are happy, works fine. Sometimes the batteries aren't happy... I use this wrench both in the garage for summer/winter tire/wheel changover and at autocross events, swapping street tires for race tires. Twice a year I swap four sets of tire/wheels.

Anyway, I need some advice on running air lines. There seem to be lots of options - black pipe, copper, purpose-built aluminum piping with fittings, even flexible hose. I'd prefer something both tidy and easy to work with...the piping with slip-on fittings is attractive...

The garage is adjacent to the shop, at ground level. I've got passthrough access via the garage sill. The garage is technically part of the house, not standalone, so it probably will stay above freezing in the winter. (We bought the house in June, so we're still learning...)

It's a two car garage and I'd like to outfit it properly, once. That having been said, I'm unlikely to add a lift or do significant mechanical work in the garage...as cars get more complex and I get older, I'm leaving more work to my mechanic...

So, I'd like advice on what kind of hose/piping to run and where... One outlet on each side wall and one or two at the front of the garage? One overhead hose on a retractable reel?

While I'm not looking to build a Garage Mahal, I am a car guy and would like to have a tidy mancave (carcave?). Future enhancements include some cabinet storage on the back wall, a small workbench, and probably a RaceDeck floor. Small stereo receiver and a pair of Boston Acoustics outdoor speakers (best upgrade to our old garage, after suffering with a portable radio for many years!).

At some point I'll need to replace the two garage doors...they're original to the house and are a bit ratty. I've replaced the openers with new belt drive Chamberlains. (Found that my opener activated our new neighbor's door too, that was pretty interesting! They had just moved in and thought the house was haunted...) I've already had a water faucet installed so that I can wash cars year round.

Comments, advice, BTDTs appreciated.

 

[velvetfoot]

Sort of related, but I got a retractable hose reel from Harbor Freight that's worked out great.
http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-retractable-hose-reel-62344.html

 

[Highbeam]

Black iron or copper. Don't get too excited about multiple outlets for air. That's why air hoses are more than 6' long.

 

[peakbagger]

One thing to consider is the dew point of the air. Unless you have an air dryer (rare for a home) when the air line goes into a cold space, the moisture in the air will condense and eventually freeze. In an industrial operation we always ran an air dryer at the central plant so we didn't need to insulate the air lines running between buildings. There are desiccant type throw away driers but for most folks they wont service them.so they become useless quickly.

 

[greg13]

It may make more sense to buy a small compressor for the shop and move the larger one to the garage. A small one for finish nailers can be had for under $100.

 

[rwhite]

I have an alltrade twin tank that I think ran me $129. It's going on 10 years. I've built 2 barns with it and use it often. A bit loud but it works great. You can run an air nailer about 10 shots before it kicks on. 2-3 lug nuts and it kicks on. Cheap and effective.

 

[SlyFerret]

I ran flexible air hose through conduit from my compressor in the garage into my wife's art studio. Works just fine. I should note that I put an air tank in the studio end so that we don't have to pull air all the air from the tank in the garage. Tools work a lot better when they can get the necessary pressure and velocity.

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

 

[Knots]

After reading a lot about all the pluses and minuses, I decided to go with black pipe. My system will probably be in place for at least a couple of decades. I worry a little about a pressure-cycling fatigue failure with some of the other materials. Maybe unfounded, but I'll sleep better and it's fairly cheap.