Changing to hardline any tips?
- Thread starter Snookums
- Start date
Buy extra tubes and if usin monsoon hardline make sure the tube and collars are clean and dry before gluing. I just pulled a tube right out of the collar yesterday made a mess on my jogging bottoms, so yeah I now have a uv blue wee stain.
Gluing? I wasn't aware you're supposed to glue them
As far as I am aware you shouldn't!
Check out these videos if you want some information on the basics of hard lining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaxWOjGzFvQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2yZsIzHYdg
Gluing? I wasn't aware you're supposed to glue them
You do if your using monsoon hardlock I think it's called. Sorry I should have said.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqr0OjY8a4 this is what I was talking about.
Warning do not watch if you suffer from motion sickness!!!
Warning do not watch if you suffer from motion sickness!!!
lol that's what it is, but either way it didn't help in my case.Gluing must be one of them overly safe peoples things.
You know, the ones that unplug the TV when they go to bed
I only went with hardlock because I already spent £60+ on fittings when I was using soft tube, with the conversion kit meant I wouldn't have a load of paperweights.
You don't need glue really. Compression fittings will hold them. Stronger than flexible tubing. Once tight they are rock solid anyway. No mini pump will blow them off. (Lol)
Other than that it's pretty easy. I take measurements then mark the silicone insert with a pencil. So you can get it exact, and bend exactly where you want. If your just doing 90s then they can easily be bent and cut to size.
Heat the tube until it starts to fall under its own weight. Put in bending guide and hold in place until cool. Lube with water, Insert, cut to size etc.
Cut it so it passes the internal o-ring as far as possible. Take your time with tiny cuts.
Other than that it's pretty easy. I take measurements then mark the silicone insert with a pencil. So you can get it exact, and bend exactly where you want. If your just doing 90s then they can easily be bent and cut to size.
Heat the tube until it starts to fall under its own weight. Put in bending guide and hold in place until cool. Lube with water, Insert, cut to size etc.
Cut it so it passes the internal o-ring as far as possible. Take your time with tiny cuts.
I've got 16mm EKHD fittings, you can barely pull them out with force so you don't need glue if you use something like that... From my bending (which I did entirely by hand with no guides) my tips are:
1. Make sure your bending insert fits nice and snug. If it is not, don't 'try and make do' it will be a futile waste of time... If it's way to tight and won't even fit sand it a little at a time and clean off dust thoroughly.
2. Lubricate it, olive oil works brilliantly - high boiling point etc. Don't use water, this will make life much easier...
3. Don't over heat it, it actually creates much smoother bends when it is not a floppy mess with a little resistance as you bend.
4. Use PETG tubing, that stuff is crazy tough and will not shatter (JayzTwoCents has a video hitting it with a hammer it won't break).
5. It will take you some time to get going, do not rush. Do not get annoyed the bend took you ages. Do step back and smile at that first perfect bend then crack on and recreate it.
6. Cool using an air fan, I held mine over the fan whilst I bent it as I found it very easy to fine tune my bend as it firmed.
7. Lubricate the fitting O-Ring with a little distilled water/fluid when fitting (literally moisten your finger and run it over) as it will be easier to fit and avoids damaging the seal.
8. Order some spare tubing, not only will you make a few mistakes as you've probably discovered stock is a bit hit and miss on hardline so having £10's worth of spares in your draw is not a bad idea.
Good luck!
1. Make sure your bending insert fits nice and snug. If it is not, don't 'try and make do' it will be a futile waste of time... If it's way to tight and won't even fit sand it a little at a time and clean off dust thoroughly.
2. Lubricate it, olive oil works brilliantly - high boiling point etc. Don't use water, this will make life much easier...
3. Don't over heat it, it actually creates much smoother bends when it is not a floppy mess with a little resistance as you bend.
4. Use PETG tubing, that stuff is crazy tough and will not shatter (JayzTwoCents has a video hitting it with a hammer it won't break).
5. It will take you some time to get going, do not rush. Do not get annoyed the bend took you ages. Do step back and smile at that first perfect bend then crack on and recreate it.
6. Cool using an air fan, I held mine over the fan whilst I bent it as I found it very easy to fine tune my bend as it firmed.
7. Lubricate the fitting O-Ring with a little distilled water/fluid when fitting (literally moisten your finger and run it over) as it will be easier to fit and avoids damaging the seal.
8. Order some spare tubing, not only will you make a few mistakes as you've probably discovered stock is a bit hit and miss on hardline so having £10's worth of spares in your draw is not a bad idea.
Good luck!
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