Hardline Tubing Guide: Bending PETG and Acrylic | bit-tech Modding

Take your water-cooling to the next level with hardline tubing! In this video, we show you how to bend and prepare the two most common rigid tubing materials: PETG and Acrylic.
Check out our full written guide for even more detail: bit-tech.net/guides/modding/wa...
Not sure what heat gun to buy? Delve into out toolbox and find out! bit-tech.net/features/modding/...
Discuss on the bit-tech forums: forums.bit-tech.net/index.php...
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[@uncleanon6445]

You must be the most underrated channel in all of youtube. I'm going to make it my lifesgoal to spam it all over the internet until this mistake is rectified.

[@bittech1]

Thank you!

[@teonesterov9141]

That is awesome. Everything I needed know in one short video. I'm going for PETG as I am still a hardline virgin.

[@Kakamage]

I'm approaching my first watercooled build that will also be fully custom, so this was a big help. Thank you!

[@Boolama27]

After many years of PC building im doing the same.... good luck!

[@mae9362]

this is what I am looking for. short and precise. Thank you!

[@teazqt812]

From a beginner embarking on my first loop thank you! Jazzy mustache

[@sheepsy]

These are really well done videos. Bravo.

[@d.v.p.3871]

Absolute great and informative video. Great work!

[@TheGroundedCoffee]

Straight to the point, just like the stache.

[@brodholm]

Great stuff!

[@mejia0905]

Subscribed, thanks for these tips, you are awesome!

[@fritzallen4719]

this is interesting, thanks. what do you know about doingthe same kind of bending but with poly-carbonate?

[@ramcispenuela22]

Nice tutorial Alex Banks :)

[@sidney001]

Where do you get the silicon insert from ?

[@neilpatel8050]

Can you use the same compression fittings for PETG and Acrylic?

[@moguzd]

I see you rotate in two axis (twist) to get 90 degree, how does that help, or doesn’t that leave a twisted look? For acrylic can we do that way too?

[@david57989]

Very helpful video

[@Metabrotropic]

Super helpful video mate, I love all your content so much! Aks kever thought I'd hear a Brit call it "dish soap" and not "washing up liquid"!

[@C0lbyte]

Will the heat ruin the satin finish on satin tubes?

[@H_MarTianManHunter_Z]

May i noe where can i purchase the silicone insert?

[@djsito1000]

Hi always great to watch your videos, very detailed and informative. Just got one question I hope to get an answer please if you don’t mind, is it true that petg isn’t safe like acrylic in terms of pipe deforming under heat once the build is done and under load like gaming or heavy workloads?

[@Phenixzero]

4:12 I have different experiences by using pipe cutter on acrylic, simply put some masking tape on the cutting point and increase small amount of cutting depth and slowly turn the blade, by the time you hear the crack, that means your tube is cut If cutting too quick makes the acrylic crack, don’t worry it too much, masking tape will still hold the crack in place

[@radicalxedward8047]

Times 00:00:00 | Intro 00:00:12 | PETG tubing overview 00:00:34 | Acrylic tubing overview 00:00:54 | PETG vs Acrylic 00:01:16 | Hard tube bending / cutting tools 00:01:42 | Bending PETG tubing 00:04:00 | Bending acrylic tubing 00:05:12 | Outro

[@davidk8977]

where did you get that bending mandrel?

[@Chris-ji8jw]

Excellent Alex, you demistified this. Thank You!

[@robertfowler8242]

Where can I find the silicone rod online to order? I'm having trouble finding a 1.25" diameter. Thanks!

[@vengo]

You specified the temp for PETG. Can you also specify or recommend a temperature for Acrylic?

[@Thorarin]

I saw him use 350°C in another video. It seems reasonable, as I previously experimentally determined that 375°C worked alright for me.

[@a17waysJackinn]

@@Thorarin because those tubes are have different size, I don't know your Experimention isn't that size, which depends if the tube is smaller and goes lesser temperature then.

