Bending question

fantasticCG · 19 Nov 2019 at 16:53

Hi guys

First time bending tubing.

What's a good method to measure tubing with 90 degree bends In?

Any good guides, or how have you guys done it?

Thanks

pastymuncher · 19 Nov 2019 at 19:13

I have the XSPC bending kit which has all the tools you will need apart from a heat gun which I already had anyway. After watching a couple of random videos on youtube I had a bash at my own. Messed up the first bend but took my time after that and got the others bang on. I tend to make the pipe a little longer than needed and then trim to size after bending. You waste a bit of extra pipe but it's better than doing it too short. Use lots of soapy water on the silicon bending insert so you can pull it out after bending. Since then I have picked up a Barrow mandrel set and hardline pro measuring kit from our MM so my next effort can be a little more complex if needed.

Smffy · 19 Nov 2019 at 23:17

pastymuncher said:
I have the XSPC bending kit which has all the tools you will need apart from a heat gun which I already had anyway. After watching a couple of random videos on youtube I had a bash at my own. Messed up the first bend but took my time after that and got the others bang on. I tend to make the pipe a little longer than needed and then trim to size after bending. You waste a bit of extra pipe but it's better than doing it too short. Use lots of soapy water on the silicon bending insert so you can pull it out after bending. Since then I have picked up a Barrow mandrel set and hardline pro measuring kit from our MM so my next effort can be a little more complex if needed.

I think personally the mandrel kits are so cheap it’s a no brainer, particularly for a novice.

main watch out to add also is that the inserts are often sold advertised incorrectly with metric/imperial conversion so make sure it fits snug in the tube.

tyler_jrb · 20 Nov 2019 at 15:01

fantasticCG said:
Hi guys

First time bending tubing.

What's a good method to measure tubing with 90 degree bends In?

Any good guides, or how have you guys done it?

Thanks

I used to either mark the silicone and insert it to the tube then bend on the line. Or I used to mark the tube itself with a pencil and then clean it off after bending.

Best way is to ensure you leave enough so you can cut it perfectly to length after bending. And use the above methods if you plan to make multiple bends in the same tube. All trial and error and learning how it bends and such.

The mandrel kits will help greatly with bending to the angles you require.

Also don’t use a hacksaw. Get the kid shown above by pasty. Much easier to cut and flat and square each time.

fantasticCG · 20 Nov 2019 at 22:11

Thanks guys for all the advice !

LePhuronn · 2 Dec 2019 at 13:58

tyler_jrb said:
Also don’t use a hacksaw. Get the kit shown above by pasty. Much easier to cut and flat and square each time.

Bear in mind that'll only work for PETG. If you're going acrylic tube then you can't use a pipe cutter. Junior hacksaw and mitre block is needed then.

tyler_jrb · 2 Dec 2019 at 16:17

LePhuronn said:
Bear in mind that'll only work for PETG. If you're going acrylic tube then you can't use a pipe cutter. Junior hacksaw and mitre block is needed then.

Of course yes, acrylic being very brittle wouldn't go well with a pipe cutter.

rebel rebel · 8 Dec 2019 at 21:48

Can you buy pre bent tubing?

I'm currently making my first water cooled system. I've ordered all the hardware, just need to sort out the water-cooling parts I need now. I had no idea you had to bend the tubing yourself!

LePhuronn · 8 Dec 2019 at 22:01

You can buy pre-bent brass and glass tubing, but acrylic and PETG are so trivial to bend there's little point in supplying it already done.

rebel rebel · 8 Dec 2019 at 22:11

LePhuronn said:
You can buy pre-bent brass and glass tubing, but acrylic and PETG are so trivial to bend there's little point in supplying it already done.

And is it advisable to use acrylic over glass? The acrylic remains clear and doesn't go cloudy over time?

LePhuronn · 8 Dec 2019 at 23:04

Acrylic stays clear, yes. PETG has problems with glycol-based coolants (i.e. every pre-mix) although Mayhems have a new range out which is PETG safe.

rebel rebel · 8 Dec 2019 at 23:56

LePhuronn said:
Acrylic stays clear, yes. PETG has problems with glycol-based coolants (i.e. every pre-mix) although Mayhems have a new range out which is PETG safe.

Ok thanks for your help. This is all vital information for a water-cooling beginner like myself.

Jay85 · 9 Dec 2019 at 08:32

LePhuronn said:
Acrylic stays clear, yes. PETG has problems with glycol-based coolants (i.e. every pre-mix) although Mayhems have a new range out which is PETG safe.

Is mayhems pastel safe with PETG? Im currently using pastel white and want to switch to hardline petg.

pastymuncher · 9 Dec 2019 at 08:52

Mayhems Pastel, X1, Ultra Pure H2o and Aurora are safe to use with just about any tubing, be it soft or hardline. I have been using X1 red for a couple of years with PETG hardline and the tubing is as clear now as it was the day I installed it. If you click on the product page for any of Mayhems fluids and click on the second picture to blow it up you will see a chart that lists which of Mayhems fluids can be used with different tubing/hardline. For example see here.

Jay85 · 9 Dec 2019 at 09:20

pastymuncher said:
Mayhems Pastel, X1, Ultra Pure H2o and Aurora are safe to use with just about any tubing, be it soft or hardline. I have been using X1 red for a couple of years with PETG hardline and the tubing is as clear now as it was the day I installed it. If you click on the product page for any of Mayhems fluids and click on the second picture to blow it up you will see a chart that lists which of Mayhems fluids can be used with different tubing/hardline. For example see here.

Thats a good bit of info that, thanks! I’ll be going with XSPC PETG, any issues with this particular brand of tubing? I know with soft tubing it can discolour over time dependant on fluid used.

LePhuronn · 9 Dec 2019 at 09:54

@Jay85 it's worth pinging Mayhems a shout just to be safe. I know they've launched a new product that explicitly states PETG safe, thereby suggesting that certain coolants of theirs weren't previously.

Jay85 · 9 Dec 2019 at 09:57

LePhuronn said:
@Jay85 it's worth pinging Mayhems a shout just to be safe. I know they've launched a new product that explicitly states PETG safe, thereby suggesting that certain coolants of theirs weren't previously.

I’ll give them a shout, don’t they have a rep here as well? Really dont wanna get my bends right only for them to go **** up with the fluid being incompatible... haha

LePhuronn · 9 Dec 2019 at 10:19

Mick the owner is the rep but he's a busy bunny right now so may not respond too quickly. The mad scientist is working

Jay85 · 9 Dec 2019 at 12:18

LePhuronn said:
Mick the owner is the rep but he's a busy bunny right now so may not respond too quickly. The mad scientist is working

I've dropped a post on mayhems development log on here, thanks @LePhuronn

LePhuronn · 9 Dec 2019 at 12:20