Acrylic tube flexibility question

The Artfull Bodger · 26 Mar 2017 at 11:43

Hi guys/girls, am looking to upgrade from flexy too hard tubing and was just wondering how much flex there was in acrylic tube - if any. I have searched the forums, with little luck, and apoligise if this has been answered before. I'm thinking of using monsoon ev2 compression fittings (16mm) with the least amount of rotary fittings visible. I understand with copper that with bends it allows a bit more flexibility in the pipe than using fittings so was wondering if, within reason, its the same here. What I'm concerned about, the fittings being fixed points is that to join them I will have to insert the tube at an angle and in doing so will fluff the o rings. Also any suggestions what rotarys will suit monsoon fittings the best (visually) - bitspower have the largest selection here but are expensive and often with just 1 in stock here. Many thanks in advance.

Glanza · 26 Mar 2017 at 12:00

Not much movement at all with hard tubing, All I can suggest is buy more lengths than you need as getting the bends right will take a few attempts.

Look into barrow fittings pretty much bitspower without the logo.

The Artfull Bodger · 26 Mar 2017 at 12:57

Glanza said:
Not much movement at all with hard tubing, All I can suggest is buy more lengths than you need as getting the bends right will take a few attempts.

Look into barrow fittings pretty much bitspower without the logo.

K thanks, will do.

Dempsey22 · 26 Mar 2017 at 19:00

Just make sure you chamfer the tubing and the orings will be okay. I bought 8 lengths of tubing for my build and only used 3 lol.

The Artfull Bodger · 26 Mar 2017 at 20:05

Dempsey22 said:
Just make sure you chamfer the tubing and the orings will be okay. I bought 8 lengths of tubing for my build and only used 3 lol.

Lol - better too much than not enough, will probably do the same tbh. Might get the new case first to try and visualise what fittings i will probably need always surprises me what the basket rises to at the end- i want a few spares but by going overboard can easily put £100 on the bill. Maybe get some pipe too and practice the warming up and bending, will make sure i chamfer the pipe well though, take my time, thanks.

paradigm · 27 Mar 2017 at 08:02

Just getting ready to do hardline for the first time here too, decided that 2 packs of the 4x90cm monsoon PETG would suffice, should be enough there for me to ruin before getting it right!

Scottland · 28 Mar 2017 at 20:54

I'm in the middle of my first go, had 3 1m lengths to start with and should have ordered more! Most of the runs were ok, but the smallest link between CPU and GPU (which is almost straight) took about 10 goes.

The Artfull Bodger · 28 Mar 2017 at 21:22

Scottland said:
I'm in the middle of my first go, had 3 1m lengths to start with and should have ordered more! Most of the runs were ok, but the smallest link between CPU and GPU (which is almost straight) took about 10 goes.

Yeah, think I'm going to order at least 8 lengths - if i keep it out of sunlight should last a while. I'm not one who likes to be beaten by something and have to see it through to the end. Would annoy me intensely if i ran out towards the end. Are you having to use rotary fittings to be able to connect them (putting pipe in and then attaching to block, rad e.t.c.) or you managing without?

Scottland · 28 Mar 2017 at 21:49

I am, it isn't always practical to just rely on bending the tube and is sometimes better to use a rotary or maybe even an extension.

Bending is relatively straightforward - but it definitely has a lead into curve and it gets easier with practice (and patience).

The Artfull Bodger · 28 Mar 2017 at 22:02

Makes sense, just trying to keep the cost down, but as you say, there is going to be a learning curve and I don't want to make it harder than it has to be first time round.