After a few installs of Accuflex Bev-Seal Ultra 3/16" Barrier line i finally have it dialed in. It's now a snap to install, on both 3/16" and 1/4" fittings, and takes <1 min.
Heat gun
1) set to 250F
2) heat fitting, heat tubing (with hot air going into the tubing, as opposed to heating the tubing from the side)
3) insert fitting and press on. Done!
I clamped the fitting for insurance but it doesn't look like it need it. Be sure to wear gloves!
If you go too hot (say 350F) the tubing gets too soft and will collapse as you insert the fitting.
I've tried and done the following, i'm never doing any of these again:
1) pliers in the tubing to expand it
2) boiling water to heat tubing/fitting
3) boiling the pliers
4) wrestle, force, bang the fitting in
5) trim/angle the edge of the tubing to "funnel" the fitting in
6) additional combinations of the above
Some of my tubing is 1-2 years old and was installed with the plier method. It wasn't visible at the time but inserting the pliers into the tubing damaged the inner liner and after a few years of exposure the damaged area is absorbing/getting stained by the beer.
Heat gun
1) set to 250F
2) heat fitting, heat tubing (with hot air going into the tubing, as opposed to heating the tubing from the side)
3) insert fitting and press on. Done!
I clamped the fitting for insurance but it doesn't look like it need it. Be sure to wear gloves!
If you go too hot (say 350F) the tubing gets too soft and will collapse as you insert the fitting.
I've tried and done the following, i'm never doing any of these again:
1) pliers in the tubing to expand it
2) boiling water to heat tubing/fitting
3) boiling the pliers
4) wrestle, force, bang the fitting in
5) trim/angle the edge of the tubing to "funnel" the fitting in
6) additional combinations of the above
Some of my tubing is 1-2 years old and was installed with the plier method. It wasn't visible at the time but inserting the pliers into the tubing damaged the inner liner and after a few years of exposure the damaged area is absorbing/getting stained by the beer.