Tube Questionaire
 

I'm going to be setting a water cooling system and I would (of course) like to show it off a little when I get it. I plan on getting uv lights and adding a tiny bit of glowing liquid. I want the tubing to be very clear so bubbles, liquid, and glow is very visible. Most people use silicon tubing as far as I know because the vinyl stuff can kink and (hardens after time?). Otherwise I was thinking of teflon but never heard anything about it as far as people using it for watercooling. Here is a website where all types are listed for ordering : http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/cat...ittings&Page=1 .

Anyone have suggestions for clear, quality tubing that won't kink or harden?

All your questions answered in this article by Una.
UNA's hose comparison

silicone

Brad's right, it's SiliconE not Silicon.. ;) And after finally getting some, I will never recommend vinyl again. :)

ok, who was the fool that voted vinyl?

Ok.. yes.. silicone w/ an "E" .. I just had a brain fart. :D
Anyway.. thanks so far guys.. if anyone has pics of using uv light w/ silicone.. that would be cool. For everyone else, keep listing suggestions.
Thanks!

The Una hose comparison that xerka posted has a pic of differences in black light.

Edward

For whoever posted other.. what kind of tubing do you use?

I would strongly urge you to use silicone, it shows up very well under the black light (esp with green dye-lite) if you are worried about swankness :D However the physical properties of silicone are so much more superoir to vinyl it's deffiniatly worth the rather steep price. Heat resistance, elasticity, elastic memory (will not harden or deform) and a much smaller bend radius (especially for 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD) will make setting up much easier and far less painless than with the cheapo Home Depot vinyl.

wtf teflon?... im not in need of any bulletproof hoses =)

and as for the other (i didnt vote it) but i have used Latex before.. it is alot like silicone, but alot more flexible. and you would want 1/8" walls on it

Unless I fry my system with my vinyl, I'm going to stay with it. I love the fact that it is transparent.

The only thing is that when it gets really warm, you begin to wonder how well it will keep a hold on a barb. Kinda scary thinking about it. Oh well, no guts, no glory.


-Ice-

I've been using 3/8ID 1/2OD pvc hose for the last year. No leaks or any other problems at all, apart from discoloration - the hose is a funky brown color, but still as flexible as the day I put it in.

icel0rd: I recommend using sprung steel hose clips on all barbed fittings. This gets a good firm grip on the barbs, with minimal chance for leaking. This goes for people using silicone hose as well.

ice, you will fry it when it melts

melvyn, thats cause it's corroding, don't leave it too long before replacement

I'm using polyethylene, it's not very flexable but we run some nasty chemicals throught it at work and have no problems. I've been running my watercool setup for two weeks to make sure I don't have any problems with leaks. I'm going to install it this weekend.

What about polyurethane (? didnt remember the english word for it)..? Or steel-braided hoses just like those used in cars ?
Teflon is OK but $very$ expensive.

steel braided is good, but somewhat inflexible

I use vinly braded 1/2 hose, its kinda ugly so I put a blue web over it that is used to protect shafts and such after they are machined.

here is a pic.

http://www.borderbuyer.com/fixittt/inter/intercooler2

that blue web looks ultra cool, I've seen it before quite a bit in industrial use, never thought of it for use in our systems

I came across it in the machine shop before I was laid off. and I knew I had to have some. I am trying to go with a silver and blue color scheem (sp)

when I get around to cutting up the fron of the case for more air flow, I have a blue scrotch brite pad covering the fron of my res which will be visable when I get done.

yeah blue and silver would have to be my fav colour combo too hehe. you should paint some more stuff blue though