[@goldy_on_pc930]

what do they call the instrument to cut the tubing

[@parthanandi9991]

How do you bend that mo :D ?

[@_JustBeingCasual]

Thank you for the good, informal video. Learned a lot that I can use in my upcoming water build :) Too bad most video's aren't like this one here, thanks again!

[@_JustBeingCasual]

I just noticed you did not say a temperature for the Acrylic heating, hope to hear that if possible.

[@ThatOneBuilderGuy]

thank you

[@chinguin2617]

What is that professional "kit" you showed in the video? What tools do you recommend for cutting acrylic cleanly?

[@bittech1]

That’s an Alphacool Eiskoffer, for cutting the acrylic a coping saw does very well, as does a Dremel or jigsaw. You will want to sand the ends regardless though. I use a scroll saw and a belt sander + reamer for mine, but that’s because I have those tools already and they work particularly well

[@SunriseDentalLab]

good info!!! can you comment on how PTEG compares to Acrylic on yellowing or deteriorating and the expected lifespan

[@Scadandy]

Acrylic lasts longer as it's almost glass compared to PETG being plastic. Yellowing might depend on the coolant used but if you ran a clear one, over time I'd expect the acrylic to yellow a lot later than PETG. Firm lifespan or timescales I'm not 100% but I'd say PETG might last two years perhaps if anyone else can confirm? But in principle the effort you put into acrylic pays off in clarity and life span

[@knives6683]

I what I really want to know is how you would accurately measure a 'U" bend for the correct height. EG: along the shroud and then back on itself into the GPU.

[@Enigma6954]

Where are the other two musketeers?! On a plumbing job? Great video btw!

[@NZ_Lexus_IS-F]

I might have missed it, what temperature on the heat gun do you recommend for acrylic tubing

[@a17waysJackinn]

that's as the same as 130°Celsius, right?

[@brettbainbridge3154]

@@a17waysJackinn No, acrylic takes up in the range of 280C. As he said it has a far higher melting point.

[@a17waysJackinn]

@@brettbainbridge3154 2:34 haha. 280° is great I think. but also as he said.. and maybe 280° is a good start to heating for acrylic.

[@Kyle_Reed]

What temperature do you set the heat gun for Acrylic?

[@adamyounes6244]

I think he uses the same temperature

[@stayfrostie2583]

You want to set it at a lower temp, better to take a little longer to heat up than it being way to hot and cause it to bubble.

[@vlasihinn]

Set heatgun to 130 C degree? I just did my firsy tubing with 270-290 :DD Am i wrong?

[@bittech1]

Naa you can use any temp that’s hotter than that, just need to keep a closer eye on things.

[@FatterTony]

surely soap or even just tap water is going to add contaminants to the loop and even cause conductivity?

[@accumulator4825]

Naah, I think it's fine if you just rinse it.

[@FoxTailGames]

Bruh, your catfish wants his whiskers back.

[@llNATEDOGGll]

How about measuring bends? That's what I struggle the most with

[@bittech1]

Honestly the best way is to work in flexibility into your tubing routing. Tubes with multiple bends in them are very tricky to do reliably. If you can come up with routes that result in a run only have maximum 1-2 bends in them, and then instead rely on parts of the tube that you can trim to size, you'll have a much better time. There are systems like the Alphacool Eiskoffer that allow you to measure things out precisely, but in all honesty I've found them very hard to use compared with changing the route itself. Aside from that, lots of practice.

[@Nasahatapimapetilan]

came for the guide, stayed for the fancy moustache.

[@spooks5467]

that moustache is lit

[@kamrankazemi-far6420]

You didn’t mention when to start the bend, how do I know when the tube has reached the correct temperature to bend?

[@1222dss]

heat it up evenly and you gonna feel it, cuz it will become wobbly

[@thebeard86]

Is that just water on the sandpaper at 4:38?

[@accumulator4825]

Yess, when using good sandpaper on hard materials like stone, metal, acrylic, etc, it's good to use water. Not sure exactly why, maybe for heat reduction.

