Tubing comparison?

[virtualrain]

Is anyone here aware of any tubing comparisons?

I'm interested in comparing a variety of tubing... MasterKleer, Tygon, others (?), with different wall thicknesses with an emphasis on bend radius and resistance to kinking. I know there are stats for all of this, but I'm curious if anyone has done any actual comparisons with photos, etc.

If not, perhaps I'll buy a variety of different tubing and do a review.

UPDATE: Posted a review here... http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=157370

[nibble]

Is anyone here aware of any tubing comparisons?

I'm interested in comparing a variety of tubing... MasterKleer, Tygon, others (?), with different wall thicknesses with an emphasis on bend radius and resistance to kinking. I know there are stats for all of this, but I'm curious if anyone has done any actual comparisons with photos, etc.

If not, perhaps I'll buy a variety of different tubing and do a review.

That'd be interesting, I'm not aware of anybody that has done that before. It would be interesting to see is Tygon 3063 worth it, me thinks not.

[lowfat]

If you decide to do a test make sure you add some Primoflex silicon tubing. for 1/2 ID 5/8OD tubing people underestimate it IMO, it has a great bend radius.

[quiet]

didn't Thermochill do one, or was that just with different Tygon?

[virtualrain]

If you decide to do a test make sure you add some Primoflex silicon tubing. for 1/2 ID 5/8OD tubing people underestimate it IMO, it has a great bend radius.

Where can I get the Primoflex?

[Grinch]

Where can I get the Primoflex?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=292&zenid=3ad469287070ef29252513f75a7a8841

[serialk11r]

Mcmaster has a GIGANTIC selection of tubes, happy ordering :) Usually its about 2 dollars a foot or something, Masterkleer stuff is going to be cheaper. Get 1 foot of like all the non-exotic tubes and test them out. That would be great.

[virtualrain]

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=292&zenid=3ad469287070ef29252513f75a7a8841

Yeah, I saw that, but they don't have any 1/2" ID 5/8" OD that lowfat was suggesting.

I'll check out McMaster.

[lowfat]

Yeah, I saw that, but they don't have any 1/2" ID 5/8" OD that lowfat was suggesting.

I'll check out McMaster.

Sorry i think i made a mistake. I meant 1/2 ID 3/4 OD.

[virtualrain]

Here's what I'm proposing to compare (commonly used by water coolers):

Tygon 3603:
- 3/8" ID 1/2" OD
- 7/16" ID 5/8" OD
- 7/16" ID 11/16" OD
- 1/2" ID 5/8" OD
- 1/2" ID 11/16" OD
- 1/2" ID 3/4" OD
- 10mm ID 14mm OD

Tygon R3400
- 3/8" ID 1/2" OD
- 7/16" ID 9/16" OD
- 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

Tygon R1000
- 1/2" ID 5/8" OD
- 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

Durelene PVC
- 3/8" ID 1/2" OD

Primoflex Colored Tubing (Silicone)
- 3/8" ID 1/2" OD
- 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

MasterKleer
- 7/16" ID 5/8" OD

I either have this or can get it all at Sidewinder except the Primoflex which I can get from PPC's (also need to do an order with them anyway). Is there anything else that someone wants to see reviewed?

BTW, I'm evaluating the 3/8" tubing for my secondary loop which may or may not interest others here.

[serialk11r]

Those are all PVC, I was hoping for a wider selection :p: I was thinking something along the lines of, PVC, PUR, PUR/PVC blend, silicone, beverage (coated) PVC, PTFE (telfon), polypropylene (great bend radius, just not clear :P). :D

[virtualrain]

Those are all PVC, I was hoping for a wider selection :p: I was thinking something along the lines of, PVC, PUR, PUR/PVC blend, silicone, beverage (coated) PVC, PTFE (telfon), polypropylene (great bend radius, just not clear :P). :D

If you can narrow it down to a few different tubes and quote me some part #'s so I'm not spending hours on the Mcmaster site, I'll include them as well. The better the bend radius, the better.

[migueld]

BTW, I'm evaluating the 3/8" tubing for my secondary loop which may or may not interest others here.

It may be beyond the scope of your intended review, but it'd be nice if you tested for performance differences. Those considering a slim second loop may want to use 3/8" and it'd be nice to see from your testing how viable that'd be (XS-wise ;) ).

Regarding 3/8 I'd also like to know how well the tubing behaves with compression fittings, if it'll twist or if the walls are too thich/thin etc, that'd be great if you can address it.

