Tube Bending
When it comes to tube bending, we always recommend that you stick to a single 90-degree bend per length of tube. In fact, take a look at any of our custom liquidcooled builds that we’ve done over the last two years, and you’ll notice almost all of the runs feature single 90-degree bends. Secondly, always, always, always cut off more than you think you need. You can always reduce the length of tubing, but it’s impossible to increase it without leaning on extension fittings, and that can look ugly. So, where do you begin?
Well, you’re going to need a heatgun that can be placed on its back with the nozzle pointing up, a silicon tube insert that matches the ID (inner diameter) dimensions of your tubing, a hacksaw specifically designed to cut acrylic, a deburring tool to chamfer down the edges (sanding paper also works), and a vice grip to cut your tubing lengths with. Most of these you can buy as a kit from a liquidcooling manufacturer.
Once you’ve gathered all that together, wet the silicon insert (having a bowl of water to hand helps here), and insert it into the tube. Then set your heatgun on a medium setting, and carefully hold the tube above it in the middle, three to four inches from the tip of the gun. Rotate the tube while moving it back and forth across the heat. This heats the entire area and helps prevent kinks forming in the tube when you perform your bend.
This next step varies depending on whether you’re using PETG or acrylic, but over time, you’ll notice the tube becomes more malleable where you’re heating it. Once it becomes flexible enough, slowly and carefully bend it into a 90-degree angle. To do this, you can line it up with the corner of a table, a case, anything. Once you’ve got the angle just right, carefully lower the heated tube into your bowl of water to cool it down, then remove the silicon insert.
To fit it, remove the compression cap from the fitting—being careful not to lose the o-ring—pop the cap on the length of tube, followed by its o-ring, then push it into the compression fitting, past the two internal o-rings. Once done, move the external o-ring down to the thread, bring the cap down, and secure it in place. Repeat this process at the other end, and your first tubing run is complete.