The Hydro X Series XT Softline Mesh Sleeved Tubing can give a very unique look to your build, along with the advantages that EDPM gives (in short, less maintenance and no discoloration of the tubing over time).
It can, however be a bit tricky to cut due to the mesh sleeving, so in this guide we will give you a few tips and tricks to how you can make sure not to fray, twist or ruin your tubing as we already did that, and now know how NOT to do it.
But what is the XT Softline Mesh Sleeved Tubing, and how is it different from the regular softline?
This version of tubing has two key differences, the first of course being that it has a sleeved mesh exterior as you know it from our premium individually sleeved PSU cables. The second difference is the actual material of the tubing inside of the sleeving. This is now made from black EDPM rubber tubing instead of clear PVC. This have a few advantages, but the key one is that EDPM is more resistant to various coolants, and will not discolor over time. The downside for some is that it is not transparent.
The answer is both yes and no. You can use most sharp tools for cutting the mesh tubing, but where it gets a bit tricky is to keep the mesh from fraying.
The secret to the perfect cut with mesh tubing is actually pretty simple. Just follow these steps and you will get the best result each time:
1 - Mount both of your fitting clamps on the tubing before you cut any of the ends to length. We've found success by keeping the factory tape on one end and slide the fitting clamps on from that end.
(If you do not have either the factory clear tape on the end of the tubing, or put one of the supplied black pieces of tape on, you will likely fray the mesh sleeving when you mount your fitting clamp. If you do so, make sure to cut off the piece of the tubing that is frayed.)
2 - Cut your tubing to length with a sharp pair of scissors. Use the sharpest pair of scissors you can find. Additionally, try to use the part of the scissors closest to the handle, as this is where the blades are sharpest, and it will give you more control.
3 - Mount the tubing carefully onto your fittings - avoid touching the end too much as you might fray up the sleeving.
The included black strips of tape can be helpful if you want a bit more help to avoid fraying. They do come with a slight downside which is that having this tape on, will make it a bit harder to mount the tubing onto the actual fitting as the tape does not expand as much as the tubing.
Notice in the above image that we have mounted the tape so that it does not overlap, and in the second image you can see how the tubing expands. If the tape had overlapped it would not have been able to expand and putting the tube on the fitting would be almost impossible.
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