A reader (thank you, Brandon!) wrote in about this new Dewalt compressed air piping system (DXCM024-0400), which is designed for installing surface-mounted air lines in a workshop environment.
Other brands offer kits similar to this one, such as Husky’s air compressor extension kit.
This Dewalt air plumbing kit has a larger tubing size – 3/4″ inner diameter, 1″ outer diameter – similar to other brands’ higher capacity kits.
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It comes with 100 feet of HDPE/aluminum tubing that can withstand up to 200 PSI of pressure at 73°F and 160 PSI at 140° F. The tubing can be cut to size with the included tool, and will hold its shape when bent. It can be bent around corners with a 6″ minimum radius.
The kit comes with an assortment of manifolds, tee fittings, elbow fittings, straight fittings, drain valves, and mounting brackets. It also comes with a tubing cutter and a deburring tool.
All of the fittings are compression-style, for an easy and tight leak-free fit.
Here’s a full list of what you get:
- 100′ 3/4″ tubing
- (3) aluminum outlet manifolds
- (1) 3/4″ x 3/4″ NPT straight fitting
- (3) 3/4″ x 1/2″ NPT straight fitting
- (3) 3/8″ NPT drain valves
- (2) 3/4″ x 3/4″ x 3/4″ tee fittings
- (2) 3/4″ x 3/4″ elbow fittings
- (20) Steel mounting brackets
- Tube cutter
- Deburring tool
Installation requires additional tools:
- 2 adjustable wrenches or pliers
- Permanent marker
- PTFE thread seal tape
- Pipe sealant
- (40) Fasteners for surface mounting (Must fit in 1/4″ Hole)
I would also add a stud finder to the list, at the least.
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Dewalt’s user manual also advises that users should NOT connect this kit directly to an air compressor., and that a 3/4″ NPT hydraulic hose (not included) needs to be used to help minimize vibration to the workshop’s air plumbing.
Perhaps Rapidair’s 3/4″ x 3′ air compressor jumper hose, which is rated at 200 PSI, might serve this purpose. (It’s available via Amazon and you can find similar products at other dealers as well.)
A high quality 3/4″ filter regulator is also recommended, with the manual emphasizing one must be used.
The wall clips (included) should be spaced 5′ apart.
The user manual also illustrates a typical layout that utilizes the full kit.
Using the included accessories, there’s an air supply line – which should be decoupled from the air compressor using a hydraulic hose to minimize vibrations – and also 3 supply branch lines, each with a drain and threaded port.
This is probably where the user manual’s recommendation for 1/2″ NPT male quick connect fittings come in.
Price: $219 and up
Discussion
In my opinion, there are 3 main benefits to air line plumbing kits like this: easier planning, easier installation, and easier expandability.
Although this new Dewalt kit does not look to do anything new or differently compared to other air line plumbing kits already on the market, it at least seems competitive. However, what if users want another supply line branch? What if they need additional compression fittings?
Users should be able to mix and match with other brands’ accessories and add-on components. Maybe?
It is my understanding that Dewalt’s air hoses, hose reels, and other similar air compressor accessories are licensed products, although this could be wrong or have changed. I cannot reliably pinpoint who their supplier might be for this kit, but maybe you’ll have better luck – let us know in the comments!
The reader that brought up this kit asked for my take on it, so here it is.
Home Depot’s $270 price is a bit higher than I’d want to pay, seeing as how competing systems are priced at $219. I’ll spend more for preferred colors, but $50 more for yellow tubing and black-finish hardware?
Shopping around, CPO has this kit for $219, matching the price of the Maxline kit on Amazon.
As mentioned, you’ll need more supplies than just this kit, such as a properly-rated jumper hose for your compressor connection, and a filtered regulator, plus some basic hand tools and whatever you might need for surface-mounting the tubing and branch lines. This is true for any brand’s piping kit.
I have not used such a setup myself yet, but I would. Kits like this are more trouble-free than having to research, source, and install properly-rated rigid tubing separately.
The Dewalt’s product listing and marketing information does not full educate potential customers as much as what I have seen from other brands’ products, which is fine, but I personally prefer a little more handholding with products like this.
The user manual fills in most of the gaps, but leaves a few questions, such as where to source additional accessories should system expansion be necessary.
Let’s say you mangle one of the fittings, can you source a replacement? Would the Maxline M8005 straight fitting with 3/4″ tubing compression socket and 1/2″ NPT Male thread do the trick?
What if you buy the Dewalt kit and need an additional length of hose? Can you buy just the hose, or do you need to buy a second kit?
I am familiar with air piping kits, but not enough to know whether different brands’ tubing and fittings work well with each other. I have seen “standards” differ in enough product categories where compatibility is not guaranteed.
