Alternatives to Tygon?

[Ghent915]

Hey guys.
I'm wanting to re-do my W/C loop, but unfortunately, US Plastics is out of stock on the Tygon 54047 (7/16" ID, 3/32" wall, 5/8" OD IIRC).

I've heard good things about other sorts of tubing. Does anyone have something they particularly like that they could link me?

Also, the stuff I was looking at was the Medical/Surgical Tygon. Is their other stuff (Ultra Soft, Plasticizer Free, Beverage, ect.) worth a flip, or should I just stay with the med/surg in Tygon (if I stay with tygon)

Thanks, in advanced.
-Ghent

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Just get the Masterkleer General Purpose Clear PVC Tubing in the same size from http://www.mcmaster.com/ page 82, it's just as good and it's super cheap..............

 

[Captin Insano]

Unfortunatly, not much if anything is as good as tygon. Not even close. Tygon out lives is more flexible has better transperency. It handles chemicals and UV better then any out there. It does not get brittle like or as fast as others do. It clamps and seals better. All around Tygon is better. I would bite the bullet and find another source or wait till its avalible. Just my 2 cents

 

[thewhiteguy]

Unfortunatly, not much if anything is as good as tygon. Not even close. Tygon out lives is more flexible has better transperency. It handles chemicals and UV better then any out there. It does not get brittle like or as fast as others do. It clamps and seals better.

More flexible? A little bit.
Better transparency? No.
Who cares about chemical and UV resistence as long as it can handle your coolant and is inside the case not out in the sun?
Tubing will not get brittle in the gentle environment of a PC case, and even if it does who cares since it's already installed and that would actually be nice if it got perfectly shaped to your setup.
There is no difference in clamping and sealing.

Basically you're paying a *LOT* more for a little bit better flexibility. Before I moved to 7/16" I ran about 1/2 Tygon and 1/2 MasterKleer. Over a year the Tygon got way more stained by the antifreeze than the MasterKleer.

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Just looked up the specs, both types have the same exact minimum bend radius of 1.75 inches. Although the MasterKleer has a higher pressure rating of 30 psi verses 25 psi.............. The Masterkleer is also rated to be a bit stronger than the Tygon.

http://www.tygon.com/media/documents/S0000000000000001013/tygs50hl.pdf

 

[jman1]

Agreed your paying for a well known industry name and thats about it. They are well known for high end auto, aircraft, and medical stuff. (Tygon that is).

 

[s10010001]

I have tried many genric brands, tygon is the best by far...nuff said!

But Clear flex60 is useally a tad cheaper and it still really good. bending wise its almost as good as tygon, but its not as clear, its tends to look foggy because its not entirelly clear to begin with.

 

[Scroatdog]

. Before I moved to 7/16" I ran about 1/2 Tygon and 1/2 MasterKleer. Over a year the Tygon got way more stained by the antifreeze than the MasterKleer.

What's the outer wall thickness you're running on that 7/16th ???? I may jump on the bandwagon and go 7/16 when I re-do my loop. (And I wont be buying tygon)

 

[thewhiteguy]

What's the outer wall thickness you're running on that 7/16th ???? I may jump on the bandwagon and go 7/16 when I re-do my loop. (And I wont be buying tygon)

I think my 7/16" tubing has a wall thickness of 3/32". If you have trouble getting 7/16" onto your barbs, I recommend applying some hand soap to the beginning of the barb and it will really help. I didn't have to do any tube heating thanks to soap.

 

[ikellensbro]

Hand soap can end up mucking up your barbs, or worse getting into your loop and bubbling inside - not good. If you have crappy 7/16" tubing, have a weak barb, or are just plain weak () stick the end of the tubing in hot water or use a blowdryer to heat the end up, then slip it over the barb. Trust me, if you heat the end up and slip it over the barb (much easier than dry tubing) and use a hose clamp, the tubing is literally going to conform to the barb and hose clamp, giving an air tight seal. The only way that tubing is coming off is by cutting it with a sharp razor blade (a dull one didn't work very well for me, the tubing was on so tightly).