Hard Tubing

[Jigz1988]

Im thinking of doing a full custom watercooling loop. Ive been looking into tubing and i have seen soft tubing and hard tubing. On most websites the hard tubing description says 'expert users only' or something of the same meaning. Is it really that hard? Should i not bother with the hard tubing? What do people recommend?

[kwljunky]

Im thinking of doing a full custom watercooling loop. Ive been looking into tubing and i have seen soft tubing and hard tubing. On most websites the hard tubing description says 'expert users only' or something of the same meaning. Is it really that hard? Should i not bother with the hard tubing? What do people recommend?

I think linus said he was about to do a video on hard tubing. Maybe look at a few video tutorials and see if it's your cup of tea?

[Toddwjp]

with hard tubing you have to bend the tubes your self using a torch. and you have to be pretty accurate. soft tubing is just cut to length. so id say go with soft tubing.

[Oshino Shinobu]

If it's your first time, definitely go with soft tubing. I just finished mine and I got a taste of what it would be like to use hard tubing when I had a very tight fit for a short run. 

 

It's also more expensive most of the time as you're going to need different tools and fittings to get the angles right, and will likely mess up a fair few of the bends and lengths. 

[79wjd]

Screw hard (acrylic) tubing, go with chrome/copper tubing

 

Anyway, hard tubing can be a bitch since there will be a lot of tight fits requiring PERFECT cuts and perfect bends. 

[Trik'Stari]

I've never done hard tubing before, but I can honestly say that if I had a heat gun, the components, and the tubing, it would probably be relatively easy to do. Just trial and error I would think.

 

Get that little silicon insert that prevents kinking and plenty of spare tubing and it shouldn't be that difficult.

[Jigz1988]

Ok thanks for your help guys!

[SuperPug]

Go check out singularitycomputers on youtube... he's somewhat of a pioneer when it comes to hardtubing. It's not the easiest thing to do but it should be feasible even for a beginner. Keep in mind that you're gonna need a heatgun tho.

[Guest Philosophy]

Go with soft if it is your first or even Second time. I love the look of hard tubing (oh god, no homo). Go with soft in my opinion I have done 3 custom loops won't go near hard hard tubing.

[Enderman]

A lot more chance of leaks with hard tubing. Especially for a novice.

I recommend doing a soft tubing loop first, and getting experience by watching singularitycomputers on youtube.

Then when you are confident making soft tubing loops, maybe try to move to hard tubing.

Keep in mind you can also use fittings instead of bending tubing when going with hard acrylic tubing. This may make it easier.

[Tagiau]

with hard tubing you have to bend the tubes your self using a torch. and you have to be pretty accurate. soft tubing is just cut to length. so id say go with soft tubing if you want to later swap to hard tubing you can try it. its not that expensive as you wont need any fittings etc

Going from soft tubing to acrylic means you don't need new fittings? Since when did this become a thing?

[Toddwjp]

Going from soft tubing to acrylic means you don't need new fittings? Since when did this become a thing?

if you buy the same gauge its possible with just a few cheap adapters

[Tagiau]

if you buy the same gauge its possible

This if for soft tubing http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21350/ex-tub-2046/Monsoon_Chain_Gun_Compression_Fitting_-_38ID_x_58OD_-_Single_Red_CGF-3858-1-RD.html?tl=g30c569s1762

This is for acrylic http://www.frozencpu.com/products/25257/ex-tub-3392/Alphacool_G14_HT_HardTube_Compression_Fitting_13mm_OD_-_Black_17189.html?tl=g30c703#blank

 

A fitting that works on soft tubing will not work on acrylic. 

 

That is also a fancy compression fitting from monsoon, but it shows what I am talking about. 

[Toddwjp]

This if for soft tubing http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21350/ex-tub-2046/Monsoon_Chain_Gun_Compression_Fitting_-_38ID_x_58OD_-_Single_Red_CGF-3858-1-RD.html?tl=g30c569s1762

This is for acrylic http://www.frozencpu.com/products/25257/ex-tub-3392/Alphacool_G14_HT_HardTube_Compression_Fitting_13mm_OD_-_Black_17189.html?tl=g30c703#blank

 

A fitting that works on soft tubing will not work on acrylic. 

 

That is also a fancy compression fitting from monsoon, but it shows what I am talking about.

if you use hard-line tubing fittings you can put a soft tubing adapter into it with the soft tubing on. should have been more clear. so yeah you cant use the same fitting ill edit above

[Tagiau]

if you use hard-line tubing fittings you can put a soft tubing adapter into it with the soft tubing on. should have been more clear. so yeah you cant use the same fitting ill edit above

A primochill coupler. Allows you to use a compression/barb fitting and then connects that to a hardline push/compression fitting. Basically it is just something that has 2 female g1/4 threads. 

[Toddwjp]

A primochill coupler. Allows you to use a compression/barb fitting and then connects that to a hardline push/compression fitting. Basically it is just something that has 2 female g1/4 threads.

basically what i meant, i just couldn't remember the name of them

[GhostHitWall]

I think the most important thing is what case and tube routing you want.  If your hard-line only involves 90 degree bend or single bend per tube.  It is very easy, even slightly free bend would look good.
 

If you work in a very small case, you either need a lot of fittings or need to do tight bends sit next to each other.  This will be hard.  What I meant by hard is that in my case, a two neck to neck 90 degree took me at least 5 attempts.

[Maxwit44]

I think the most important thing is what case and tube routing you want.  If your hard-line only involves 90 degree bend or single bend per tube.  It is very easy, even slightly free bend would look good.

 

If you work in a very small case, you either need a lot of fittings or need to do tight bends sit next to each other.  This will be hard.  What I meant by hard is that in my case, a two neck to neck 90 degree took me at least 5 attempts.

 

Second this ^^^^^  I have quite a few bends in my loops that have multiple 90s in it. It's hard to do right, but you can do it. Measure, remeasure, and measure again. And don't be in a rush to do it. If you want look good, do it in stages, couple bends and take a break. Trust me Been there, Done my latest build in one night, wasted sooooooooooooooooooooo much tubing. But it's cheaper than buying 100's of fittings and not bending.

[Jigz1988]

I think the most important thing is what case and tube routing you want.  If your hard-line only involves 90 degree bend or single bend per tube.  It is very easy, even slightly free bend would look good.

 

If you work in a very small case, you either need a lot of fittings or need to do tight bends sit next to each other.  This will be hard.  What I meant by hard is that in my case, a two neck to neck 90 degree took me at least 5 attempts.

So a case like the haf stacker 945 would be easy(ish) for hard tubing?

[GhostHitWall]

So a case like the haf stacker 945 would be easy(ish) for hard tubing?

It's gonna be easy, for some tubing at the rad box, you can just use soft since they don't show to reduce the amount of work.

Generally, the bigger the easier.