Copper pipe.. Advice?

cal93 · 9 May 2016 at 18:12

Basically I'm a plumber and always have 15mm pipe laying around in the van & recently I've been thinking about watercooling a build I'm going to do soon. I have buckets full of endfeed and compressed fittings. Just want some advice on what is the best parts to use such as the pump, reservoir & radiator . As you may see I'm a noob when it comes to watercooling but as I can build my own PC and a plumber I think it may be something i'd enjoy for my next build especially with the the new GPUs.

Cheers!

pastymuncher · 9 May 2016 at 18:56

12mm copper pipe would be good as you could use the 12mm fittings for hardline tubing and not mess around with adaptors to get down to G1/4" which is the standard thread size for fittings on watercooling components.

cal93 · 9 May 2016 at 19:23

pastymuncher said:
12mm copper pipe would be good as you could use the 12mm fittings for hardline tubing and not mess around with adaptors to get down to G1/4" which is the standard thread size for fittings on watercooling components.

oh okay cheers for that!

TerabyteMike · 10 May 2016 at 08:58

Can you get hold of any 12mm copper?

TerabyteMike · 10 May 2016 at 09:00

I'm in the process of getting the parts together for a copper build. I'm going to use 10mm microbore as that's the only size copper I can find fittings for.

TerabyteMike · 10 May 2016 at 09:02

Also I have found bitspower do a g1/4 to 15mm fitting

.:SAmSuNG:. · 10 May 2016 at 09:47

Pasty explained you can use hard line fittings with 12mm copper.

Cenedd · 10 May 2016 at 10:10

There's a good recent project using copper if that helps.
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18724556

Also older one here that may be of interest for straightening coils (if nothing else!):
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18690247

Baboonanza · 11 May 2016 at 08:34

I've used 12mm copper with EK-HDC fittings and it worked extremely well.

TerabyteMike · 11 May 2016 at 10:06

Baboonanza said:
I've used 12mm copper with EK-HDC fittings and it worked extremely well.

Where did you get the 12mm copper from?

Baboonanza · 11 May 2016 at 10:25

My local plumbing supply shop. Was literally the first place I tried.

TerabyteMike · 11 May 2016 at 14:08

Nice I might have look around

LePhuronn · 17 May 2016 at 22:31

plenty of places sell 12mm copper tube in coils relatively cheaply (such as our favourite auction site). And jump on Kwix UK for their awesome coiled tube straightener.

TerabyteMike · 17 May 2016 at 23:02

Ok cool cheers. Is that just 12mm microbore? I've had a look at that kwix tool. Do you know if it's any good?

LePhuronn · 17 May 2016 at 23:05

Not used the Kwix tool personally, but I've read very favourable comments in and around the ole interwebz on both computer mod blogs and plumbing forums.

I'm not too informed on the various copper pipe formats and treatments, so all I can say is hit up Google and see what comes up - you'll know better than I what's what

Cenedd · 18 May 2016 at 09:08

Read the 2nd link in post 8. The guy uses a Kwix to straighten coiled copper and says it really good.

Edit: Not intended to sound like I'm telling you to RTFM

Baboonanza · 18 May 2016 at 10:00

I have the Kwix tool and I like everything about it except the price!

pastymuncher · 18 May 2016 at 11:17

You can get lengths of 12mm copper pipe so I wouldn't buy coiled pipe and then pay for an expensive tool that will hardly be used. You can buy copper pipe in 2m lengths here.

Baboonanza · 18 May 2016 at 11:31

pastymuncher said:
You can get lengths of 12mm copper pipe so I wouldn't buy coiled pipe and then pay for an expensive tool that will hardly be used. You can buy copper pipe in 2m lengths here.

Nice, wish I'd found that before! All of the straight 12mm copper I could find was too hard for bending.

pastymuncher · 18 May 2016 at 13:41

I can borrow a proper pipe bender from my neighbour who is a plumber so I am ok.