You mention you'll look for bend radius and resistance to kinking. Can I suggest you also add stiffness? I have some home depot 3/8 tubing which is nice at bend radius and resistance to kinking but it's extremely stubborn, it exerts force on the blocks, it's stubborn to take out from fittings etc, it seems no where as soft as the tygon tubing which has a more manageable consistency. I'm not sure if I'm describing this correctly, but I guess it has to do with the trade off between bend radius & kinking resistance versus stiffness.

[serialk11r]

The problem is people here for some reason don't give a crap about how good the tubes are, they just care how clear it is...I'm one of them :D

[MetalZone]

Tygon R3603
- 1/2" ID 5/8" OD

^Seriously, don't bother with this. Absolutely crap bend radius. 1/16" tubing wall for 1/2" ID is way too thin and soft.

[ColonelCain]

7/16" ID, 5/8" OD

Does this have good bend radius?

[virtualrain]

Ok, thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely look at stiffness, clarity, and I'll even switch my CPU bench loop over to 3/8" tubing for comparison purposes but I suspect the variability in remounting the block will account for more temperature difference than the 3/8" vs. 7/16" ID.

[virtualrain]

Tygon R3603
- 1/2" ID 5/8" OD

^Seriously, don't bother with this. Absolutely crap bend radius. 1/16" tubing wall for 1/2" ID is way too thin and soft.

Thanks. I might eliminate some of the other 1/2" tubing as well. Is anyone using full 1/2" ID 3/4" OD tubing these days? It seems most have switched to 7/16" ID... correct?

[serialk11r]

Thanks. I might eliminate some of the other 1/2" tubing as well. Is anyone using full 1/2" ID 3/4" OD tubing these days? It seems most have switched to 7/16" ID... correct?

Actually no, 1/32" walls are just too thin to make any bends.

[virtualrain]

Actually no, 1/32" walls are just too thin to make any bends.

Yeah, I realize that... I'll stick to my list minus anything with walls that are obviously way too thin.

[MotF Bane]

Anybody ever used Nalgene tubing? 7/16" ID, 1/8" wall.

[IanY]

Thanks. I might eliminate some of the other 1/2" tubing as well. Is anyone using full 1/2" ID 3/4" OD tubing these days? It seems most have switched to 7/16" ID... correct?

Wrong. I absolutely use 1/2" ID 3/4" O/D. I strongly dislike 7/16" ID tubing.

It would be wrong to eliminate 1/2" ID tubing just because its not "fashionable."

[Robump]

That would be great, i really need to know which 1/2" tube to buy, im thinking tygon.

Rob

[ranker]

Wrong. I absolutely use 1/2" ID 3/4" O/D. I strongly dislike 7/16" ID tubing.

It would be wrong to eliminate 1/2" ID tubing just because its not "fashionable."

Don't even start on Iany's Tie-Dye shirts either...:D

I still use 1/2" ID on most things as I've grown tired of the amount of thumb blisters and soreness of my fingers in removing and attaching 7/16" ID tubing.

[Jedda]

How will you test or evaluate?
Guess it's limited without a method for durometer testing or do we rely on the manufacturers claim for that?
It'd be good to come up with a set procedure that others could match too. There must be local alternatives that some would like an objective comparison of, without sending tubing round the world to you.
If your test procedure could be duplicated easily, others could contribute and leverage the value of your own effort.

[virtualrain]

As I said above, I retracted my statement aboud not including 1/2" tubing... I will definitely include a cross section of it as well.

As for testing methods... I'm certainly open to suggestions. Obviously putting the tubing in a circle and seeing how tight a radius it can do to verify bend radius will be part of the test. I also want to look at how the tube bends in two planes and actually try it on a couple of tight bends on a typical motherboard (i.e. NB to CPU or something rediculous like that). Can take photos for clarity. Not sure what else. A lot of it will have to be subjective I suspect.

[SparkyJJO]

This would be interesting.

Considering the masterkleer is so cheap unless there is something better for the price or if it is definitely a lot better than the masterkleer to warrant the higher price then I imagine I'll stick with it. I can't justify spending 6x the cost on Tygon for instance when the bend radius is about the same. My masterkleer came crystal clear too (but it and tygon both cloud up eventually anyway so it doesn't matter much).

[2k7zero]

Could guys provide a picture comparing 1/2" and 7/16" tubing size next to a midtower case?

[Jedda]

How are you placed for barbs?
Connections come into the choice to a degree.
How hard is it to fit to a DD Hi Flow or an EK Hi Flow or AquaXtreme etc It would be hard to get objective results on that but even your opinion is informative for those buying sight unseen, which is often the case.
See what suggestions for methodology come in.

