Hi! Just droping huge thank you! I'm doing a custom loop for the first time and holy this video was so helpful. Before I was using specialty tools because I thought that's the only way I can get clean bends. Turns out freaking hands and a ruler give literally the same result. With bending tools I already crewed my 4 bend tube three times. With your method I had done it the first time. THANKS
insert a wetted, Si mandrel into the tube BEFORE you heat/bend the tube. your technique alters (“squares”) the outer radius of the bend section, resulting in a kinked section. results in a pressure increase and flow restriction. not super important at these H2O pressures and Q (flow rate); however, the pressure increase become significant as the number of bends increases. essentially, momentum and Q changes in your system. look into EKWB bending blocks (acetal matl) for best practices.
Do you have a link to the mandrel you are speaking of to insert into the tube? I use a silicone core to prevent deforming, but if there is something better I am all for it!
The black piecekf stuff inside his tube when he bends it is a mandrel, he's just calling it a different thing. They are both silicone pieces that slide inside the tube to allow internal support for bending 😊
Why not use chalk or a pencil to mark the start point for the bend? Also why not use a clamp on the end not being bent to hold the object steady and aligned with the ruler?
Chalk may work but I think that the graphite would potentially still bleed into the tubing and possibly the chalk to due to the heat. Would have to test! You could also definitely try a clamp!
@@Happy-ws7mb bends do make the pump work a bit harder from what I understand, but I went with double inline pump on the build so most of the time my pumps are running at their lowest speed possible! Thanks for watching!
So that tube is 14mm? This is what I wanted to know, how do you measure existing tubing size, to know what replacement tubing you need... you know, in case you inherited or purchased a water cooled system that you didn't build.
@@DragonXDrei Yes, this tubing has a 14mm outer diameter! If you are asking on how find what diameter tubing is being used on an existing build, you would have to remove one of the tubes and measure a straight line through the center using a ruler with mm measurements. The measurement from the outside to other outside would be your outer diameter and you can then just purchase tubing with that outer diameter! If you are asking how to find the measurements of existing tube lengths with bends, that is going to be wildly difficult, as you would have to figure out bend radius and angles and do a bunch of math I don’t know how to do 😂 I would recommend remeasuring the runs using the method in this video and essentially just using the existing tubing as a reference for loop design.
man, 90s... two even 3 sometimes no issue... 3rd one gets tricky with measuring... but a 90, with a reverse 90, into 135 degree is kicking my A right now... just burned through a whole pack of PETG. Any vids on 135/45s? I need to get a better tool or something these thermaltake tools are nice but i swear they dont always seat well in the 16mm channel
@@mrtoxm8 I do not have anything on 135s or 45s yet! I definitely want to explore even more complex types of bending like that in the future though. I have also found the tools to work okay but not always the best. You may need to make a custom jig for what you are attempting?
@@techtoniksystems I built a new wall-mounted rig, which you can see on my current channel as I’m documenting it. The main area is flat, but I’ve attached two “wings” on either side of the case to hold my radiators. These wings are positioned at a 45-degree angle. From the radiators’ tops, I used a 90-degree fitting pointed back at the case. This setup creates about a 135-degree bend between the flat area of the case and the first/second radiator on each wing. I’m using X-flow here, so for the bottom, it was easier since I used a 45-degree fitting. However, because the X-flow is closer at the lower point, it looks symmetrical, whereas using this fitting on the top would push the pipe out. Hope that makes sense in text; I can’t post an image!
@@techtoniksystems I built a new wall-mounted rig, which you can see on my current channel as I’m documenting it. The main area is flat, but I’ve attached two “wings” on either side of the case to hold my radiators. These wings are positioned at a 45-degree angle. From the radiators’ tops, I used a 90-degree fitting pointed back at the case. This setup creates about a 135-degree bend between the flat area of the case and the first/second radiator on each wing. I’m using X-flow here, so for the bottom, it was easier since I used a 45-degree fitting. However, because the X-flow is closer at the lower point, it looks symmetrical, whereas using this fitting on the top would push the pipe out. Hope that makes sense in text; I can’t post an image!
Do you have any videos of you doing the bending and how you adjust for a missed bend? I’m using the same Corsair tubing and any time I try reheating and straightening to do the bend a little farther down it always goes to shit.