The Dewalt could be a great product. Maybe it’s on-par with competing products, or perhaps better in some way, but I fail to discern any obvious advantages.
John
I like the idea of these kits but won’t buy a system with coiled tubing for two reasons.
1 – it will be impossible to get perfectly straight which will lead to low spots that will trap moisture over time.
1b – the wavy look of coiled piping that can’t be completely straightened would drive me nuts every time I saw it.
2 – availability of other parts to customize the system up front or modify it in the future concerns me.
King duck
I agree with you on the looks and problems of coiled pipe. I honestly couldn’t remember the price when I did my garage but it was in 2018 and I know it was cheaper than the rapid air kit then but I just did copper pipes the fittings are a lot cheaper and the pipe was close if not slightly cheaper.
Mopar4wd
These days copper would probably cost alot more then some thing like MAXAIR. When I was at the store the other day copper was like 40 bucks for a 10′ section decided to run my new outside waterline with PEX instead.
Birdog357
It’s actually easy to get it perfectly straight, and it stays straight. It’s Rapid Air, so getting more parts is trivial.
Mikedt
Oh man I learned that the hard way when I recently redid some plumbing with coiled PEX tubing. Never again.
Bruce
I’d got with whatever my local compressor shop recommended. Some no-name kit that someone stuck Dewalt on is a non-starter. Why would I risk compatibility? If my needs are big enough that I’m running fixed piping, then my needs are big enough that I’m going to expand in the future. With Dewalt just slapping their name on something, they can drop it at any time and they can just change systems, leaving you frustrated and possible having to spend the money twice.
Birdog357
It’s Rapid Air. It’s not a no name. They’ve been around for a long time. Very good system actually.
James P
I know this is an old thread, but these kits have recently gone on sale and according to HD’s inventory, selling pretty quick. So this might help someone who finds this thread like I did.
It is not Rapid Air. I contacted Rapid Air who denied it was made by them and stated that the product was different sized then what they produced. I already had the Dewalt system and so I bought a couple of fittings from the Rapid Air Maxline System, which is the most similar to this. The fittings are very different in construction,with different spacings of orings and different looking barbs between the orings. Even the orings are of different thickness. Though the ID’s, OD’s and etc. are within .020 of each other, I don’t think it is really relevant because the construction is so different.
Birdog357
That’s interesting since those are literally the same hand tools in the picture, that I used when we plumbed rapid air at work years ago. And all of the fittings look identical.
James P
Yes, they look identical on the outside. But not when you remove the nut.
James P
I put this in a separate comment in case the mods don’t like it and want to remove it. I believe these are from a chinese manufacturer. Here is a link on Amazon to their page for the same system with nickel fittings and black airline:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q88ZS1W
Birdog357
That’s a yellow and black RapidAir kit.
Stuart
Thanks!
It looks like it, but there could be other makers I’m not familiar with.
Barry Abbott
It IS a Yellow and Black Rapid Air. Friend of mine works at their plant in Auburdale, WI. Had a conversation a couple months back because he was telling me that DeWalt didn’t like the plastic clips, just like me.
Jerry
I can see.it appealing to the DeWalt faithful, and being a DW product, it becomes easy to find in box stores and should sell as DW is known for decent quality. RapidAir is a good product, and DW made a smart choice rebranding that as it is a known product and extra lines and fittings will be easy to get in the future. What little air line I have is used steel water pipe I got free from a plumber friend if I came and got it from his work site (yes, I’m cheap but it works and is universal as far as getting fittings and adapters). Installed before paint, and just painted over it, and its fairly unobtrusive with the brass couplers easy to spot.
One thing I will say is please don’t be tempted to use PVC pipe for an air line. It can get brittle with age and/or cold weather and if it breaks it can send shards that can put an eye out. Use proper air lines, metal pipe, PEX or even clamp an air hose to your wall instead of PVC. That stuff can be dangerous.
On a side note, is it just me, or has DeWalt seemed to really be expanding into air compressors lately? I recently needed a new co.press or for the shop, didn’t need an industrial 2 stage but wanted a good one with enough pressure to air up big truck tires, and wound up getting a DeWalt. Was as good of price for the size/features of any name brand I could find and was even USA made.
Paul C
Air lines are usually copper tubing or galvanized. The only trick is using anaerobic thread sealant or pipe dope to truly get no leaks. Why would anyone bother with anything else?
Kynar has advertised PVDF for years over ZpVC. PVC is a bad idea with pneumatic lines because if it fails it launches shrapnel and the schedule 40 stuff isn’t quite high enough pressure rating. PVDF has the ratings and doesn’t shatter but has the disadvantage that you can’t solvent weld. It has to be fusion spliced with a heater or compression fittings. PVDF comes in straight pieces like PVC but since it’s not as common you’d have to mail order.
