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water level - best tubing to use?

JohnWalker's picture

water level - best tubing to use? (post #205189)

JohnWalker on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 21:24
in

I need to make up a 35' water level with bucket reservoir.

I've had bad experience before with plain old vinyl tubing, kinks or collapses, and then has a memory for that kink.

What is your best recommendation for type of tubing and size also?

Thanks in advance.

John

-A +A

I like Tygon® brand plastic tubing (post #205189, reply #1 of 4)

by bill704 in reply to JohnWalker [original] on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 18:04

The supplier I purchase tubing from is US Plastic Corp.

Tygon brand tubing IMHO, is the best stuff out there but it's pricy though.

The hardness of the tubing will determine if it will hold a kink.

Here's the breakdown for 1/4" I.D. x 3/8" O.D. x 1/16" Wall tubing:

Generic clear plastic (PVC) tubing has a durometer of 68 on the Shore A scale, that's pretty hard flexible tubing (almost as hard as a car tire), but it's very cheap ($0.13 per foot).

Tygon® Medical/Surgical Tubing with a durometer of 66A, it's a bit more flexible. ($1.35 per foot) http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.as...

Tygon® Beverage Tubing with a durometer of 63A, more flexible still. ($1.01 per foot) http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.as...

Tygon® Laboratory Tubing with a durometer of 55A, this stuff is quite flexible. ($1.02 per foot) http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.as...

Tygon® Ultra-Soft Tubing with a durometer of 40A, this stuff is flexible like limp rope and expensive. ($1.61 per foot) http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.as...

Keep one thing in mind, it's gets harder to drag the tubing around if it's too soft, it'll want to snag on every little thing until it gets coated with sawdust.

I think your best bet is Tygon® Beverage Tubing, (Tygon® Laboratory Tubing may be too soft) IMHO.

Bill

I think "plain old vinyl (post #205189, reply #2 of 4)

by DanH in reply to JohnWalker [original] on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 19:14

I think "plain old vinyl tubing" will work, if you get stuff with a thick enough wall compared to its diameter.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

Plain ol' garden hose works (post #205189, reply #3 of 4)

by junkhound in reply to JohnWalker [original] on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 04:29

Plain ol' garden hose works fine for me.

Been using 3/8" vinyl from HD (post #205189, reply #4 of 4)

by florida in reply to JohnWalker [original] on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 13:18

Been using 3/8" vinyl from HD for 10 years now with no problem.