Acrylic Tube - Inner diameter is to small

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jul 2015 at 12:43

I picked up 3 lengths of Monsoons 13/10 clear tube, and the inside seems to be measuring 9.4mm so I can't get my bending rubber through the middle. Is this tube defective? Wouldn't of thought it would be that much under sized..

Mayhems · 19 Jul 2015 at 14:09

There is no standard in hard tubing, you can pick up a Silicone rod from many places and just get a 9mm one.

Quartz · 19 Jul 2015 at 14:11

Aren't you supposed to put the tubing into boiling water to expand it so the bending rubber will fit and then the tubing will grip around it?

colinmcr · 19 Jul 2015 at 14:14

If its not overly big, I wet it slightly to allow it to go in. I have trouble pulling mine out when I done more than one bend.

(that sounds so wrong doesn't it)

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jul 2015 at 14:27

colinmcr said:
If its not overly big, I wet it slightly to allow it to go in. I have trouble pulling mine out when I done more than one bend.

(that sounds so wrong doesn't it)

Ha!

The ID of the tube is 9.4 and the OD of the bending rubber is 9.8. Any idea of any hardware stores that sell any 9mm silicone tube? OCUK and other places I use are now sold out. Really wanted to get my tubes done today.

fastboy · 19 Jul 2015 at 15:10

maybe try an auto spares shop see if you can pick up some silicone hosing?

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jul 2015 at 15:25

Had a look around and can't come across anything.

I've had a search and loads of people have this problem. Some people use sandpaper to reduce the diameter of the silicone, but might take a while to get 0.5mm off mine!

fastboy · 19 Jul 2015 at 15:37

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/motorfactors/@53.7214351,-1.6608966,10z/data=!3m1!4b1

i dont know where you live but try google for a motorfactors or something,and see if they stock vacuum hosing its pretty cheap.

colinmcr · 19 Jul 2015 at 16:46

Bryan Kortez said:
Ha!

The ID of the tube is 9.4 and the OD of the bending rubber is 9.8. Any idea of any hardware stores that sell any 9mm silicone tube? OCUK and other places I use are now sold out. Really wanted to get my tubes done today.

Yeah you can get the monsoon one coloured blue in stock, but technically I'm not allowed to tell you where.

However if you search "Monsoon Silicon Insert Blue" you will find it

Or type "Bending Cord For 12/10mm Tubing"

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jul 2015 at 17:18

Hopefully I'll be able to get one by Tuesday

Might have to buy a 90 degree mandrel, or make one as well.

Mayhems · 19 Jul 2015 at 21:31

check for silicone products on google you'll see them.

Bryan Kortez · 19 Jul 2015 at 22:08

Mayhems said:
check for silicone products on google you'll see them.

Yeah, I was hoping for something more in a local store so I don't have to wait on delivery again.

Bryan Kortez · 22 Jul 2015 at 15:15

So I managed to get some new silicone insert that fits. I have just measured the outside of the tube and it is 12.5mm dia.. Is this 100% ok and normal? The tube is mosoon hardline 10/13mm. I am using 13mm compression fittings too..

Akagi · 22 Jul 2015 at 15:20

Sounds a bit iffy to me... Acrylic tube shouldn't be that undersized should it? Surely it could cause various sizing issues when you try and pair it up to fittings and such?

Bryan Kortez · 22 Jul 2015 at 15:36

I thought the ID wouldn't matter to much, but the OD had to be true.

We will see if my system turns into a water feature when I test all my tube runs

Either way, its great practise if I have to get new tube and do it all again. Just done the first 2 bends in Project Bumble Bee, seems pretty easy so far.

Datass · 25 Jul 2015 at 11:26

I found there's always slight differences between different manufacturers tubing, better to buy everything from the same company - Insert/fitting/tubing.

Wish everyone could agree on a standard or at least be more specific in their measurements.

andybird123 · 25 Jul 2015 at 11:52

Acme said:
Sounds a bit iffy to me... Acrylic tube shouldn't be that undersized should it? Surely it could cause various sizing issues when you try and pair it up to fittings and such?

the inner diameter doesn't matter, as hard line fittings only grip the outside

Mayhems · 25 Jul 2015 at 13:44

There is normally a -/+ 0.1 to 0.5mm (take account there are 2 walls is could add upto -/+1mm on the internal diameter) tolerance when extruding tubing depending on who and were its made and all so the chemical make-up of the tube.

this is normal.

Bryan Kortez · 25 Jul 2015 at 23:17

Well it didn't leak after 24 hours of leak testing

just need to order some mayhems pastel yellow now