@@lateralus821 I’d recommend just starting over if you missed the bend, as much as it sucks, there’s not a lot I have found that you can do to fix it :/ but the good thing is you can use your previous mess up as a template and you now have a better visual tool to follow, just make the adjustment necessary where you missed the bend!
@@techtoniksystemsI had two long runs that each had three bends I’ve been putting off and struggling with for a few days. I watched this again today then got to it and managed to knock them both out. Thanks for the help!
@@lateralus821 that is great to hear! You are welcome, but that is all you getting those runs complete!! Wish UA-cam allowed pictures in the comments so I could see your build!
I haven’t found a way to mark that doesn’t leave permanent damage to the tube, but if you know of something that doesn’t I’d love to know! I also like tighter bends than the bending tool I have is capable of doing but you definitely could use a bending tool.
@@kevinm5898 I’ve never done it before, but I think how I would approach that is to find a solid tube shaped object (maybe a glass marinara sauce jar or something) and heat the tubing and slowly bend it around that object until you have a full loop.
I'm not sure if you have this information but this appears be similar. Where 1/2 inch electrical conduit is concerned, inorder to make a 90° bend, you have to add 6 inches from the total length desired and make the bend from that point. Meaning that if you need a 36 inch run of electrical conduit with a ninety degree bend at that 36 inch mark, you would add 6 inches from the desired length and begin the bend at this extended point. This is because the curve of the 90° bend takes up the 6 inch slack, and you ultimately end up with a 36 inch 90° bend. I assume the same is true for bending acrylic cooling pipe. However, the takeup slack must be a different length. Do you happen to know what that is? This would be helpful instead of trying to make estimations based on static measurements, you could simply add the required length to accommodate for the desired bend.
I did not previously know that about electrical conduit, but I, unfortunately, do not know what the take up slack would be for the tubing would be. I think that take up slack would also require the bend to be the exact same radius on every bend as well so you would definitely have to use a mandrel bend tool to ensure you are bending the same radius every time vs doing it free hand. If you had the same bend radius and the correct take up slack amount I’m sure it would translate to accurate and easier measurements! One problem I could see arising is some of the bends had to be tighter than others in my build so I wasn’t able to use a specific mandrel tool for every bend, so that style measuring could have worked for some of the bends but not others. Thank you for the information! I may try to see if I can plan a build’s tubing to be able to have all the same bend radiuses so I can use this technique.
@@techtoniksystems Thank you for the reply! I would definitely like to see a video of you applying this method because I'm super curious. If you do a UA-cam search for 1/2 electrical conduit at 90°, there is a plethora of videos that show you the technique I was trying to describe. You would be correct about different radiuses. In the electrical field, there is a special bending tool used for specific conduit that has markings and tells you where to lineup the tool so that you get the exact bend you're looking for. It's too bad there isn't a small version of this tool for PC pipe bending. I subscribed and look forward to your next video.
Thank you for subscribing! I do want to revisit this topic so thank you for providing this info for me to look into! I hope you enjoy my future videos!!
Alphacool and EKWB both have different versions of a bending tool. Alphacool's is the closest in design to the EMT benders @Sartre_Existentialist mentioned, while EKWB's is more of a plate with 45 and 90 curved grooves for setting the heated tube into. I have the Alphacool one and it works ok, but I find it easier to use a wood jig with 45 and 90 corners to set the heated tube against. To get specific lengths you can just clamp a bit of wood or whatever as a stopper to set the end of the tube against. As for the same consistent accuracy as EMT bending, I think even with the tool you have to be consistent with how you heat the tube, too. EMT you do cold, so it's not a concern though EMT conduit does sometimes kink if you are not careful.
@@raggarex Heat consistency is definitely one of the most important parts for sure! That is probably where I had the most problems when I first started bending tubing. Too cool and the tube will flatten and balloon a bit on the sides of the bend, too hot and you can easily twist/discolor/burn it!
You can explain this much much easier and also recopmend bending form tools that have arrow markings making precise measurement much eaier and makes bends perfect. Also to anyone: use sharpiea to mark your mrasurements and just wipe it off with alcohol after it wipes right off
I am using a heat gun that sits vertically on the table, and I am holding the tubes over the heat gun! I move the tube to the ruler which is on the table to check the bend and then back to over top of heat gun to make any adjustments
I think I’m gonna try to bend mine on the table with the heat gun down blowing down on the table. I can’t get this man I’m having a lot of trouble. Bending . The tubes in the air is working horribly for me.
