HOW TO: Measure and Make Complicated Bends with Rigid Tubing

How to measure for complicated tubing runs that require multiple bends running in different directions

[@scandalust4330]

This is got to be the only video on youtube that explains how to get measurements. The big youtubers are slacking. Thank you very much!

[@brennethd5391]

So true

[@MShazarul]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqjJn2h_hr2hf6c This guy atm has the best explanation. Bending by reference guide.

[@mcpan90]

@@brennethd5391 jay 2 cents rather charge 5k than show lol

[@eccomi21]

Jayz made a video on bending 6 years ago and stated he eyeballs. Can't give a tutorial on measuring if you eyeball. I eyeballed my first PC too and with one exception it looks fine to the naked eye.

[@garyc5245]

This guy is awesome, wish he made more videos

[@pareshrr]

Hands down, off the 1000s of water cooling tutorials and builds on KZbin I have been watching from last year, you are the only one who showed the most important part of how to measure and bend complicated loops. Thank you.

[@AceHoffman]

Agreed. :)

[@totallynottrademarked5279]

Get your bend right, leave it long, cut off the excess. There is really zero need to measure when doing this work.

[@thechannelitrollwith1645]

Glad you're putting relevant videos to my upcoming build. Any and all rigid tubing guides welcome! Great vid, thanks!

[@DragonProtector]

ikr trying to learn about costume water cooling right now

[@Rixicc]

you should have shown how you did the double 90 degree bend.. that was the most important part of the video really

[@tupchurch]

Agreed, why do a video about bending rigid tubing then not show the bending

[@CourtesyToot]

​@@tupchurch Because there's already a million others that show the bending; most people can bend a 90 without screwing that part up. The jig and measuring was the big take away. Maybe y'all should just use soft tubing if you cant figure out how to start a bend and press into a corner.

[@tea.88]

true

[@tea.88]

@@CourtesyToot no u

[@DelireWeb]

@@CourtesyToot Well all others say the same thing "there are million others showing this" like in a circular trap lol. And if "most people know how to bend 90 deg etc" then this clip isn't for them really.. Personally I measure everything, so that I don't lose too much tubing (I draw a sketch with measurements, and after each bending I verify against the plan). I came here as I'm looking up for some tools improving manual bending. On this the clip is good, I haven't seen such a simple setup yet (though quite basic).

[@apexarms5737]

I totally appreciate your attention to detail. Im constantly accused of being a perfectionist, so Ill be putting your jig to the test soon. Thanks for the tips

[@Route_2_V11]

this was exactly what i was looking for, especially the board where you measured the bends. Great work dude!

[@v.aesthetic3764]

Glad I could help! good luck.

[@bembowe]

I agree with the last commenter, your video explains this very well better than anyone here and has been the most useful for complicated bend. Thank you. Got yourself a new subscriber.

[@TheGodfather101]

Using your mandels to measure the bend as they align with the dummy tubes helped me.

[@techsavy3221]

Fantastic Video for the new and experienced hard line watercoolers! Thanks

[@LeoDavidson]

Without scrap wood to build your guides (which are a cool idea!), I found it useful to make a line on some graph paper and mark on that three points for each bend: The center of the bend, and ~25mm either side of it which is the region I'd heat up (will depend on the type of tubing, of course). It took a bit of trial and error to work out where the marks should be vs where the tube had to reach. I'd then mark the same on the tube itself with a felt-tip pen, heat the marked region and bend it against a set square. When bending, line up the three markings so they touch the edges/point of the set square, for consistent curves. Now see how it fits. If it doesn't fit, it wasn't a wasted piece. Each piece that doesn't fit helps you measure the next one, better than any ruler. Each failed attempt is a device you have built to measure the next attempt! Realising that (and having plenty of spare tubing) made me feel a lot more positive, instead of thinking I had to get it right every time and start from scratch if any bend was wrong. You can go back to the graph paper and adjust the position(s) of your bend(s) that was/were off, based on the piece you just made and how it fits inside the case. With two or three iterations you can get it perfect, even if it's 5 bends in three dimensions. I also think the wood guides and way of measuring in this video are a great idea, and when I was doing this stuff for the first time recently, it struck me how many tutorials there were on bending PETG (which isn't that hard) and how few there were on actually measuring (which is really hard, until you work out a technique). It's good to see something about measuring. My thumbs up.

