Poly top or Al top waterblocks

Wicked Klown · Apr 14, 2004

Noxipoo wanted to know which kinda top you had. With that said
please reply with Poly or AL for the waterblock you bought. I hear poly tops crack easily, which scares me but AL can corrode so I don't know what to get. Please tell me which you got and why, also how its working out. thanks!

Wicked Klown · Apr 14, 2004

Guess I'll be the first to post. Myself I went with a Whitewater poly top block. Yes I've heard they can crack but most the time is it because of the user not the top.

ILikeMy240sx · Apr 14, 2004

Personally Id rank them...

Copper>Al>Poly

Copper is the best

Anodized Al with antifreeze should prevent corrosion...

Poly is cool that you can see inside the block but prone to cracking .

Wicked Klown · Apr 14, 2004

The guy who did this first just said Poly or AL. I tossed the copper in myself.

Mikeonatrike · Apr 14, 2004

Poly for sure, if its good like the lexan i have it shoulnt crack ever.

Korndog · Apr 14, 2004

Mikeonatrike said:
Poly for sure, if its good like the lexan i have it shoulnt crack ever.

is lexan stronger then polycarbonate?
all i have is a thin piece of lexan so i can't judge.

Wicked Klown · Apr 14, 2004

Lexan is bulletproof is that helps with your answer.

ares350 · Apr 14, 2004

if you have al, why not toss a chunk of zinc in the resevior? no more corrosion.

Mikeonatrike · Apr 14, 2004

Polycarbonate is lexan as far as i know. But like everything there are varying grades.

Id like to add why i like lexan, its cheaper then copper, doesnt corrode, is easier to work with, is clear and is way lighter. Only down side is it scratches very easy if u dont have the margaurd stuff. But u can clear it up really nice with some fairly fine grit sandpaper and a little heat.

crimedog · Apr 14, 2004

i have a brass top on my rbx it's purdy

noxipoo · Apr 14, 2004

thanks for making the poll, i didn't include copper since thats almost never a choice in waterblocks when you are buying from places that has a choice. eg. dtek and DD. I just don't if it worth the corrosion and extra price for AL top. do people clean them after a while, clean out the stuff that builds up?

ILikeMy240sx · Apr 14, 2004

I am confused as to what the poll is really asking....

Do you want to know what people have? (as the poll reads...)
or
Do you want to know which are better?

I wasnt sure.. thats why i voted for what I have but put an opinion on what I think is the best...

Korndog · Apr 14, 2004

Klownin79 said:
Lexan is bulletproof is that helps with your answer.

whoa.. um.. yea
oh yea, the window at where i work are bullet proof, but they're 1" thick. how does polycarbonate compare to it?

ILikeMy240sx · Apr 14, 2004

Mikeonatrike said:
Polycarbonate is lexan as far as i know. But like everything there are varying grades.

Lexan is just a trademark name for polycarbonate by GE...

In order for Lexan to be bullet-proof theyd have to be pretty damn thick... Alot thicker than normal WB top's thickness so even though it is strong it is not indestructible so it is still prone to cracking.

Of course it's not something that can not be prevented however it still does occur.

Mikeonatrike · Apr 14, 2004

I wonder if 1/2 lexan could stop a 22. And tomorow i will post a picture of a brass barb over torqued into some 1/4 lexan.

Ill print out my first post and eat it if it cracks

Wicked Klown · Apr 14, 2004

ILikeMy240sx said:
Lexan is just a trademark name for polycarbonate by GE...

In order for Lexan to be bullet-proof theyd have to be pretty damn thick... Alot thicker than normal WB top's thickness so even though it is strong it is not indestructible so it is still prone to cracking.

Of course it's not something that can not be prevented however it still does occur.

Hate to say you wrong. The same thinkness as my WW top is bulletproof. Also id DB drag they use lexan for their windows because the tried what was known as bulletproof glass and it broke under the pressure.

VAdept · Apr 14, 2004

Copper here, I like keeping things as safe as possible.

Diggrr · Apr 14, 2004

I run a poly topped Gemini spiral now, but the next one's copper, mainly because I have a bar and there's gonna be some weight hanging from it.
The new block also has an O-ring, and I'm using copper tube for barbs (maximum ID). I tried a poly top but it bowed, and securing my barbs is problematic, so I'm not satisfied.
Poly is great, but has it's limits.

slater3333uk · Apr 14, 2004

Coming from someone who is attualy making blocks I would choose anodised aluminium.

- Its Cheaper
- Its Stronger
- Its lightweight
- Its the easyest to machine
- It can be anodised in many differant colours

Copper comes in a close 2nd but IMO other than a slightly less chance of it corroding its relly has no advantage.

The issue of aluminium corroding is basicly sloved by anodising and the use of a sutible addtive to the water (which is still require with an all copper system).

Brass is interesting. Not used very often but IMO could be better than copper in most ways.

IMO Poly tops are a idiotic solution. I can understand if you want to see inside the block (which was the original reson for using poly) but if you dont care about that then it relly is a big risk to take.

Im sure there must be less brittle forms of plastic out there that would be suitble. Any ideas?

pelikan · Apr 14, 2004

I have a poly top on my cascade. I think poly tops are fine if you are careful not to overtighten them.

Poly top or Al top waterblocks

What kinda top do you have

Poly

Al

Copper

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