Hey, is there a right and wrong kind of tubing and connector?

yaggayagga Havn't you heard? ... New
edited April 2004 in Hardware
Just visited HomeDepot tonight and looked around whole store. In the pluming section I saw lots. Basically I was wondering what kind of tubing everyone uses and what should be used for best results, or doesn't it matter? The tubing types I saw were stainless steel reinforced (not clear), polyrilene (VERY HARD, not flexible, takes a lot to kink but kinks good once it starts), pvc reinforced (like steel web in cement) vinyl, regular vinyl (clearest and most flexible of the bunch. Should I just use vinyl or reinforced pvc vinyl? Also, is PSI a possible problem ever? These hoses were rated at between 40 and 50 psi max (labeled "low pressure only"). I think the brand of most of it was Watt.

Now second question, what type of fitting is best? There are barb type and compression type. I have never used compression type, but have used barb type. The barb type I have used is on garden hose replacement ends, I havn't had good leak proof luck with those, and I always sealed them and made them tight with metal clamps. Also, how do compression get put on? Do I just stick the hose in and screw it tight?

Comments

  • Nive11enNive11en Europe
    edited April 2004
    All tubing is good as long as it doesn't leak :p It's your choice - transparent looks best of course.
    There are two types of compression fittings. One where you just stick the hose in. The other where you stick it in and screw it in. The best one is where you just stick it in. Since the screw in compression fittings restrict waterflow because their inside diameter is smaller!
    The best tubing to get is ClearFlex or Tygon. Tygon is the elite - best! But it's also hella expensive (ClearFlex is almost as good and cheaper). Also ClearFlex or Tygon cannot be used with compression fittings. Though I think if you get a certain type of ClearFlex and a certain compression fitting they willl work together, just don't know which.
    Most comfortable of all is the stick it in compression fitting. It never leaks if you use the right size of tubing for the right size of compression fitting.
    Right now I'm using barb fittings, they are overally good but sometimes leak right after installation. If mine leak I just put some teflon tape on them, then put the tube on, and then use a ... umm I don't know how its called in english, but you can see it on my watercooling pictures, those things that you screw in on the barb to tighten up the tubing.

    Here's a few pics,
    Compression fitting - stick the hose in type:
    http://mcs.pc.pl/sklep_img/SM12P_big.jpg

    Compression fitting - stick it in and screw it in:
    http://mcs.pc.pl/sklep_img/SM9-12P_big.jpg

    Barb fitting:
    http://mcs.pc.pl/sklep_img/NK12P_38_big.jpg

    90 degree compression fitting - stick in type (very useful for GPU water blocks!):
    http://mcs.pc.pl/sklep_img/zlaczki/WT12_kat_big.jpg

    Those fittings on the images are made by an Italian producer called Camozzi - they are ultra high quality!
  • yaggayagga Havn't you heard? ... New
    edited April 2004
    clamp?
    Thank you
    What does the Clearflex and Tygon have that make it better? Just wondering because I don't like barb fittings and I want to know if they would make me change my mind.
    Compression would almost never leaks, right?
  • Nive11enNive11en Europe
    edited April 2004
    ya, clamp
  • yaggayagga Havn't you heard? ... New
    edited April 2004
    wow, that was fast, notice my edit above your post.
  • Nive11enNive11en Europe
    edited April 2004
    yagga wrote:
    What does the Clearflex and Tygon have that make it better? Just wondering because I don't like barb fittings and I want to know if they would make me change my mind.
    Compression would almost never leaks, right?
    When you bend a hose, after a certain angle it, (again im missing the right english word) it *breaks* - starts restricting airflow.

    Clearflex and Tygon don't *break* as easily as other tubing. Tygon is the best, because it's hard to *break* it. ClearFlex is almost as good as Tygon. Other tubing *breaks* much more easily.
  • ZuntarZuntar North Carolina Icrontian
    edited April 2004
    Nive11en wrote:
    When you bend a hose, after a certain angle it, (again I'm missing the right English word) it *breaks* - starts restricting airflow.

    Clearflex and Tygon don't *break* as easily as other tubing. Tygon is the best, because it's hard to *break* it. ClearFlex is almost as good as Tygon. Other tubing *breaks* much more easily.

    The word you are looking for is "kink". ;)

    In three of the pics that you posted the fitting that you are referring to, in semiconductor manufacturing, is called a press-to-lock. They are great as a quick disconnect for air lines, but I wouldn't trust them in a computer because they can leak as they get older. They use a soft rubber to seal and are not good at high pressure.

    A true compression fitting will crimp (squeeze) the tubing and form a seal at the chamfered (angled) face(also called a ferrule). This does not restrict waterflow because their inside diameter is smaller, because the inside diameter reduction is really minimal.

    What I am saying is you are best to use compression fittings with rigid tubing such as most poly/vinyl types, or use hosebarbs with softer tubing like tygon. Tygon can be better in that it is softer and more flexible, it won't "kink" as easy. Both types will work fine, it is just preference and cost. Just make sure you use the right size tubing for whatever fitting you use, tighten the clamp or compression nut and you shouldn't have leaks.
  • Nive11enNive11en Europe
    edited April 2004
    ya, kink - Thanks
  • yaggayagga Havn't you heard? ... New
    edited April 2004
    So what exactly are you saying Zunter? Are you saying that that the compression type fitting without the screw-on head is worst than the compression fitting with just a hole? I want the best, that is why I am asking.

    Also, does anybody have any idea what the psi will be in the tubes if say, someone had a pump rated at 300-400gph?
  • Nive11enNive11en Europe
    edited April 2004
    The compression fitting without the screw on is better than the one with screw. The one with the screw restricts airflow a bit more. Why restrict it even minimally when you don't have to.
    But personall I'd go for ClearFlex and barb fittings :)
  • yaggayagga Havn't you heard? ... New
    edited April 2004
    Anyone got (quessing) odds of leaking when comparing compression and barb?
  • MackanzMackanz
    edited April 2004
    yagga, with quality tubing, you dont need to be worried about leak at all. The tubings flexibility don't die if there's a mix of silicone in it (as Tygon and Clearflex). When you put on the tubing over the barbed fittings, it will be so tight you don't even need hoseclamps. If the fittings are cone-formed (which most are, but straights are also available), you will be even more secured. In fact, it's a bitch to take the tubing off actually. Use 1/2 inch (inner diameter, ID) barbed fittings and make sure the blocks have the threads at the same size so that you won't strangle the waterflow. Personally, i'd use Eheims own tubing. It's cheap, green and of fantastic quality.

    Eheim pump
    Swiftech waterblock with 1/2 inch ID
    Procore radiator or a Black Ice extreme (both have 1/2 inch ID fittings) + 120mm fan and a shroud
    Ehem tubing, about 3 feet
    A "T" fitting for the homemade "reservoir"
    Threadtejp (or whatever you call it) The white silicon tejp that you use on the threads of the plumbing stuff

    That's it. Can't get much better.
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