[@phantomflame0658]

​@@accumulator4825It's for some lubrication but main thing is it reduces dust

[@kobalasteriyan378]

1:27 What are those things called? How do you spell it? Mandles, Mantles? Maddles???

[@jarred4005]

look up watercooling "mandrels"

[@koford]

There one thing you did not mention, that is silicon tubes.. talk about size to wich tube etc. !!! Say bitspower got a petg tube 16mm OD / 14mm ID.. the silicon tube they sell is only max 12mm. Now, this will confuse first builder and so on. Will a 12mm OD silicon tube works fine on a PETG tube 14m ID ?? Such thing one should mention, all other u did but silicon tube's size.

[@monsterGLL]

Can i correct a wrong bend?

[@hansdietrich83]

Small corrections, but nothing large

[@aaronaidoo5407]

that tash man, :O

[@davejones1959]

Has anyone created a spiral of 16mm tubing?

[@hilo2hell395]

Can we bend the mustache too?

[@daves375]

I agree the moustache has to go you don’t work at a art auction

[@kpadalldotablet1009]

But the more important question is: How do you make a clean mustache bend?

[@matthewpierce6420]

he did the purely horizontal stache wax this time

[@matthewlin3678]

man's got toothpicks on his face

[@TheDpt1979]

you're the only channel i have seen that says cool down tubed using water, this is a bad habbit to get into, it can cause micro cracks

[@bittech1]

If you’re heating so high that dabbing some water on it causes problems then you’re going too hard to begin with. This isn’t glass, you’ll be fine. The advantage in cooling it quicker is that it prevents your bends from warping whilst you’re holding it in place.

[@TheDpt1979]

@@bittech1 and the disadvantage is you can cause micro cracks which can under pressure become major cracks and leak, i know personally after spending thousands of Dollars on a system that i will NOT put water on hot tubes no matter the temps, just a risk i refuse to take

[@bittech1]

Just remember I’ve built a large number of systems ranging up to £25k+ and never once had an issue. I was one of the early adopters of acrylic tubing back before you could buy proper fittings for it even.

[@TheDpt1979]

@@bittech1 so you would be willing to pay for broken components if one of your viewers takes your advice and cools it with water for someone building their 1st loop?

[@bittech1]

What a ridiculous statement to make. I suggest you just take a break, you’re obviously proud of building your first loop but there’s no reason to try and bring others down.

[@riotz370]

Your moustache is distracting, I can't pay attention.

[@bittech1]

Sounds like a you problem ;)

[@aikdeveneijns112]

THANK YOU!

[@Rakinn]

Distracting? more like Captivating

[@davidwarner970]

I agree... lose the stache...

[@stevenutter3614]

​@@bittech1Real smooth real icy .

[@stevekirby9797]

All well and good, but what the hell happened to your mow? Or is that intentional? 😅😂🤣

[@mwint1982]

Instructions not clear. Gerbil stuck in tube, send halp pls!

[@JonathanVuillemin]

This is really hard to concentrate on what you say with the magnificent moustache.

[@ShopperPlug]

Dude got the illest mustache lol

[@worstplayerslive973]

moustacheeeeee........

[@agungmandallaputra.s.h1187]

What happen on your mustache? XD

[@MiguelHernandez-sc7vm]

Wow couldn't concentrate in what the dude was saying due to the moustache

[@mattyfromlondon]

hot acrylic and water produces stress cracks!!! this is a tutorial of how not to do it !!!!

[@bittech1]

I’ve been using this method since 2013 and across many, many rigs, I can confirm that it does not cause stress fractures in the tubes.

[@Aesha-69]

1:13 Надо не давить надо крутить. Что вы какие дурачки то !

[@1222dss]

дурачок тут только ты, потому что он умышленно это сделал дабы показать что акрил хрупкий в отличие от petg. Что вы такие дурачки то, что не можете даже в базовые знания английского.

[@Theorcman2008]

DO NOT DIP HOT ACRYLIC IN WATER.

[@Maciejf85]

What a gay moustache.