How to Make Your Own Coil Tubing

You can easily coil straight tubing by yourself.

Sometimes when you are working at home on a do-it-yourself project, you may find that you need coiled tubing. If you only have straight tubing, it is simple enough to coil the tubing on your own, rather than running out to the store to purchase pre-coiled tubing. Coiling the tube takes minimal effort and can be accomplished using just a few basic household items.

Things You'll Need

• PVC pipe
• Tubing
• Large pot
• Tape measure
• Cylinder (same diameter as the finished coiled tubing)
• Tongs
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Determine the length of coiled tubing you will need. Measure the tubing and cut it to the proper size, adding an additional 1.5 inches for every 4 inches to compensate for the tube being shorter once coiled.

2. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a full, rolling boil. Roll the tubing in your fist to create a small coil. Hold the coiled tubing carefully over the pot and slowly lower it into the boiling water. Leave the tubing in the boiling water for ten minutes. Remove with tongs and check for pliability. Place the tubing back into the boiling water if necessary and check it every ten minutes. Remove the tubing when it is pliable.

3. Hold the cylinder and the tubing in one hand. Let the tubing hang down from the top of the cylinder. Allow the tubing to cool slightly until it can be held in your hands. Begin wrapping the tubing around the cylinder with your other hand. Make sure this is done quickly so that the tubing remains warm and does not have a chance to cool down completely and harden. Place the tubing back into the boiling water until pliable if it cools down too much before the coiling is complete.

4. Place pieces of duct tape along the tubing to secure it to the cylinder. Work in small increments if the tubing is long, alternating between wrapping the coil and duct taping it into place. Make sure that the tubing coils remain flush against the cylinder to ensure the coil shape remains after the tubing has cooled. Set the cylinder aside and allow the tubing to cool completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when working with boiling water.

References

• Freelin Wade: Coiled Tubing and Hoses
• Freshwater Cichlids Info: Do It Yourself Coil Denitrator

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish