Good point. I used to run 1/2 over 5/8 barbs, but now I'm addicted to DD high-flow barbs. They just rock, and they're stumpy enough to help in routing.
Barbs, its a trust thing and these to me seem the most secure. I'm not too big a fan of the hi-flow barbs tho, while they look better I find they don't grab the tube as well as the usual type.
Swagelok is the best http://www.swagelok.com/ (select Fittings/Tube), but a few fittings may cost as much as a full case.
I wonder how many people voting here have used all 3 types of fitting and done some tests to see which ones the best? Not a lot probably. people are voting for what they use, not nessecarily whats best.
I currently have a set up using push fit connectors - See Here. The problem is that because I have a powerfull pump and no reservoir in the system, air is "sucked" in through the push fit connectors causing bubbles in the water. I solved this by squashing blue-tak around all the connectors, it works, but it's a bodge and looks messy. Not that looks are my primary concern, you'll notice that there are no flashing lights or windows in my £25.00 PC case. I have now purchased a set of Dangerden, barbed water blocks and some barbs to replace all the Asetek water blocks and push fit connectors. Also, the 10mm outer, 8mm inner nylon tubing I use with the push fit connectors is very stiff and it's awkward to use. The 5/8 inch outer, 12 inch inner, PVC tubing I have to go with the barbs is really soft and flexible and it should be much easier to assemble everything. Since I put the system together I have come up with a much neater way of doing it and when I get time I plan to re-make the manifolds and tidy up the whole thing. In any case, I'd stick with barbs. However, not all barbs are created equal and some have very thick walls which reduce the internal diameter considerably. Some plastic barbs I've got have an internal diameter of around 8mm, which makes large bore 1/2 inch ID tubing a bit pointless. The high-flow barbs on the newer Dangerden blocks have an ID of 10mm, which is pretty good. I also got hold of some 3/8 inch BSPT 14mm barbs to attach to my manifolds which have an ID of 11mm; these fit nicely in the soft 1/2 inch ID PVC tubing I have. Check out http://www.airlines-pneumatics.co.uk/ for barbs and fittings, they are generally cheaper than PC Hardware suppliers providing you are buying several items to offset the postage cost.
Well depends really, they all have their disadvantages. Barbs you need hose clamps (which can look ugly, and metal worm gear hose clamps can tear hoses if you over tighten). You can also put smaller hoses on larger barbs, but then again, you over stretch the hose and risk tearing. Compression fittings you munch on the hose opening, and if you use hose too soft it tears, and if you use hose too stiff it leaks. You can also have a hard time releasing the hose if you over tightened the compression to begin with. Press fit (plug and cool) is picky on the type of hose you choose as well, too stiff and it leaks, too soft and it leaks, but I think PVC hose is the only hose that you can use here so not really much an issue. Press fit isn't as a secure of a hold as a barb+hose clamp or compression and if you have some strange bending going on, it'll lead to a leak as well. Like I said it depends on what you're going for. If you're a high flow/big tube guy, use barbs and hose clamps (you really don't have any other option, unless you copper pipe/brass fit everything). If you're a low flow/minimalist type of guy, use compression or press fit. If you want fancy UV reactive tubing, you gotta use whatever's compatible with the tubing (probably barbs). And of course you can copper pipe everything low or high flow, but I don't think it's "pretty" (who the heck wants the inside of their comp to look like a sink cabinet anyway?). Someone suggested swageloks, but only chemists use those (damn those chemists). I guess if you wanna look like a chemist, you can go ahead and use em. Me, I like mesh hoses. No barb, no compression fitting, no push fit to deal with. Just use a coupler and screw the hose on (and if you need some weird thread combination, they're not hard to custom make, just need a few thread dies, a lathe can be helpful too). Plus it gives it a nice industrial look. Only problem is, finding the right length hose can be tricky sometimes... -L6
For pushfits you use polyurethane hose or nylon tubing. Provided you buy hose that is designed for the job at cut it staight, you will have a hell of a job getting it to leak. Actually it's really the same for all systems: Get the right hose for your chosen fittings, use them correctly and it won't leak.
i've always wondered, is it easy or even possible to reuse the Plug&Cool or any of the quick connect fittings? those things are about $5 a pair and i would hate to keep on buying them everytime i swap out parts in my system, which happens about every 6-12 months. i personally use barbs, the only thing i've had experience w/ using Quick Connects were the connectors for my AseTek Antartica waterblock, that happened to have 3 of them. but then it came w/ a Y-Connector that was regular barb and worm drive clamps. i had to slit my tubing to get the tubes out of the Quick Connects plus you usually have to use those plastic "things" inside the tube then plug it in. is it always neccessary?
Of course they're reusable. I've been using and reusing the same push fits since late 2003 with no problems. I put together an Asetek kit for a friend and the pushfits used with those seem different, but that could have been because the tube is much softer than what I use with my Aqua Computer stuff. To get tubing out of the pushfits, you just need to push down on the plastic ring, then pull out the tubing. Needlenose pliers make it easier, so much easier that I've never had any throw-aways. The Asetek stuff works the same too.
Easier than getting tubing off barbs IMO, since there's nothing grabbing the tubing once you push down the release ring thing (versus 5-6 sets of teeth on the barbs). Quite reusable.
I use barb and "O" ring type tbh... the connection from hose to barb with the o rings is fantastic although can be a pain to remove afterwards
I built my WC setup from scratch and use 1/2" Cu pipe for plumbing. For my hoses I use 5/8" I.D. (3/4" O.D.) which fits perfectly over the 1/2" Cu pipe. Then I use worm drive clamps, doubled up for safety. That way I have no barb or fittings to impede water flow, it's as cheap as it gets, easy to take apart, and actually looks better than you'd expect.
does anyone know where to get metal Push-in Fittings in the US? i've had to settle for some plastic ones from Home Depot
I use barbs with real tight jubilee clips on mine, I have total trust theres no chance in hell its going to leak 'cos i have the clips done so tight its nearly striping the threads I did have a leak on my plastic t-line though but I didnt have a clip on it, I put a clip on and no more leak. I've never used any of the other methods though so I cant really compare.