@@Bertis87 what part is going bad for you? Maybe I can help you figure out what may be going wrong. It is a fairly difficult process at the beginning so give yourself some grace! The only thing I would be concerned about is potentially fire hazard/burning the surface, but if you are working on a surface that is safe for that, it’s worth a shot!
@@Bang1324 Definitely a legitimate observation! Bends do affect flow rate but I have a dual pump system so I was not worried about flow rate at all; I also just liked the way the two 90s looked once the case panel was on!
@@techtoniksystems LOL. Don't you just love comment pundits who come in, state some BS or say something like this individual does, without giving any of his own suggestions on how they do it themselves.
I've just looked at a few of your videos. Let's take your fish tanks as an example. That's not how you deck out a fish tank. Your fish task is all wrong. :P
Hi! Just droping huge thank you! I'm doing a custom loop for the first time and holy this video was so helpful. Before I was using specialty tools because I thought that's the only way I can get clean bends. Turns out freaking hands and a ruler give literally the same result. With bending tools I already crewed my 4 bend tube three times. With your method I had done it the first time. THANKS
I’m really happy to hear the video was able to help! I also went through that same struggle and found it easier to free hand it with a ruler!
Great video. I wasted a lot of tubing on my very first build and this video will help a lot for my next build, which is in play now.
@@skynetintex5878 glad to hear it! I still wasted tubing but found that process to help me a lot!
Screw a couple flat bend tools to a piece of plywood. Make markings on the wood. Voilà, it’s super easy.
@@loosingparts6159 I would love to do this with 3D printing!
insert a wetted, Si mandrel into the tube BEFORE you heat/bend the tube. your technique alters (“squares”) the outer radius of the bend section, resulting in a kinked section. results in a pressure increase and flow restriction. not super important at these H2O pressures and Q (flow rate); however, the pressure increase become significant as the number of bends increases. essentially, momentum and Q changes in your system. look into EKWB bending blocks (acetal matl) for best practices.
Do you have a link to the mandrel you are speaking of to insert into the tube? I use a silicone core to prevent deforming, but if there is something better I am all for it!
^ sorry. if you used a Si insert then your 90deg bends would be cleaner. look up tools offered by EKWB
@@kenw8875 will do! Thanks for the information!!
The black piecekf stuff inside his tube when he bends it is a mandrel, he's just calling it a different thing. They are both silicone pieces that slide inside the tube to allow internal support for bending 😊
Great technique for Beginner's. Great video.
Thanks for watching!
Why not use chalk or a pencil to mark the start point for the bend? Also why not use a clamp on the end not being bent to hold the object steady and aligned with the ruler?
Chalk may work but I think that the graphite would potentially still bleed into the tubing and possibly the chalk to due to the heat. Would have to test! You could also definitely try a clamp!
I was.confuswd during the whole video. Still don't know how to measure a 2nd bend.
Would love to try to help you! What would you like me to try to break down further?
I wonder if the fluid pressure will decrease for over two bends
@@Happy-ws7mb bends do make the pump work a bit harder from what I understand, but I went with double inline pump on the build so most of the time my pumps are running at their lowest speed possible! Thanks for watching!
So that tube is 14mm? This is what I wanted to know, how do you measure existing tubing size, to know what replacement tubing you need... you know, in case you inherited or purchased a water cooled system that you didn't build.
@@DragonXDrei Yes, this tubing has a 14mm outer diameter! If you are asking on how find what diameter tubing is being used on an existing build, you would have to remove one of the tubes and measure a straight line through the center using a ruler with mm measurements. The measurement from the outside to other outside would be your outer diameter and you can then just purchase tubing with that outer diameter!
If you are asking how to find the measurements of existing tube lengths with bends, that is going to be wildly difficult, as you would have to figure out bend radius and angles and do a bunch of math I don’t know how to do 😂 I would recommend remeasuring the runs using the method in this video and essentially just using the existing tubing as a reference for loop design.
@@techtoniksystems existing tubing and thanks for confirming.
