Cooling Push-in fittings

Questors

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Oct 28, 2018
130
86
I saw a SFF build video on YouTube using and briefly talking about push-in/push to connect fittings. Unbelievably, I had not considered them for PC. I enjoy building custom liquid cooled PCs of all sizes, but SFF is my favorite fun. Anyone else who does, already understands the challenges that come along with this. Using these fittings and tube could be an answer to some perplexing issues.

(THE) Question: Are we talking fitting and tube that is otherwise generally considered for the pneumatics industry? For example fittings on this page (I am not endorsing this business, simply for example): https://www.mcmaster.com/products/p...surement~metric/tube-od~10-mm/shape~90-elbow/

My secondary question: Would the tube used with this type of fitting be a plasticizer or other chemical/substance leech risk to channels and groves cut into the water blocks?
 

confusis

John Morrison. Founder and Team Leader of SFF.N
SFFn Staff
Jun 19, 2015
4,687
7,953
Auckland, New Zealand
sff.network
Interesting. My experience with that type of fitting has always had them quite small - think the bowden tube in 3D printers. Seems that some are also rated for water, which I didn't expect.

Given that they can be used in the food industry, I'd imagine there are tubing options that don't leech out any chemicals, but I also imagine that tubing will be significantly more expensive than the equivalent used for air brakes in trucks, etc. The specific food grade connectors list "Use with FEP, Nylon, Polyethylene, or PTFE Plastic" on the product page, but my plastics knowledge cuts out well before being able to give you an answer as to which would be the correct one to use.
 
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Skripka

Cat-Dog Perch Manager
May 18, 2020
519
636
McMaster is a great place to buy just about all things.

The problem is that the PC watercooling industry settled on a standard for threading of fittings and blocks called G1/4"...which is out there in the wild in plumbing and pneumatics... but very easy to buy the wrong thing unless you pay a lot of attention:

 

Questors

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Oct 28, 2018
130
86
Interesting. My experience with that type of fitting has always had them quite small - think the bowden tube in 3D printers. Seems that some are also rated for water, which I didn't expect.

Given that they can be used in the food industry, I'd imagine there are tubing options that don't leech out any chemicals, but I also imagine that tubing will be significantly more expensive than the equivalent used for air brakes in trucks, etc. The specific food grade connectors list "Use with FEP, Nylon, Polyethylene, or PTFE Plastic" on the product page, but my plastics knowledge cuts out well before being able to give you an answer as to which would be the correct one to use.
I notice some mentioned liquid and were nickel plated brass like "normal" PC liquid cooling fittings.

In retrospect, the tube would be my foremost concern. I had considered if tube was labeled food safe, things would be fine. My expertise in plastics stops at cellophane wrap. At which I frequently fail. 🫤😁
 
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Questors

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Oct 28, 2018
130
86
McMaster is a great place to buy just about all things.

The problem is that the PC watercooling industry settled on a standard for threading of fittings and blocks called G1/4"...which is out there in the wild in plumbing and pneumatics... but very easy to buy the wrong thing unless you pay a lot of attention:

One must pay close attention to thread. I learned that early on with homemade DIY water cooling for PCs