Acrylic Tube with Regular Compression Fittings

Kipz

Kipz

Kipz

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I am contemplating getting some tube that is slightly smaller than the EK 1/2 id and 3/4 od regular compression fittings. Now before you all just scream no at me, I've heard that it can be done if you use plumbers tape etc. I just wanted to know if anyone has tried this before or not? It would save me like £60 on fittings I already have.

My plan is to wrap some plumbers tape around the barb part of the fitting. Heat up the tube and then wiggle it over. I'd test it all for leaks out of the rig first.

Thoughts? :p
 
Would avoid doing this. If your loop is particularly complicated, you will end up spending more cash on throwing away deformed acrylic due to a non perfect seal on the barb. Also the compression wont form a seal for the coolant. Essentially the only thing forming a seal would be the PTFE which is not a great idea imo. In Acrylic fittings the seal is formed with sets of extra thick O-rings which press against the acrylic, in standard compression's the seal is formed due to the rubber stretching on the barb and the compression compressing it further down onto the barb. Since the Acrylic is obviously rigid, the compression fitting wont do much. Even Primochill compression fittings don't compress anything but an O-ring against the tubing.
 
Ash2097 said:
For the sake of £60 vs possibly ruining system parts with a leak I think you're mad. Could always sell your compression fittings to help pay towards them.
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I think you're probably right :o. I've already had my fair share of disaster leaks with my first "bleeding" attempt on a different system. Best not to have the same result.

What I have is a Asus VI Hero with an EK mosfet waterblock and a CPU block for the 4670k. I don't see much point in getting a block for my 670 as the blocks run at around £90 and spending about £150 could land me a 2nd card for sli so no overclocking would be needed.

The reason I want acrylic is because the gap between the cpu block and mosfet block is really close and without 90 degree fittings the tubing collapses. I also just think rigid acrylic looks super tidy in comparison.

I guess its time to order some new fittings and tubing lol.

Another question though, If I use normal tubing "behind the scenes" and acrylic only in the places you can see, will the difference in size create any serious flow problems or not?

Sorry for the huge confusing post but I apreciate the replies. Even if you are all calling me mad ;).

Edit: Just had a look at the Members Market FAQ and it says I need 1000 posts and 180 days. Looks like I'll be hanging onto them for a little while lol.
 
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Nah flow will be fine, as long as ID stays more or less the same. The fittings have a ID of 1/4" at the threaded point, which is smaller than any watercooling ID.

Make sure the acrylic you buy matches the ID and OD of the fittings, as it is the OD which is important for sealing the coolant in for acrylic tubing, rather than ID for rubber tubing (which seals on the barb).

EK smallest tubing for example is 10,12 for acrylic (what i ended up using, since it has the thinnest wall and so was the easiest to play with bending). While bitspower and primo use 10,13 like Bart_Hunt mentioned, so you wont get the EK tubing snugly fitting in the Primo or Bitspower fittings and using their bigger 10,13 tubing on EK hd 10,12 fittings will likely cut or tear the O-rings if it fits at all.

For connecting EK MOSFET block to EK CPU block, use a single 10mm extender to even the height of the fittings and a 90 degree rotary on each. Then you can connect them up with straight rubber or acrylic tubing. Alternatively you can skip the extender and rotary fittings and just bend the two 90 degrees and measure out the acrylic correctly before bending.
 
Avenged7Fold said:
Nah flow will be fine, as long as ID stays more or less the same. The fittings have a ID of 1/4" at the threaded point, which is smaller than any watercooling ID.

Make sure the acrylic you buy matches the ID and OD of the fittings, as it is the OD which is important for sealing the coolant in for acrylic tubing, rather than ID for rubber tubing (which seals on the barb).

EK smallest tubing for example is 10,12 for acrylic (what i ended up using, since it has the thinnest wall and so was the easiest to play with bending). While bitspower and primo use 10,13 like Bart_Hunt mentioned, so you wont get the EK tubing snugly fitting in the Primo or Bitspower fittings and using their bigger 10,13 tubing on EK hd 10,12 fittings will likely cut or tear the O-rings if it fits at all.

For connecting EK MOSFET block to EK CPU block, use a single 10mm extender to even the height of the fittings and a 90 degree rotary on each. Then you can connect them up with straight rubber or acrylic tubing. Alternatively you can skip the extender and rotary fittings and just bend the two 90 degrees and measure out the acrylic correctly before bending.
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All good points, cheers for your reply. Hadn't thought about the I/D for the threaded part of the fitting so all is good.

Managed to get hold of some EK HD 12mm I/D 16mm O/D tubing and some matching EK fittings to go with it. I like the look of fat tubing so all is good. Just hope I ordered enough.....
 
Uncle Petey said:
I'm planning to use that Ek 16/12 stuff in an upcoming build, so let us know how you get on :)
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Will do, I've used OCUK for years but don't know why I never fancied the forums. As soon as the Red/Black h440's or maybe now Corsair 450D's come in stock I'll probably post a build log on here.
 
Pictures when done!

EK hd fittings and acrylic is surprisingly easy to work with. Plan it right and you cant go wrong!

I have not used the thicker stuff, the 4mm wall of acrylic which would require heating and bending made me choose thinner tubing (10,12) to try out a build on. Might give the fatter stuff a go for a sturdier looking clean external radiator and reservoir build.

Did you get the silicon bending tube too?
 
Avenged7Fold said:
Did you get the silicon bending tube too?
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Still in the early stages of getting this done. Case needs to come in stock first but I will post when done.

I haven't got the tube yet. OCUK only have them in kits and its hard to find a 12mm one. Ebay has them but it's a 7mm I/D 12mm O/D hollow one for a few quid. Don't know if a hollow one would work well or not...
 
I bough that basic kit but I don't need the 12 mm bendimg tube, as I'm using 10/13 primochill.
Send me your address via trust and I'll send it to you Monday morning.
 
Bart_Hunt said:
I bough that basic kit but I don't need the 12 mm bendimg tube, as I'm using 10/13 primochill.
Send me your address via trust and I'll send it to you Monday morning.
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Just sent you a message now, I've not used the trust thing before so hope it all went through okay. Appreciate it :D.
 
Maybe, I don't remember really.
I checked both my email and msg box here and got nothing there.

Edit: sent you a msg instead, check your email box.
 
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what about plastic barbs and bond the acrylic to them? no fittings on tube needed then

just means once bonded the barbs will be pretty useless after but there cheap as chips..
 
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