Going from soft to hard

[Surfie]

Hi all,

Of course, I am referring to the tubes that I am using in my rig (not something else - you filthy minded people), where I am contemplating switching to bent hard tubing.

I know of the battle between PETG and Acrylic - that is not what this thread is about. I've already decided to use PETG *if* I go for it at all (unless someone can show good reason NOT to use it).

This thread is looking for peoples experiences with using clear PETG, the Monsoon compression fittings (The silver ones), and distilled/de-ionised water with Mayhems blood red dye (NON-PASTEL) & (maybe) Biocide. Particularly over the long-ish term (1 year plus would be nice). I am already aware of the PETG & Glycol problems - so i'm not looking for experience at all (i'm avoiding glycol for exactly this reason).

Also would be nice to hear tips for bending the tubes, and planning the runs (I have a heat gun already). Is the process similar for soft tubes, where you want as little tubing use as possible? Or is it something which can be made more of a feature while still looking good, due to its rigidity?

Cheers!

Surfie

P.S. Yes, this will result in a new build log, and a new build (i've already got a case picked out as well). Eventually.

 

[SuB]

Sorry I just had to open this thread and go "tee hee hee! Soft to hard"

 

[Excalabur50]

This might help with how to bend the tubes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRzypS4P9V8

 

[tinytomlogan]

Sorry I just had to open this thread and go "tee hee hee! Soft to hard"

Me too! hurrr hurrrr!

 

[Warchild]

B negative gave a great tutorial once on bending tubes. Might be on here, or perhaps a quick google search will find it.

Hes also a fan of PETG. But "maybe biocide"? If you arent using a premade coolant and making your own, im pretty sure that biocide is a necessity. like a silver kill coil etc.

 

[Surfie]

B negative gave a great tutorial once on bending tubes. Might be on here, or perhaps a quick google search will find it.

Interesting, a lot of what I read from B-Negative when I was doing my research was either "I reserve judgement, as I don't think it has been tested properly"... When did that change?

Hes also a fan of PETG. But "maybe biocide"? If you arent using a premade coolant and making your own, im pretty sure that biocide is a necessity. like a silver kill coil etc.

Well, the Monsoon fittings have silver barbs, which is why the biocide was a "maybe" item (acts like a silver kill coil).

TTL & Sub, glad you liked the title!!

 

[SuB]

Interesting, a lot of what I read from B-Negative when I was doing my research was either "I reserve judgement, as I don't think it has been tested properly"... When did that change?



Well, the Monsoon fittings have silver barbs, which is why the biocide was a "maybe" item (acts like a silver kill coil).

TTL & Sub, glad you liked the title!!

Are they actual silver, or chromed something else?

Personally I'd get whatever works with glycol mix and go with that, then use glycol premix. I've personally never once had any issues with any glycol based coolant, had some Feser One in a loop for something like 4-5 years without any need for maintenance, and it came out the same purple that it went in

 

[Surfie]

Are they actual silver, or chromed something else?

Personally I'd get whatever works with glycol mix and go with that, then use glycol premix. I've personally never once had any issues with any glycol based coolant, had some Feser One in a loop for something like 4-5 years without any need for maintenance, and it came out the same purple that it went in

According to https://www.pccasegear.com/products/29967/monsoon-hl-16-13mm-compression-fitting-chrome-6-pack it seems like it is actual silver.

I suppose that if I wanted to go the premix, then I probably *could* but the reports that i've read of acrylic snapping in peoples rigs kind of scares me off that as a material, whereas the reports of issues with PETG are much rarer (for some reason - i'm not sure if people just aren't reporting issues, or if the material (due to its flexibility) simply does not snap as often).

 

[SuB]

According to https://www.pccasegear.com/products/29967/monsoon-hl-16-13mm-compression-fitting-chrome-6-pack it seems like it is atual silver.

I suppose that if I wanted to go the premix, then I probably *could* but the reports that i've read of acrylic snapping in peoples rigs kind of scares me off that as a material, whereas the reports of issues with PETG are much rarer (for some reason - i'm not sure if people just aren't reporting issues, or if the material (due to its flexibility) simply does not snap as often).

Mine's running with tubing from e22 (which you apparently can't buy now, I went looking to give you a suggestion) using glycol based coolant, and while I don't go around bashing it, I've never noticed any degradation of the plastic, even after heating/cooling via bending.

I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) this issue mostly only occurs when you heat or flame polish the plastics and then get alcohols on them, if you go for straight runs and do your cuts slow, and only sand the edges to polish them, you shouldn't have any issues (again someone correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[Warchild]

I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) this issue mostly only occurs when you heat or flame polish the plastics and then get alcohols on them, if you go for straight runs and do your cuts slow, and only sand the edges to polish them, you shouldn't have any issues (again someone correct me if I'm wrong)

Sounds correct to me. a quick check on youtube will show how bad the cracks show when alcohol is introduced after giving edges a flamed finish.

 

[Surfie]

See now that is just frightening.

Why use acrylic and glycol based coolant, when that is the result? Or even a possible result?

 

[Surfie]

This might help with how to bend the tubes!

<snipped video url>

Thanks for the video link Excalabur50. This, in addition to the many, many other videos I had seen on the subject helped immensely.

You can see my first bends in the Redlight District Project, or - right here!

Tester:

First real bend:

 

[SuB]

nice, not bad at all for a first attempt. Keep going! practice makes perfect!

 

[Surfie]

Question: do hardline water cooling loops require as much maintenance as the soft tube ones?

I.E. will I need to do a complete teardown every 6-12 months and swap out the tubes?

 

[Warchild]

Question: do hardline water cooling loops require as much maintenance as the soft tube ones?

I.E. will I need to do a complete teardown every 6-12 months and swap out the tubes?

nope i never changed mine. coolant is nice to replace every 12mth or so though

 

[Surfie]

Thanks. Makes it more important to get it right first time then.... and I definitely haven't...