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copper tubing
- Thread starter boorishid
- Start date
- Joined
- May 19, 2003
- Location
- Kingwood, TX
I have been tempted by this as well. Not sure how much of a temp drop you'd see, but you can route it all kinds of ways in the case, which looks awesome IMO.
Jesus I just got a sweet idea. I might run by lowes tomorrow....
Jesus I just got a sweet idea. I might run by lowes tomorrow....
- Joined
- May 19, 2003
- Location
- Kingwood, TX
Less weld, more braze 
OP
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2008
- Thread Starter
- #7
well what im thinking is the tubing should prove slighly better when used externally, i have my pump res and rad sitting on my desk, byt as soon as you enter the case with this copper is it acually going to perform worse and tranfer the heat of the system temp into the water?
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
Copper shouldnt make a difference if you have temps coming out of the radiator at above ambient, because then there will be a minor change as it goes through the piping. I seriously doubt it will be even one degree, unless the water is really hot coming out of the rad, at which time you should go with a bigger rad/bigger fans. If you like the copper for aesthetic reasons, then there really shouldnt be a problem with it if you know what youre doing.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
Way less or no algae/milky build up with copper tubing I believe.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
Uh no.
Antifreeze+corrosion is the pH buffer which prevents that.
Swiftech HydrX does exactly that and is just your typical car antifreeze+corrosion.
- Joined
- May 19, 2003
- Location
- Kingwood, TX
copper + aluminum + WATER = diy battery
/fixt
/fixt
Now you know I wasn't going to just sit by and let this go. If you had your way, you probably would be the one to suggest that I somehow encase the tubing in wood putty and stain it. Hmmm, come to think of it, that just might be an idea...
You don't see any difference in temps using copper tubing. I have been going with copper mainly for aesthetic reasons as you can route it exactly where you want it to go. Also, if you have tight bends, you have zero stress on the barbs unlike with vinyl. I use soft, bendable copper with a pipe bender to minimize the use of fittings and avoid the straight, industrial look. The only place that I have found that copper isn't a good idea is with the pump inlet and outlet as it transmits too much pump vibration. For that I use vinyl. I also use vinyl to connect the copper to the block, rad, and res barbs. Screw in fittings are just too much hastle.
Here's a pic of my current setup.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
What did you use to attach the piping to the barbs? I just may have to do that.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2006
- Location
- Agoura Hills, CA
My guess would probably be AN fitting but wait they are aluminum so maybe a copper pipe thread fitting? Plumbing shop would be a good place to start.
- Joined
- May 19, 2003
- Location
- Kingwood, TX
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
Uh, yes, my bad, I meant to say that antifreeze prevents it, but as usual, I lurk on the internet at 4 in the morning, and mess things up
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- Joined
- May 19, 2003
- Location
- Kingwood, TX
Haha I hear ya. I've been guilty of this too LOL
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
I saw someone do custom milled threaded barbs, it was sick.
Right. I put a bit of tubing on the ends of the copper and then on the barbs. I used black tubing to match the copper so that it doesn't stand out. Trying to actually screw the copper pipes into blocks, etc. is way too much of a pain IMHO because you have to have the copper tubing aligned PERFECTLY.