[@djelav8]

Only video on KZbin explaining this thank you so much👍🏼

[@ProPotato]

Excellent video! I'm about to do my first hard tube loop in a Thermaltake View 71 with some pretty tricky runs. This video is a huge help, I'm now going to make an MDF check jig myself before I start. Thanks a bunch for the video and info.

[@v.aesthetic3764]

No problem man! Good luck!

[@gilles4prezudent650]

It NEVER would have occurred to me to use scrap wood and clamps to measure out complicated bends but it's such a cheap and smart way of doing it. This'll save me so much scrap tube.

[@XXXXIndices]

Used your method and it works brilliantly, thank you.

[@donb1497]

I know this is an older video. But, I wanted to day thank you. I have been hesitant to use rigid tubing, because it always seemed intimidating. This explanation, has help me immensely, and I will be doing a rigid tube build soon. Thank you very much for this.

[@v.aesthetic3764]

Glad I could help!

[@pills4031]

I love this video I don't know why it has so many dislikes. Thank you for the help!

[@barritoes]

Thank you for sharing your method...im not a perfectionist but i appreciate your attention to detail. I learned quite a bit.

[@rohanlowe]

great guide! nice detail on how to get measurements and also i like your DIY bending jig for the offset 90’s.

[@nykz2358]

Awesome guide my man thanks! Gonna build my first hardline tomorrow hopefully I get it right, gone one hard bend.

[@larslovestech]

excellent tutorial...would have loved to have seen you actually bend those tubes in your bening rig just to see how it's done but the principal is there for sure...thank you...when i do manage to get my first build done tutorials like this are what will help me have far less mistakes

[@v.aesthetic3764]

I might do an actual bending guide in the future.

[@n0123210n]

The future is now!

[@joeryc.819]

Still waiting

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

n0123210n, yes, I too would want to actually see how it is done.

[@HADFTCH]

very informative and well done video. breaking it down for the beginners!

[@ImranAurangzeb]

Thank you very much for making this video.

[@GeneralNOH]

FYI super easy way of measuring that final cut rather than trimming and retrimming as you did, works easy as long as you have at least a fitting width of pipe extra to give you space. Pull the piece out of the bottom fitting, Push it into the top one, then just measure how much further that bottom run of pipe compared to the fitting it goes in (should be able to run beside it), and cut off the difference. Otherwise, good video, gave me some ideas in regards to measuring, some sort of jig looks like it is the best way.

[@denveroehl7106]

Thank you, this was a tremendous help!

[@kayburcky7146]

Thx very much. Everything I found so far was just dudes doing free hand bends saying like "I don't measure, you don't need to either, just get experience"... And I was really struggling with tight bends where I had to 2 bends right next to each other so doing the second one always ruined the first one. I think i will try your wood clamp stuff, seems like the right solution to my problem

[@easyaussietarget3355]

The hard part about being a perfectionist is... Nothing is ever finished...I know first hand. Great content!

[@acaphamzah]

Thanks for the knowledge!

[@jetcity7156]

Nice job. I would use a height gage to get my dimensions. As much as you do custom builds, that could be a good investment. Love the jig.

[@myriadtechrepair1191]

The wood panel on that pc is just gorgeous.

[@faithhopelove6945]

Just PERFECT ! That was exactly the Vid iwas searching for..." Now its Time to bend..., like Mr. Bond (: Many Thanks 😄

[@MERV_]

dude thank you this is helping me out so much!

[@burgerlord1297]

Great video thanks should be bending my first pipe run soon

[@BatcatCA]

Really nice use of a simple jig and stop-block setup to get the bends right. Sometimes wood(working) and water do mix well ;)

[@jbecker18jb]

Very meticulous, Great job 👏 👍 👌 🙌 😀 💪

[@theeltea]

Just did my first rigid tube bend with almst the same tube profile. Thanks for the tips, worked like a charm on the second try! I did use a jig too.

