<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Journal Article - BAD = IDEA!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was reading an article in he latest = PTG Journal, (March, 2004), when I identified a <U>major</U> hazardous no-no.  = The article is on page 25, "Finishing Pianos:  <U>The Jewels of the = Furniture World, Part 6.</U></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><U></U></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the article it recommends using PVC = pipe for plumbing your shop with compressed air to a stationary compressor.  = This is a subject that I had already been exploring, as I am intending on = plumbing my shop for compressed air with multiple tap points throughout the shop.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is the problem:  PVC is = designed for transporting non-flammable liquids, i.e. water, NOT compressed air or gasses.  Under pressure PVC becomes very rigid and non-flexible.  PVC plastic does not expand, it explodes!  In = such an event it shatters like glass sending flying shards in every = direction.  There have been mulitiple reports of serious injury resulting from = exploding PVC line being used for compressed air, including the relatively low, = (55-130 PSI) pressures generated by common shop compressors.  It is tempting to = use PVC because of it's cheapness, easy installation, and high resistance to corrosion.  Unfortunately it is not a wise solution.  Use = copper or steel pipe only, <U>not</U> PVC!!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The following links will take you to = credible data on why not to do this, (including OSHA data which forbids PVC for compressed air).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/LocalMirror/hib19880520.mht">h= ttp://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/LocalMirror/hib19880520.mht</A></FONT><= /DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/KeepSafe/HazAlerts/902.ahttp://wolfs= tone.halloweenhost.com/LocalMirror/hib19880520.mhtsp">http://www.lni.wa.g= ov/Safety/KeepSafe/HazAlerts/902.ahttp://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/Loca= lMirror/hib19880520.mhtsp</A><A href="http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/LocalMirror/hib19880520.mht"><= /A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/airpiping.shtml">http://www= .woodcentral.com/bparticles/airpiping.shtml</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Las Vegas, = NV</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>