Why Fittings so expensive?!?!

[iamdarkbowser]

Is there such thing as a less expensive version if this: http://www.amazon.com/Rigid-Revolver-Compression-Fitting-Anodized/dp/B00IY16VBE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442551078&sr=8-2&keywords=F-RCDKBK3812-4

These are the cheapest fittings that i have seen for the PrimoChill hardline tubing.

[manikyath]

the reason they're expensive is because its not easy to make metal this shape, and its certainly not easy to get it to the tolerance required to guarantee leak-free.

 

i've studied metalworking for like 4 years, so i totally know this. (was forced into it, then decided to trade a hacksaw for a keyboard.)

[QueenDemetria]

Is there such thing as a less expensive version if this: http://www.amazon.com/Rigid-Revolver-Compression-Fitting-Anodized/dp/B00IY16VBE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442551078&sr=8-2&keywords=F-RCDKBK3812-4

Fittings are expensive since they look pretty, and in the case of compression fittings they probably "actually work"(compression fittings are the worst thing, I hate that they caught on). You could cheap out like I did:

[SonoDanshi]

If you need primochill fittings (which I will assume you do based on your previous thread) then that's as cheap as it gets. And quite honestly, if you are building a custom loop you need to scratch the thoughts of "cheap" or "low cost" from your mind, as water cooling is not even remotely a cheap option.

[JebKerman]

Fittings are expensive since they look pretty, and in the case of compression fittings they probably "actually work"(compression fittings are the worst thing, I hate that they caught on).

Why exactly? they're basically a barb fitting with a clamp already supplied.

[Virtual01]

If you need primochill fittings (which I will assume you do based on your previous thread) then that's as cheap as it gets. And quite honestly, if you are building a custom loop you need to scratch the thoughts of "cheap" or "low cost" from your mind, as water cooling is not even remotely a cheap option.

 

Pretty much. Water cooling, especially if you are cooling your whole system, is a luxury and carries a luxurious price tag. The whole thing will likely end up costing as much as your GPU.

[QueenDemetria]

Why exactly? they're basically a barb fitting with a clamp already supplied.

The 'nipple' is shorter, so if they aren't tightened good enough they come apart easier. They also cant be undone then redone, they leak badly if you do this.

[iamdarkyoshi]

The 'nipple' is shorter, so if they aren't tightened good enough they come apart easier. They also cant be undone then redone, they leak badly if you do this.

Hehe. Nipple.

[JebKerman]

The 'nipple' is shorter, so if they aren't tightened good enough they come apart easier. They also cant be undone then redone, they leak badly if you do this.

I see, so what do you clamp yours with? (if you do at all, I've heard it's optional but recommended)

[Enderman]

dont cheap out on watercooling components

 

You will regret it if some chinese crap fittings ruin your $2000 PC

[QueenDemetria]

I see, so what do you clamp yours with? (if you do at all, I've heard it's optional but recommended)

For some fittings I don't use any clamp since its on so tight(Like the gold one I pictured above, I ended up having to cut the hose off). I usually just use -these-(pictured below) since they are cheap and form follows function, but they work great.

[manikyath]

Pretty much. Water cooling, especially if you are cooling your whole system, is a luxury and carries a luxurious price tag. The whole thing will likely end up costing as much as your GPU.

not a really good metric if someone is watercooling a GT610.

 

but yeah, thats a rough ballpark.

[iamdarkyoshi]

For some fittings I don't use any clamp since its on so tight(Like the gold one I pictured above, I ended up having to cut the hose off). I usually just use -these-(pictured below) since they are cheap and form follows function, but they work great.

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Double-Gripping-Nylon-Clamps/dp/B007R52ZDQ/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1442552797&sr=8-13&keywords=nylon+clamp FAR better and actually cheaper. they look better too. My signatures build log has a derpy photo of my rig using them.

[QueenDemetria]

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Double-Gripping-Nylon-Clamps/dp/B007R52ZDQ/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1442552797&sr=8-13&keywords=nylon+clamp FAR better and actually cheaper. they look better too. My signatures build log has a derpy photo of my rig using them.