[MetalZone]

Thanks. I might eliminate some of the other 1/2" tubing as well. Is anyone using full 1/2" ID 3/4" OD tubing these days? It seems most have switched to 7/16" ID... correct?
Wrong. I absolutely use 1/2" ID 3/4" O/D.

I'm with IanY. I still prefer my Tygon R3603 1/2" ID 3/4" OD over anything else.

[virtualrain]

How are you placed for barbs?
Connections come into the choice to a degree.
How hard is it to fit to a DD Hi Flow or an EK Hi Flow or AquaXtreme etc It would be hard to get objective results on that but even your opinion is informative for those buying sight unseen, which is often the case.
See what suggestions for methodology come in.

Like most people around here, I've got a healthy selection of barbs! :)

... EK, DD, Swifty metal, Swifty plastic, and Koolance Compression all in 3/8 and 1/2".

That will definitely be a good part of it... how easily does it go on and off and what kind of seal does it make.

[virtualrain]

Good news, Gary at Sidwinder Computers (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/) has offered to sponsor this evaluation by providing me almost everything on my list.

[Snyxxx]

Virtualrain,

You might want to also consider 3/8" ID and 5/8" OD Primoflex. This what I used recently for some really tight crazy bends. Not sure if the 1/16" wall thickness would have made it.

[virtualrain]

Virtualrain,

You might want to also consider 3/8" ID and 5/8" OD Primoflex. This what I used recently for some really tight crazy bends. Not sure if the 1/16" wall thickness would have made it.

Where can I get some?

[hecktic]

Good news, Gary at Sidwinder Computers (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/) has offered to sponsor this evaluation by providing me almost everything on my list.

Good because he has all the tygon you will need. Make sure you get some 2075 from him. Granted that tubing is expensive its not really for him since I know he pays less than $3.70 per foot on that tubing... I say a site the other day that had some cheap masterkleer for like 38 cents a foot on 3/8 ID... Ill try and find it again...

[Snyxxx]

Right here. I saw that you were going to test some, so I figured you could throw some of the thicker wall stuff in the basket.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=292&products_id=20718

I posted before I saw the Sidewinder sponsorship and see they do not have Primoflex.

[louie101086]

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/tubing.html

[virtualrain]

Right here. I saw that you were going to test some, so I figured you could throw some of the thicker wall stuff in the basket.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=292&products_id=20718

I posted before I saw the Sidewinder sponsorship and see they do not have Primoflex.

Cool... I'm going to get a variety of Primoflex from PPC's for the test as I need to order some other stuff from them anyway. I'll definitely get some of this as well then.

[serialk11r]

Awww so you're limiting the selection to PVC tubes? Damn..

[lowfat]

Good news, Gary at Sidwinder Computers (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/) has offered to sponsor this evaluation by providing me almost everything on my list.

wow that is awefully nice of him!

[Senater_Cache]

re re resurrection...
virtualrain, I am still interested, what ever happened of the test?

[jparker]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=18308&Page=1 (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=18308&Page=1)

Just about any type of tubing you could ever want.

Oh and Hello everyone.

[C'DaleRider]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=18308&Page=1

Just about any type of tubing you could ever want.

Oh and Hello everyone.

Been to that site....too bad their selection is nowhere near as complete as McMaster-Carr's selection of tubing....and MC is a lot more flexible and extensive in letting you determine and discriminate in what you need in materials, bend radius, etc.

You ought to try MC out....just click on the TUBING word/link in the first section that comes up....the Fittings, Pipe, Tubing, and Hose section. All the words in each section are links.

http://www.mcmaster.com/

[jparker]

Been to that site....too bad their selection is nowhere near as complete as McMaster-Carr's selection of tubing....and MC is a lot more flexible and extensive in letting you determine and discriminate in what you need in materials, bend radius, etc.

You ought to try MC out....just click on the TUBING word/link in the first section that comes up....the Fittings, Pipe, Tubing, and Hose section. All the words in each section are links.

http://www.mcmaster.com/

Yeah, i'll check that out thanks

[virtualrain]

re re resurrection...
virtualrain, I am still interested, what ever happened of the test?

Good timing... I just got a bunch of tubing samples from Gary at Sidewindercomputers and I'll be posting an analysis and a bunch of pics next week.