@@DragonXDrei you are welcome!
man, 90s... two even 3 sometimes no issue... 3rd one gets tricky with measuring... but a 90, with a reverse 90, into 135 degree is kicking my A right now... just burned through a whole pack of PETG. Any vids on 135/45s? I need to get a better tool or something these thermaltake tools are nice but i swear they dont always seat well in the 16mm channel
@@mrtoxm8 I do not have anything on 135s or 45s yet! I definitely want to explore even more complex types of bending like that in the future though. I have also found the tools to work okay but not always the best. You may need to make a custom jig for what you are attempting?
@@techtoniksystems
I built a new wall-mounted rig, which you can see on my current channel as I’m documenting it. The main area is flat, but I’ve attached two “wings” on either side of the case to hold my radiators. These wings are positioned at a 45-degree angle. From the radiators’ tops, I used a 90-degree fitting pointed back at the case.
This setup creates about a 135-degree bend between the flat area of the case and the first/second radiator on each wing.
I’m using X-flow here, so for the bottom, it was easier since I used a 45-degree fitting. However, because the X-flow is closer at the lower point, it looks symmetrical, whereas using this fitting on the top would push the pipe out.
Hope that makes sense in text; I can’t post an image!
@@techtoniksystems I built a new wall-mounted rig, which you can see on my current channel as I’m documenting it. The main area is flat, but I’ve attached two “wings” on either side of the case to hold my radiators. These wings are positioned at a 45-degree angle. From the radiators’ tops, I used a 90-degree fitting pointed back at the case.
This setup creates about a 135-degree bend between the flat area of the case and the first/second radiator on each wing.
I’m using X-flow here, so for the bottom, it was easier since I used a 45-degree fitting. However, because the X-flow is closer at the lower point, it looks symmetrical, whereas using this fitting on the top would push the pipe out.
Hope that makes sense in text; I can’t post an image!
@@mrtoxm8 I’m gonna take a look at your build! It sounds wild!
@@techtoniksystems if you want to reach out further, definitely appreciate any input this one is kicking my B! @@techtoniksystems
Do you have any videos of you doing the bending and how you adjust for a missed bend? I’m using the same Corsair tubing and any time I try reheating and straightening to do the bend a little farther down it always goes to shit.
@@lateralus821 I’d recommend just starting over if you missed the bend, as much as it sucks, there’s not a lot I have found that you can do to fix it :/ but the good thing is you can use your previous mess up as a template and you now have a better visual tool to follow, just make the adjustment necessary where you missed the bend!
@@techtoniksystemsI had two long runs that each had three bends I’ve been putting off and struggling with for a few days. I watched this again today then got to it and managed to knock them both out. Thanks for the help!
@@lateralus821 that is great to hear! You are welcome, but that is all you getting those runs complete!! Wish UA-cam allowed pictures in the comments so I could see your build!
@@techtoniksystemsnot sure if your IG is active but I just shot a pic over there.
Why not marking the middle of the 90° bend and use a bending tool? 🤔
I haven’t found a way to mark that doesn’t leave permanent damage to the tube, but if you know of something that doesn’t I’d love to know! I also like tighter bends than the bending tool I have is capable of doing but you definitely could use a bending tool.
I highly reccomend marking tubing with sharpie and using bending tools it mskes it much less complicated
Use a sharpie. Wipes off with alcohol
@@techtoniksystemsbending tube that goes into the pipe ur bending with a mark on it
Just curious as I haven't really seen it done, but could we add a loop in our bend? That would look cool.
@@kevinm5898 I’ve never done it before, but I think how I would approach that is to find a solid tube shaped object (maybe a glass marinara sauce jar or something) and heat the tubing and slowly bend it around that object until you have a full loop.
@@techtoniksystems Great idea. Will be doing my first custom loop for the first time. Just waiting for gpu block. Looking forward to it. Ty!
@kevinm5898 have fun with it and take your time! And make sure you have plenty of extra tubing 🫡
I'm not sure if you have this information but this appears be similar. Where 1/2 inch electrical conduit is concerned, inorder to make a 90° bend, you have to add 6 inches from the total length desired and make the bend from that point. Meaning that if you need a 36 inch run of electrical conduit with a ninety degree bend at that 36 inch mark, you would add 6 inches from the desired length and begin the bend at this extended point. This is because the curve of the 90° bend takes up the 6 inch slack, and you ultimately end up with a 36 inch 90° bend. I assume the same is true for bending acrylic cooling pipe. However, the takeup slack must be a different length. Do you happen to know what that is? This would be helpful instead of trying to make estimations based on static measurements, you could simply add the required length to accommodate for the desired bend.
