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Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 11:44 am
by jarndice
When an unarticulated Plastic or Paper drinking straw is bent it collapses at the point of the bend.
What I would like to know is does that happen when you bend a Silicone drinking straw or does it retain a clear inside diameter throughout the bend just as an Articulated straw does?
I ask because I use Articulated Plastic straws instead of the plastic pipes supplied with both the Heng Long/Taigen and Tarr Smokers,
Being articulated and much longer than the pre-supplied pipes I am able to route the pipe pretty much from and too wherever I want and I can place the Smoker wherever I want but being mindful of the plastic backlash against plastic straws I thought it might be wise to find an alternative.

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 12:15 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
They sell silicon tube for car window washers that can bend and retain its shape, but like any tube, you bend it too sharply it will kink. As the softest type of tubing silicon still can't stretch enough on the outside of the bend and compress on the inside to stop kinking or flattening.
The only way to possibly do it would be to fit the tube within a spring that tightly fits the outside of the tube.
Which would be easier than fitting a spring that tightly fits inside the tube.

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 12:29 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
You can purchase small reinforced medical grade tubing, I thought I had a link for some, I'll keep looking.

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:01 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
I found my link, but it wasn't for the medical grade tube.

The smallest id this place does is 5mm.

Clear Reinforced PVC Hose – Per Metre – Direct Hoses
https://www.directhoses.co.uk/product/c ... nvEALw_wcB

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:18 pm
by jarndice
Hi Mick thanks for your help,
I need an inside diameter of 5mm and there is a company I found on line that sells Silicon Pipe for Gaggia Coffee Machines with Pipe at 5mm inside an 9mm outside diameter a metre of it is going for £19 which seems a bit steep so if there's one there should be more and perhaps cheaper.

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:28 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
Could always get the washer tube and put it in a spring where it needs the tightest bend.

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:43 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
What about using this type of thing where you want a tight bend.

10Pcs 2 Way Clear Aquarium Connector Tube Elbow Air Valves Fitting Fish Tank CN | eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pcs-2-Way- ... .l4275.c10

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 3:55 pm
by General Jumbo01
One very simple way is to go to a model shop that does l/C powered RC race cars as they use a very soft clear silicon fuel tube that doesn't collapse, comes on a reel so is sold in any length, is cheap and is a perfect fit for the smokers.

Like you, l like to fit my smokers so that they can be easily topped up via a second filler tube and have modified all my tanks using this tubing. Works a treat.

Sent from my ASUS_T00G using Tapatalk

Re: Silicon Straws.

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 4:12 pm
by RobW
Screen wash tube is probably about the right size: check the local motor factors or Halfwits.