Experimental Aircraft Association

Cincinnati, OH
Chartered since 1966
www.eaa174.org

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December, 2003

   Things That Go BRRRRRRR in the Night
   (A Workshop Compressed Air Distribution System)
   by Neil Hulin

One of the best investments I made when converting my two car garage to a workshop to build my Zenith Zodiac 601XL was to install a compressed air distribution system. I originally thought that it would be on the “nice to have” list but I quickly realized that the noise of the compressor and trailing air hoses did not make for a safe and pleasant work environment. The space that the 6.5HP/30 gallon compressor would take away from the workshop was also a consideration.

To build the Zodiac, my main air tools are a pneumatic rivet puller and an air powered drill. The drill uses about four cubic feet/minute (CFM) @ 90 psi and the riveter is around three CFM @ 25 to 40 psi. Since the riveter never works continuously the CFM rating is irrelevant. I only use one tool at a time so there was no need to calculate the total air requirements. My wife was skeptical about needing the riveter but after pulling a few rivets by hand she saw the error in her thinking.

If I was going to move the compressor out of the workshop I’d need some sort of plumbing and fixtures to get the air to the work area. I originally thought that I could run flexible 3/8” air hose and put a manifold on the end. I already had a 100-foot hose reel so I figured

that I’d need one or two outlet couplers near the worktable and one for the hose reel.  I decided that I needed to know more about air distribution systems so I did a simple web search that turned up hundreds of results.  Fortunately, near the top of the search

EAA – Talespinners – Chapter 174 is a 501(c)(3) exempt non-profit organization, whose principle objective is to provide educational assistance in the fabrication and restoration of classic and experimental aircraft. This newsletter is produced for the members of EAA Chapter 174 and the Cincinnati community to provide information on Chapter activities and to alert members of other potentially useful information. Any actions based on, or reproductions of information contained herein, are at the sole risk of the user. Any technical or regulatory information must be verified by the user. Neither the EAA and Chapter 174, nor the newsletter staff assume any responsibility for the correctness of the information contained herein.

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