[@v.aesthetic3764]

awesome!

[@theeltea]

Vir1lity PC Customs Thanks so much for the tips, you are awesome!!!!!

[@isidorisidor5074]

Awesome channel thx for this video!

[@iant4862]

Would love to see you do a full bend video log as I would like to get my runs better

[@v.aesthetic3764]

I hope to do that some time in the future

[@blub9217]

super helpful!

[@zachary_smith1]

nice vid! i liked the tutorial. i also noticed u got rig of month on reddit when i was just there. nice job!

[@v.aesthetic3764]

Thanks man!

[@CTSCAPER]

I've never been to your channel before but I initially thought this video was about some kind of cappuccino maker or coffee machine. Doh!

[@MrAspen]

Wow. GREAT video!! Thanks. I was wondering how to do it properly. I just scrapped my hard tubing and went soft tubing. But im gonna set up a similar jig. Thanks!

[@Pshift080]

Dude... I did my first rigid tube build today. I copied that wooden bending platform and damn that made it pretty much idiot proof. Good shit.

[@zhenjihuoanjiro1047]

I hear in your video that you don't like eye balling the bends, eye the measurements of tube lengths & such due to you just being a perfectionist & having to have the loop run, bends precise as exactly how you want them to be, I really dig that dude. Much respect but another thing is I also got the respect for those who eye their tube lengths, do their bends by visual sight & a picture, image imagination & also the visual image of the correct length. It's not that these folks aren't perfectionist, some are perfectionist without relying on angle bending equipment or tools, to these KZbinrs, folks who can just rely on a mental image of their loop plan, run, bend & rough to close length of tube & then file it down to precise measurement. The way I see it is that, some people have a talent for getting a precise image in their head or they can visualise their work & do it accordingly, these guys are perfectionist without any tools or equipment, these guys exist. We all have our own years of experience with everything & with experience, trial & error comes perfection, practice does make perfect. Some folks just aren't at that level yet nor wants to be like the other guy, so 1 may just prefer to use tools to get correct bends, measurements first time & last time. One time due to not wanting to having to waste time, measure twice cut once no time wasting, no sitting there starring. Point is, I respectfully disagree with your statement about some big KZbinrs out there who eye ball their loop will never have it perfect & you can spot these small mistakes. Some KZbinr water cooling Guru's have a talent for water cooling loop runs, modding etc without requiring further precision tools to so so. No disrespect intended ok dude, I mean I got full on respect for you & your work, you're the type of dude I assume likes to so things once & get it right on the first time, try to anyways. And what better way to get the loops right the first time is with precision measurement tools. Hope you don't take offence of my comment dude, it's not attacking or trolling, I just have my understanding opinion on different PC builders & their techniques, all builders have their own technique & different ways, doesn't mean they won't get it perfect. I also admire your technique for getting multiple bends in different perpendicular angles in place. All builders are perfectionist in their own way with their own unique techniques & experience & skill sets.

[@asmcriminaL]

I am a perfectionist too. That bend did bother me but I did learn some valuable things from your video.

[@brandongross8620]

Love the video, I'll be creating some video's when I build my first custom loop in a month or so once I have all my components. Great job tho, I also like how you showed your technique & explain your reasoning for things. I'm a OCD perfectionist & 100% understand how you feel, I'm constantly creating jigs & tools to create consistency & my eyes pick up on every little imperfection & my brain won't allow me to accept it if I know it could be better. LMAO

[@indestruct1bl3]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! After trying to eyeball it and wasting ~$40 in PETG, I'm gonna build this out of some scrab wood I have laying around.

[@samko2343]

Great guide, the jig is a great idea to always get consistent 90 or 45 degree bends. That being said, how do you ensure that your round edge radius is consistent for each tube and bend? Are you marking the points where you're holding the tube?

[@Vincent-nl4wc]

thanks for this video, i am building a new computer since i was able to get a 3080 with its waterblock already install and it will be my second build and want to water cool it this time.

