Pipe gauge ??? for you plumbing boys

[DJ’s Timber]

Guys, been nearly 20yrs from my coppersmithing days when I used to build Hospiital Sterilizers.

Anyway, I want to install a an airline in my 2 sheds and I am thinking of using 3/4" tube for main line with 1/2" for the droplines.

Should I use 16# or 18#?

Also want to put a drain valve on the end of each drop line to keep the condensation to a minimum, was think of 3/8 ball valve, what do you reckon or is there a cheaper valve out there that would be up to the job?

Hopefully I won't get too much condensation in the line as I will be building a condenser for it as well.

So with all that in mind, what should I be expected to pay roughly for;

3/4" tube 16 or 18# hard drawn 6mt lengths
1/2" tube 16 or 18# hard drawn 6mt lengths
3/8" ball valves

Thanks for ya help

[bricks]

• $2.00 per fitting- nipples, tees, elbows,
• class b copper is what you need,
• 1/2 inch - $30 check with your local
• 3/4 inch - $45 supplier on these
• Brass ball valve $5.00

• Use 15% silver soder due to high stresses involved ( it's more flexible)
• run pipe at slight fall to drain end ideal 20mm/M, no less than 10mm/M
• Use gas thread tape and gas thread seal paste.

Prices vary from state to state quite a bit so you'll need to ring a plumbing supplier.d

[Black Ned]

So thats the reason we don't have enough hospitals!
D J - sterilized them 20 years ago!

[DJ’s Timber]

• $2.00 per fitting- nipples, tees, elbows,
• class b copper is what you need,
• 1/2 inch - $30 check with your local
• 3/4 inch - $45 supplier on these
• Brass ball valve $5.00

• Use 15% silver soder due to high stresses involved ( it's more flexible)
• run pipe at slight fall to drain end ideal 20mm/M, no less than 10mm/M
• Use gas thread tape and gas thread seal paste.

Prices vary from state to state quite a bit so you'll need to ring a plumbing supplier.d

Thanks bricks , that gives me a starting point, won't look like a complete dill when I walk in the plumbing supplies joint.

So thats the reason we don't have enough hospitals!
D J - sterilized them 20 years ago!

you're a funny man Linden, didn't build them quite that big, but did build one big enough to drive a couple of Mini's into .

[Vernonv]

Use gas thread tape and gas thread seal paste.

What's the difference between gas and "normal" thread tape?
I have both, the gas is yellow and the normal is pink (got to worry about you plumbers) or white, but other than colour they look pretty much the same.

[wonderplumb]

May I just add that off your main 3/4 run, take the 1/2 branches off the top and back down, this will eliminate NEARLY all condensation going down to the valve and still run the main line with slight fall with a tail pipe at the end. Dont use white tape, its rubbish. You can use either the pink or yellow stuff, the yellow stuff is formulated a little differently as hydrocarbon gases for some reason has a reaction to something in the tape which makes it harden and crack. As Bricks said type B copper tube is the way to go, I belive that 5% silver will do the job, compressed air wont out perform the solder and its around $12 cheaper PER STICK!!!!

$45 for a length of 3/4, man im driving to Adelaide to buy a sling!!!!
$45 is the absolute dirt cheapest you'd be lucky to find here as a plumber off the street and it will be the korean or chinese stuff. A mate of mine who works for a large construction mob says they buy it by the container from china in 12m lengths, at around $1 per metre for 3/4!!!!

[DJ’s Timber]

Cheers W/P, did have the drop lines coming off the top in mind, with the drain valve about a foot or so below the connection point. Also going to have the mainline looped so that it is endless.

Thanks for the explaining the differences on the tape too.

I do have quite a few rods of different grades so I have several choices and won't be needing to buy any, also have at least 50 rods of 56% silver solder, so could use that , at $19 to $21 a stick I don't think so I'll save that for the higher quality work .

[China]

Unless you you have the tubr already go for the plastic airline tube it's great stuff no soldering just conects with screw fittings drain valves atc all available to suit

[China]

Dj the product I refered to is MaXair, as I said if you don't already have tubing give this a look it's the best and simplest system I have ever used

[DJ’s Timber]

Cheers China, will have a look into it