Badger12345
I concur with this statement that most are copper or galvanized. These kits are attractive because they are cheap and fast. Not because they are safer, more durable, or longer lasting. I’m kind of old school and think like just do it right the first time. If you’re running a commercial garage then pipe it for safety and durability. If you’re a homeowner you don’t really need that much, so again just pipe it as it won’t cost much in material or labor. The other option is to string up a replaceable air hose.
fred
I can see the appeal of a flexible-modular compressed air conveyance system. It certainly sounds like it would be a fairly easy DIY install.
When I built my shop in the 1970’s I ran a ring of black iron pipe (schedule 80) around the shop and up into the garage. I took some care to provide some slope to “drip leg/drains) since I assumed that my desiccant dryer would not catch all the water. I placed take-off points around the shop – and over the years made some modifications to add some coil hoses and 2 hose reels. As cordless tools have come into play – I’ve probably run my 50-year old IR compressor less and less – but the system has held up well with just some normal TLC. Being in the plumbing/steamfitting business certainly helped with the installation.
We also had black iron air piping in our cabinet shop – but in our metal fabrication shop the air piping was welded aluminum.
Nathan
I bet they are offering this as part of a up coming set of garage storage and connection sollutions. I could see where you’d have their cabinet – then their new standing compressor – this kit – plumbed to 3 spots or so with a wall mounted hose reel somewhere. etc etc.
Irony – IMO pneumatic tools are slowing going away. but for some things they are hard to pass up . I expect to see a dewalt branded graco Hvlp setup one day.
anyway neat parts but as stated it’s rapid air and you can find it cheaper. If oyu need it.
IJK
not too far off with the paint sprayer idea. Graco already has a cordless flexvolt powered 390 PC airless, and a cordless dewalt 20v powered handheld airless.
fred
HVLP paint sprayers (like the Fuji unit that I use) are a different kettle of fish from the old paint siphon-fed sprayers and pressure pots that ran on higher pressure shop air. The motive force comes from a turbine – a bit more like a fan than an air compressor. I find them great for my home shop furniture finishing.
The other approach to spray painting is to use an airless system either self-contained – or using a separate HP pump, transmission hose and spray gun or wand
JERRY CARTER
I just put in the dewalt kit,I needed a fitting to connect to copper put so I went online found a site that sold it and extra manifolds and other parts,spent $80 bucks and now have 5 legs of air.
Elliott Moose
What was the website you went on to buy the extra fittings.
MM
When I plumbed shop air for my machine shop and my workshop I used copper and sweat fittings both times. I don’t know if things have changed now since those were several years ago but at the time copper was price competitive with these sorts of kits. And the thing I like about copper is that it’s very easy to get fittings for from any hardware store if you need to do repairs or expand.
My concern with this kit would be how to I get extra fittings if I happen to damage one or I need to run additional drops? With copper that couldn’t be easier. But I don’t think I can just drive over to Ace or Lowe’s or the farm co-op and pick up these kind of fittings, and it seems a bit ridiculous to have to buy a $200+ kit just for spare parts or to do a minor expansion to the system.
Matt K
My local farm and fleet Carrie’s fittings, and the price of copper tubing (and fittings) today makes it far more expensive to build a kit of this size. I priced it out. I had the rapid air setup at my last house, tried the dewalt kit at this house. Perfect for what I need. I used the 3 drops where I need the most air – sandblaster and two drops for where I use the impact the most. I also bought the rapid air plastic line kit to run several additional drops near the bay doors for airing up tires, workbenches for pneumatic tools and blow guns, etc…. I have 7 drops for about 1/4 the price of what I estimated copper tubing….
Brandon
Thanks Stuart – that was a quick response and write up! I’ve been debating about these type of kits for awhile, appreciate the thoughts from you and the community on the merit (or lack) of these kits. I’d only be going for it for the black and yellow match at this point.
Stuart
I don’t have one (yet?), but I find appeal in its flexibility (literally and figuratively) without having to deal with rigid pipes.
A lot of online forums are full of people talking about bad choices, such as using PVC that’s not rated for compressed air.
With these kits, you get a bit of design and configuration help, whereas you would have to design drains and source manifolds when going with a complete DIY setup.
Some people don’t like the cost or nature of coiled tubing, but I’m sure there are tips on how to work with it.
Josh R
I’ve been looking at options for home shop air plumbing for a few months. What’s the advantage of a system like this (or the lower-end rapid air systems with 1/2” pipe) over just running PEX?
James
Looks like this is just pex-al-pex anyway..so I’m wondering the same thing
James
Well maybe it’s a different material with similar properties. Seems that as long as you protect the pex from uv light (paint) it could be just as good.