[The_Beast]

I'd love to see a review

[Senater_Cache]

Good timing... I just got a bunch of tubing samples from Gary at Sidewindercomputers and I'll be posting an analysis and a bunch of pics next week.

did you manage to get some primoflex in there? I am overly interested in the stuff. Im just sick of tygon and masterkleer and dont even get me started on cf60.

got any 2075?

[virtualrain]

did you manage to get some primoflex in there? I am overly interested in the stuff. Im just sick of tygon and masterkleer and dont even get me started on cf60.

got any 2075?

Yeah... I got a variety of Primoflex from PPC's as well... at first glance it seemed ok... the "clear" stuff isn't so clear... it's more opaque.

[Senater_Cache]

can you post some pics of the clear next to some tygon?

if not i will unpatiently await your results (hopefully with pics) :woot:
:

[Martinm210]

How about pressure drop testing several brands?

I think there is some variation on friction losses from the little bit of testing I did. My Masterkleer 7/16" ID was awefully close to standard PVC 1/2" ID, and I think some of the closeness was a result of different friction losses.

This is theoretical based on Darcy's, you can ignore the actual values, but the relative difference should be the same as my tested results.
http://www.overclock.net/gallery/data/500/Tubing_Friction_Loss.JPG

But this was my tested results, 7/16" was much closer to 1/2" that I expected:
http://www.overclock.net/gallery/data/500/Tubing-.PNG

Later I was looking at this and started realizing I probably should have used the same brand tubing.... I used cheap home depot 1/2" x 3/4" from Home Depot for the 1/2, and I used Masterkleer 7/16" x 5/8" for the 7/16" curve.

??:shrug: ??

I'm sure the difference is very very small, but I bet you could produce a repeatable difference depending on the tybing type.

[virtualrain]

can you post some pics of the clear next to some tygon?

if not i will unpatiently await your results (hopefully with pics) :woot:
:

Sorry man... I really need to get my computer build finished first. Then I can flood this thread with pics of different tubing! :p:

[Yakyb]

Subscribing to this id loveto see the extra performance if any in the more expensive tubes

[virtualrain]

Cathar has already demonstrated in the sticky that the performance difference with various ID's of tubing is almost insignificant. There's no way that the individual characteristics of any of these smooth plastic tubing brands that I'm evaluating would impact performance in any measurable way beyond the difference in ID.

I'll be looking at bend radius, clarity, ease to work with different barbs (like compression barbs), and more subjective stuff. I have no facilities here to test performance and I only have 2-3 feet of tubing of each kind anyway.

[Senater_Cache]

I am mainly interested in the combination of masterklear and PentosinG11..because mine has turned the tubes a completely opaque turqoise after 1 year.

I am interested if the PrimoFlex Silicone tubing (of the clear variety especially) clouds up as fast.
Does Silicone tubing use plasticiser as well? I would assume so.

[Yakyb]

sorry i should have been more clear i meant performance in re: to bend radius etc the stuff im trying to get working ATM doesnt like to bend all that much and requires long loops to get to places without kinks its pretty clear tho

[kohlersc]

Just checking to see if there are any updates to this testing. Thanks much.

[Jimmer411]

That'd be interesting, I'm not aware of anybody that has done that before. It would be interesting to see is Tygon 3063 worth it, me thinks not.



I absolutely love tygon tubing. Very easy to work with and does not keep the curve that cheap tubing does when rolled. My masterkleer can only bend one way without pinching on itself for instance.

I bought masterkleer 1/2 in the past, and have recently been using 7/16 over 1/2 barbs. My next build Im strongly considering switching back to 1/2 tubing.


Price: :down:

[Bun-Bun]

I have some Tygon 2075 and 3603 tubing. I have used the 3603 but jsut got the 2075 recently so have not been able to test it yet.

Inital impressions are teh 2075 is not as clear or soft as the 3603, But it is still pretty darn clear and from what I can tell will have a similar bend radius. Will post pics of them one of these days...

[mcoffey]

I just received some of the Tygon B-44-3 tubing 3/4 OD-1/2 ID. Just a tad stiffer than 3603, clear and from what I hear doesn't suffer from plastizer leaching which cuases 3606 to cloud.

can't wait to get it in the loop. From what Ranker says, works very well.

andyc

[virtualrain]

Just checking to see if there are any updates to this testing. Thanks much.

Crap... sorry guys... I really need to get this done ASAP. I've had to finish a build for a friend, work on my own computer (which has been dragging on for months) and, of course, work my full-time job... I promise I will get this done by labour day!

-Chris.

[virtualrain]

Finally posted!... http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=157370