home garage compressor: how many CFMs?

[Huw Powell]

> switching to thick-wall copper, and not
> having any further problems(steel pipe seems to be the ultimate, but
> requires regular maintenance, as the water vapor causes rust, and
> that's not good for the tools.  Copper naturally doesn't have that
> problem.

Speaking as someone who has had on more than a few occasions opened up
copper house plumbing and played with (and someone who has seen copper
building roofs...) copper *does* corrode.  In fact, that house copper
piping can have a pretty thick layer of oodge inside it.

There is another potential disadvantage to copper, if it is solderer
together, one we bring up to John next door at Carworks about once a
year or so.  In case of a fire, the solder could melt, and then what
heppens?  Your compressed air does a great job of fanning the flames,
and keeps going as long as the electricity (or belt...) holds out.

I used a bunch of 3/4" black pipe, not terribly expensive and fairly
easy to work with (except if you need to add threads at home - but Home
Depot does it for free...).  Anywhere I ran the pipe outside, I switched
to galvanized pipe and fittings.

Now as easy to modify and work on as copper would be, but all most
people would need is one or two runs of a nice manifold with outlets at
strategic points.

And while I am babbling... the hose reels you can get at Sears, etc.,
are very nice to have set up.  They keep your flexible hose neatly
housed, and let you cover a large area with your tools.  I have one on
the front of the building that will reach my entire parking lot,
although now that I mount my own tires, I don't seem to have as much
trouble with slow leaks...

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/