[@abyssPonderer]

actually convince me to go for hard tubing instead of soft tubing, this tutorial appear just at the right time

[@adrianocosta1214]

GREAT video really helped me helped me to decide NOT to go for a custom watercooled build LOL

[@v.aesthetic3764]

haha. Just keep your runs simple!

[@TheMetalmachine467]

Could start out using soft tubing if hard tubing seems too complicated.

[@HeyDan1983]

With the perfectionist you are, you would hate my loop LOL...

[@Palagueus]

Nice Video..Thanks!

[@jazzyjackyrabbit]

you are da man thanks!

[@MrGichinfunakoshi]

Dont be so perfectionist! Life is too short!

[@gisgoss]

I manage to free hand most of mine pretty well but will more complicated ones I will measure and possibly use something to aid the bending of the tube 👍 Great video though!

[@FatKidWitAJetPak]

Thanks a lot for the tips! The good news is buying the tubing itself its too expensive, so there is a lot of room for practice.

[@Tmaffbh]

I can recomment the monsoon meassuring kit very simple and you can meassure exactly

[@creativestarfox]

What do you do to get a consistent bend radius?

[@l0unny]

Thank you

[@mateuszkwietowicz2470]

It was, but I'd still like pointers on even the simple bends measuring, especially if you need a longer piece of tubing...

[@michaelt.4178]

That's pretty much like how I do it. Usually I get the bends right on the first try, not always but most of the times. Like you I'm a perfectionist and if the tube doesn't align absolutely perfectly, it would bother me extremely :)

[@pacibels_cannon]

Same, I'm going to make my first build soon and I want it to be on the dot perfection

[@Arathain]

Hi, thanks for the video looking to do my first custom loop next year with AMD 7nm or Intel Sunny Cove and the only thing that I'm not sure on is the measuring of PETG, specifically when it comes to the fittings. I wasn't sure if the tube had to reach the top of the fitting, or goes into the block a few mm's / etc.

[@v.aesthetic3764]

You have to account for a small amount that goes inside the fitting.

[@tobiasgude5992]

How did you get the Tubes fit in the position, when you need to bend 2 ninetys?

[@salamdrik]

i like it aloot ) bend by hand is alot much hardcore this way can make it aloot better ) thanks

[@Dave-ct1jk]

I can't slam the like button hard enough or enough times for what this video deserves

[@somerandomdudewhodoesstuff3107]

6:17 you could also invest in like the 50$ for the corsair tube bending kit as long as your tubes are the right size

[@StreekG]

Great video, thanks mate. I have done all my hard tube bending free hand, and because i wasn't sure how to measure the complicated stuff properly i resorted to some 90 degree fittings, not a fan as it adds lots of weight to the loop and i prefer the only fittings to be at something that is actually connected to the loop. I have a new loop i'm designing now with my first tube res so this will help me a lot. Subbed

[@v.aesthetic3764]

awesome! Thanks man!

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

That rig in the back of the opening talk.... clean. Something similar would look awesome on my desk. Unfortunately whenever I get around to building my first loop I really want to go with a UV reactive opaque neon blue for the coolant.... wouldn't look right.

[@PseudoReality28]

Just stick the end into the CPU block and measure center to center distance from GPU fitting to tube, then cut that amount off the end in the CPU block.

[@kdragon75]

Yeah that's the only part I was kinda like what are you doing?

[@trackmedixuk]

Do ek sell any sort extenders that give the option to slightly increase the pipes length, saving us from having to redo the pipe if we get it slightly off ?

[@Codename_Horizon]

how hot does a tube need to get to be able to bend?

[@deejaycalanoc]

Great video! You answered a lot of questions and useful tips about making a jig and how you can use it. What size tubing and fittings are you using?

[@superbellum]

Thats pc on the left is beautiful

[@rickedwards7172]

Noticed a lot of bubbling inside the Tubing, is that common ?

[@aaronhuffman4852]

Kinda like running conduit! Have to know the take up of the bender. Hard skill to learn as an apprentice many years ago!

