Is there a Plumber in the Room (how to hook up an air fitting??)
So- it's been a few years since I installed copper 1/2 lines deep deep inside the walls of my space - running all the way to my darkroom. I'm getting bored of using canned air. So now's come the time to hook up mr. compressor...! Has anyone done this in their space...? I'd imagine there'd be at least a FEW... any suggestions from transitioning from the copper to the compressor and a coiled hose fitting..? Any suggestion for guns at the darkroom end - ones that won't blow the neg clean out of the film holder?? Also - what about filters...? Suggestions? THX.
I use a tank of Nitrogen for my DR and have an ordinary welding guage on the tank. This transitions neatly to a standard fitting which I then use to pipe the nitrogen the 20 ft or so into my darkroom. I set the pressure on the tank at 10 psi and have a spring actuated nozzle on the end of the line. When I want nitrogen, I press the lever on the nozzle and get a burst of nitrogen directed just where I want it.
Nitrogen is more versatile than air! My one tank has lasted over a year, and refills are about $30. I own the tank and valves.
My compressor is in the basement, bolted to the floor. A flexible hose connects to the copper pipe which passes a few condensate drains on its way to the upstairs darkroom. I have installed a regulator and gauge in the DR, and reduce the pressure to 8 to 10 psi before terminating in an ionizing “blow gun” with an integral filter.
Remember that all air compressors (except the oil-less diaphragm models) will slightly contaminate the compressed air with oil. You must use some type of filter system at the air outlet in the DR.
I recently installed a Nitrogen tank, similar to the setup PE describes, for purging the Oxygen from chemistry. Now I find myself using Nitrogen more and more in place of air for cleaning negs. It has no moisture and is free of oil contamination. If I were building the DR again, I would probably eliminate the air supply in favor of the Nitrogen.
Wouldn't using a lot of nitrogen for cleaning in such a small space (my exposing room's pretty tiny) lead to any sort of issues with staying conscious...? Seems oxygen would make one much more energetic to print..!
That's why I was asking about the filter though... I need to use it for other stuff - not just photo stuff... so if anyone can help with the fitting info - that'd be awesome.
Sponsored Ad. (Subscribers to APUG
have the option to remove this ad.)
I don't know what the rules are in the US but in our factory copper is never used for compressed air. I don't know why but I was told it was not a good option many years ago. We use either iron with threaded joints or, for short runs, rubber hose specifically for air fittings. This is the most flexible approach for possible future modifications.
Well - I don't really have a choice. I'm not interested in two more years of work to rip out all the walls and wiring, etc just to change it to something better. It's what I have and I have to work with what I've got....
When I am back at work tomorrow I will ask why we don't use copper. It could just be that our system has too much pressure for copper. It may be fine for a lower pressure domestic application.
I don't know what the rules are in the US but in our factory copper is never used for compressed air. I don't know why but I was told it was not a good option many years ago. We use either iron with threaded joints or, for short runs, rubber hose specifically for air fittings. This is the most flexible approach for possible future modifications.
You are correct, the first thing that caught my eye was Copper and Compressed Air, steel/iron pipe yes, copper pipe no.
I purchased a very small air compressor and installed it just outside the darkroom door. I used a short length of rubber hose after the regulator and condensate filter to connect to a union that I sort of custom fitted (read jerryrigged) into a standard plastic wall plate. The coiled hose fits on the darkroom side of the plate and ends in a standard blow gun. Before deciding to go that route I contemplated running copper lines from a shop compressor at the other side of the basement. I am not a plumber but am unaware of any rules against using copper for air lines.
I am now concerned about the oil contamination. Does anyone know about the filter that resummerfield mentions?
Dan
Is there a Plumber in the Room (how to hook up an air fitting??) 
Linear Mode