Stuart
This stuff also needs to be protected from UV exposure.
Matt F
This is PEX-AL-PEX line. Pricing on the tubing itself branded as Maxline is mostly inline with commercially available line not listed for compressed air use.
The reason to use this stuff over the standard rapidair product is flow capacity. The standard RapidAir product is 3/8″ ID. The smallest Maxline is 1/2″ ID.
Mark
I bought a 1/2 inch Rapidair kit similar to this 7 years ago on Amazon and installed it in my garage. It has worked great ever since. Zero issues. I don’t have a huge compressor on it but it meets my needs.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015A11U2
If you have kids that need basketball and soccer balls filled, bike tires, or anything else like that it is great. Not too mention the ease of just plugging in an air tool close to my work area. Not something I would use in a commercial garage but for my general home use it is great.
If you do this take your time and plan out where the outlets will go and why.
Johann
For my (not professional in the least) needs, it’s hard to beat the efficiency of an overhead retractable hose reel. 50′ reaches all over the garage and out to the cars, add a female quick connect to it and you are good to go.
Staying yellow and black is easy as well
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079V7LSLB/
MM
Overhead or wall mounted reels are fantastic, but I don’t think they replace this product. A kit like this (or alternate methods with galvanized or copper pipe, etc,) is how you get air from the compressor to the retractable reel(s) and other drops in your workshop.
Johann
Good point, I just run a loose hose up to the reel since I keep my compressor on a cart in case I need to move it around.
Matt F
That is a rebadged RapidAir Maxline kit: https://www.rapidairproducts.com/maxline
The tubing is PEX-Aluminum-PEX originally intended for hydronic heating applications.
I’ve installed a ton of this stuff in the manufacturing setting with good results for the most part. We run monitored dry air for the most part, so moisture in the distribution system is not a issue and we don’t have to worry about sags in the runs. I will only use this stuff for hidden runs as it is hard to get straight for long distances. Exposed short vertical drops can be okay. I do like that it is pretty easy to modify as you can usually add new tee connections without pulling everything apart.
We have had some issues with quality of the NPT threads. I used Loctite 545 thread sealant, which totally eliminates all thread leaks and is vastly superiors to all other sealant approached as long as you don’t need to take things apart often. https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/us/en/product/thread-sealants/loctite_545.html
You also need to take care deburring the tube ID and not force bends too close to fittings as that can cause leaks.
Most people running Dewalt compressors would be well served by the 1/2″ ID Maxline, particularly if you can run a full loop to double capacity. That would have been a more obvious choice.
For 1/2″ ID line, my preference is to use 16mm OD SMC tubing and their push to connect fittings. The Unfit series are a gasketed fitting that work with most NPT fittings, so no sealant is needed.
https://www.smcusa.com/products/KQ2-Unifit-One-touch-Fitting-for-Metric-Size-Tube-Rc-G-NPT-NPTF-Connection-Thread-New-Series~87063
https://www.smcusa.com/products/KQ2-Unifit-One-touch-Fitting-for-Inch-Size-Tube-Rc-G-NPT-NPTF-Connection-Thread-New-Series~87065
Matt F
This is PEX-AL-PEX line. Pricing on the tubing itself branded as Maxline is mostly inline with commercially available line not listed for compressed air use.
The reason to use this stuff over the standard rapidair product is flow capacity. The standard RapidAir product is 3/8″ ID. The smallest Maxline is 1/2″ ID.
Comparison Here:
https://www.rapidairproducts.com/comparison-chart
Sean
I really appreciate the flexibility of a copped air line setup.
I moved to a new house and just cut out and modified the original system for the new garage.
Super easy to add on or change as needs require.
Finding now that I use more and more cordless tools versus air tools.
Matt the Hoople
Yellow seems like a really bad color to put on a shop wall where it will get all grungy. I vote for hard piping anyway.
Kurt
I did my shop in copper years ago and have never looked back.
Greg
I think this would be a good kit for someone trying to plumb their workshop etc and haven’t done anything like this before. The main benefit of these kits is the planning.
One of the places I work years ago was going to throw away or scrap about 750ft of odds and ends of SCH 40 304 Stainless 1″ pipe. I asked if I could have it and stashed it away till I built my shop. This was at the time that scrap metal was worthless even copper (today’s a different story).
I’ve now spent more money on the unions, fittings, and consumables for my tig welder to plumb it all out than I would have on a kit like this or anything. However I have an air system in place that will never cause any issues nor limit me. Granted if I had to buy all that stainless pipe it would cost a fortune now.
Some people go with boiler pipe but I really wouldn’t recommend it. Galvanized <= rated plastic piping kits <= copper <= stainless.