I did not previously know that about electrical conduit, but I, unfortunately, do not know what the take up slack would be for the tubing would be. I think that take up slack would also require the bend to be the exact same radius on every bend as well so you would definitely have to use a mandrel bend tool to ensure you are bending the same radius every time vs doing it free hand. If you had the same bend radius and the correct take up slack amount I’m sure it would translate to accurate and easier measurements! One problem I could see arising is some of the bends had to be tighter than others in my build so I wasn’t able to use a specific mandrel tool for every bend, so that style measuring could have worked for some of the bends but not others. Thank you for the information! I may try to see if I can plan a build’s tubing to be able to have all the same bend radiuses so I can use this technique.
@@techtoniksystems Thank you for the reply! I would definitely like to see a video of you applying this method because I'm super curious. If you do a UA-cam search for 1/2 electrical conduit at 90°, there is a plethora of videos that show you the technique I was trying to describe. You would be correct about different radiuses. In the electrical field, there is a special bending tool used for specific conduit that has markings and tells you where to lineup the tool so that you get the exact bend you're looking for. It's too bad there isn't a small version of this tool for PC pipe bending. I subscribed and look forward to your next video.
Thank you for subscribing! I do want to revisit this topic so thank you for providing this info for me to look into! I hope you enjoy my future videos!!
Alphacool and EKWB both have different versions of a bending tool. Alphacool's is the closest in design to the EMT benders @Sartre_Existentialist mentioned, while EKWB's is more of a plate with 45 and 90 curved grooves for setting the heated tube into. I have the Alphacool one and it works ok, but I find it easier to use a wood jig with 45 and 90 corners to set the heated tube against. To get specific lengths you can just clamp a bit of wood or whatever as a stopper to set the end of the tube against. As for the same consistent accuracy as EMT bending, I think even with the tool you have to be consistent with how you heat the tube, too. EMT you do cold, so it's not a concern though EMT conduit does sometimes kink if you are not careful.
@@raggarex Heat consistency is definitely one of the most important parts for sure! That is probably where I had the most problems when I first started bending tubing. Too cool and the tube will flatten and balloon a bit on the sides of the bend, too hot and you can easily twist/discolor/burn it!
You can explain this much much easier and also recopmend bending form tools that have arrow markings making precise measurement much eaier and makes bends perfect. Also to anyone: use sharpiea to mark your mrasurements and just wipe it off with alcohol after it wipes right off
I’ll have to retry the sharpie because, when I tried that, it melted into the tubing and did not come out!
Are you heating the tubes on the table?
I am using a heat gun that sits vertically on the table, and I am holding the tubes over the heat gun! I move the tube to the ruler which is on the table to check the bend and then back to over top of heat gun to make any adjustments
I think I’m gonna try to bend mine on the table with the heat gun down blowing down on the table. I can’t get this man I’m having a lot of trouble. Bending . The tubes in the air is working horribly for me.
@@Bertis87 what part is going bad for you? Maybe I can help you figure out what may be going wrong. It is a fairly difficult process at the beginning so give yourself some grace! The only thing I would be concerned about is potentially fire hazard/burning the surface, but if you are working on a surface that is safe for that, it’s worth a shot!
Am I the only one looking at this thinking it should've been a 45 then 90, does adding too many 90's slow the flow?
@@Bang1324 Definitely a legitimate observation! Bends do affect flow rate but I have a dual pump system so I was not worried about flow rate at all; I also just liked the way the two 90s looked once the case panel was on!
Should have watched that before fucking up two tubes
Don’t worry I still mess up tubing plenty 😂 it’s inevitable!
that is not how bend tubes
Thanks for watching!
@@techtoniksystems LOL. Don't you just love comment pundits who come in, state some BS or say something like this individual does, without giving any of his own suggestions on how they do it themselves.
I've just looked at a few of your videos. Let's take your fish tanks as an example. That's not how you deck out a fish tank. Your fish task is all wrong. :P
@@skynetintex5878 it’s just the nature of putting yourself out there! I don’t take any offense to it 😄