Plastic is icky

[iamdarkyoshi]

Plastic is icky

They work SO WELL though! I have a hard time removing them, and they clamped so hard that they made a good .742mm indent in the tubes. I measured with my calipers for some reason.

[SPAS-ID]

Hard to make

[manikyath]

i'll add a reference:

basicly, every fitting has to be made like this:

 

for mass production the process gets tweaked a bit, but the core ideas stay the same.

imagine that's making one hell of a big fitting.

[manikyath]

I was watching the video but not paying too much attention and around 0:20 I thought the operator got startled by the snap and backed off the cutter really quickly.

 

Then I realized there's no actual operator because it's not a manual lathe..

well... if i told you that 4 of those things presented made in an automated way to order can cost more than a hundred dollars...

 

i guess you can think of what a hand-milled one would cost.

[manikyath]

Yeah, stuffs expensive.

 

I've been watching Clickspring on Youtube lately. He's an amateur clock maker and machinist. Watching him do all that work on the lathe for a simple screw(which he needs multiple of) really makes all other stuff seem so quick and simple. Like seriously, I bet I could build a custom watercooled PC in the time he needs to make one screw.

well, that and the fact hand machining is quickly becoming a lost art, making people who are capable highly desired.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Those fittings cost cents (up to 2-3 dollars for the fanciest ones) to make (I know metalworking too, but you vastly underestimate product margins), but since they are pretty and are used only in exclusive use cases (where generally cost is an afterthought) they are super expensive.

Any argument otherwise is made ignorant of plumbing (specifically pex compression plumbing which is essentially the exact same idea as softline water cooling, in fact the temperature and pressure limits have to be much much higher for pex and yet those fittings are much much cheaper).

[OddsCrazyStuff]

Those fittings cost cents (up to 2-3 dollars for the fanciest ones) to make (I know metalworking too, but you vastly underestimate product margins), but since they are pretty and are used only in exclusive use cases (where generally cost is an afterthought) they are super expensive.

Any argument otherwise is made ignorant of plumbing (specifically pex compression plumbing which is essentially the exact same idea as softline water cooling, in fact the temperature and pressure limits have to be much much higher for pex and yet those fittings are much much cheaper).

You forgot shipping costs (higher for few units shipped), rubber (seals), paint and/or ingraving (logos). That plus the fact that water cooling is not mass produced in the same matter normal plumbing is, makes a hugh difference in price.

So its not really fair to compair the 2.

[Curufinwe_wins]

You forgot shipping costs (higher for few units shipped), rubber (seals), paint and/or ingraving (logos). That plus the fact that water cooling is not mass produced in the same matter normal plumbing is, makes a hugh difference in price.

So its not really fair to compair the 2.

Actually they are. In many cases on the exact same machinery.

Shipping costs? Are you kidding me? I'm sorry instead of 100 dollars for 10000 units to ship it's 10 dollars per 100 units. O dear me, what will I do with the ten cents per unit shipping...

Rubber is used in exactly the same way for brass compression in pex as it is for water cooling.

Paint, engraving... Jesus those two together cost five cents per unit max (.05 cents for the paint and 4.5 for the engraving, and that is only per unit machining cost). Literally.

It is perfectly fair to compare the two, and considering an overpriced pex compression fitting runs you around 5 dollars max, one MUST note how overpriced water cooling fittings are even if that's kinda just a fact of life.

[ThomasD]

Anyone who thinks water cooling parts are expensive should probably never buy a boat.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Of course, the biggest reason for the high prices is the low demand. And manufacturers know that people who buy them are already paying a lot of money for other parts.

More the latter than the former. But yes.

[OneRingRuler]

If you need primochill fittings (which I will assume you do based on your previous thread) then that's as cheap as it gets. And quite honestly, if you are building a custom loop you need to scratch the thoughts of "cheap" or "low cost" from your mind, as water cooling is not even remotely a cheap option.

This man hit the nail right on the head. If you are going to build a custom loop (and custom is ALWAYS expensive), you need to accept the fact that it will cost you AT LEAST $300, and since you want to build with hard line tube, you can add another $100, with the cost of a heat gun, tube bending kit (if you want to be certain of your bends), and getting extra tubing to account for the messed up bends that will inevitably happen.