[@MMARIC20]

Hey Vaesthetic, is that a plexi glass that you will put to hide the motherboard? i am getting ready for a pretty big build and this will be my first time playing with liquid cooling, and i love how some modders have hidden their cables,etc. with plexi glass. just not sure how they do it

[@tea.88]

im a perfectionist... 5 mins later ''im still going to put this in" 8:12

[@vipersb1]

LMAO!

[@stupidguy97]

He said a few seconds later that he would re-do it for his satisfaction and that he was just keeping it in to show viewers his process.

[@247clewis]

What Size Tubing did you Use?

[@alexchambers3101]

What a ducking angel

[@mattrybacki189]

Go Blues!

[@J0stik]

just doing my first custom loop, have ordered 4m of tubes ... just to be sure :D ... but what are caled those fittings that are going into that acrylic plate ?

[@TT-hd3zi]

Bulkhead fittings

[@Mike-01234]

My advice is buy extra PETG first time going to go though lot of it. I found once you make a bend can't really straighten it again the outside is stretched when you fold it doesn't shrink back again leaves bump.

[@trestacks9294]

Get a couple pipe cleaners wrap together n use it as a measurement for the tubing. You put it n bend it where you want the tube to go. Isnt perfect but it works amazing. Use extra tubing n cut off extra. Promise this is the best way to have it measured

[@benjaminmcfarlane3807]

This craft would drive me completely insane

[@Mogs01gt]

try using string or wire. Set the length with that and then measure.

[@kincade1998]

Do you just heat that spot on tube? Do you heat right in front of bending point or behind

[@lenient1438]

As I understand, around the whole bend. Every part of material that will be bent must be warmed else it is forced and more easily cracked.

[@bruunooh7636]

Well how about to bend the two 90s first, measure the offset to the fitting at cpu block and then cut the left end of the tube to the needed length which is much more handier and does not need to measure a lot. Just theoretical but i would try it this way.

[@lilbandit99]

As an instrumentation tubing fitter, I would have absolutely smoked this lol. Then again, I bend tubing for a living

[@lilbandit99]

Still very clean work. I mainly deal with Stainless steel, but clear hardline tubing looks especially satisfying

[@HECKAKYH-ADEKBATEH]

You need to fill the bending portion insides with something, or it will deform! Silicon thread can be used, or just power wire of right diameter (just dont use it in electro afterwards).

[@Le10White]

There is something called 'K' line. We use it in racecar chassis

[@KnightMD]

Thanks for explaining how they got their 90 degree flat bends. The device you made isn't easy to make. I need wood, a saw etc. I wonder if there's an easier way.

[@TheMillionDollarDropout]

What case is that? I'd love one of those in my office!!!

[@v.aesthetic3764]

BeQuiet Dark Base 700

[@Night-Sight]

Evolv Matx build video plz

[@v.aesthetic3764]

haha. That's exactly how I feel. I'm getting close. When you see the video and photos, you'll understand why it is taking so long.

[@Johnny87Au]

Need more watercooling videos man :)

[@112Famine]

an over bend looks so much better than an under bend, if talking about only a mm or two.

[@hotrodgreg504]

Easy peasy...

[@jonnyg7750]

There was NO video of heating/bending the 2nd 90. Did you put a 90 tool on it? Did you free bend it & shoved into the wood tool??

[@salamdrik]

You work whit Acrylic or prefer petg, i find petg not good for pressure fittings as it shrinks allot by pressure fittings and than leaks its semy ok if change orings in fittings but acrylic just worked always better for me maybe just tolerances on petg not as good as acrylic

[@antronk]

Are you a perfectionist by any chance? I don't think you mentioned it.

[@seanr4782]

What insert are you using to complete the bends? Mine for whatever reason keeps gluing itself to the tubing after the bends regardless of what is done...

[@v.aesthetic3764]

Mine is the Bitspower insert. You can try using soapy water to prevent that from happening

[@seanr4782]

@@v.aesthetic3764 Ive used the soapy water and the olive oil trick so far, and though it does help it still likes to stick on some of the more intricate bends. Those from other videos seem to hold the PETG over the heat source for considerably longer than I have, so thats why I was wondering if there were different silicone inserts that have a higher heat rating?