Sourcing stuff locally

I found a crack in the tank of my Big Daddy today. It's not a small crack - it's about a third of the length of the tank and I'm figuring that I'll have to write off the tube. I don't think it's from my juice (I've only ever put licorice in that tank) so I'm guessing it's from some kind of impact damage or a flaw in the tube at manufacture. I've switched over to my stainless tank for the time being ... but I got that for when I'm next on a long distance ride ... and not being able to see how much juice I've got left is a pain in the date.

Ah well ... Stuff happens.

My biggest gripe is the cost of postage for a replacement tank ... I'm sick of paying the USPS $16.33! Every time I order something from the US my break even date gets pushed further back. I don't mind it for things like Nic which I can't source locally, but I figure that there has to be somewhere in.coms where I can get some of this stuff.

I'm also going to need new 0 rings for a couple of tanks soon. And they HAVE to be available locally.

I've been looking on the web ... there seem to be plenty of places that supply polycarbonate tubing - but I figure that's a bit too generic a description. And I'm wondering if polypropylene wouldn't be a better option. I'd love to look at pyrex ... but I can't work with that so I'll have to leave that to those who actually have those skills.

Then again - if I can buy a meter of the right size polycarbonate for a reasonable price, it wouldn't bother me to replace one every few weeks.

And it'd give me an excuse to buy a dremel


So - before I go to town ... has anyone any suggestions, or knowledge in this arena that will give me a better chance of a successful outcome?

 

Hey Scotty

I would like to suggest that you don't buy a Dremmel just to work on Polycarbonate tubing. Its a PITA as the tool rotates to fast and unless very careful you will screw up the attachments as the plastic melts rather than cuts. A better option in my opinion is to use a jig saw for the polycarbonate. Sure a Dremmel has its place in the tool kit, but a cheaper knock off serves our purpose just as well at a quarter the price.

 

Thanks for that mate. I must admit I was planning on checking out the local vendors for pyrex stuff.

But for polycarb tubes ... I'll have to write to VK and get some dimensions of their tanks to see if they'll fit the caps I have now.



I might look in to a manual option in that case ... I don't know if I have enough justification for a jigsaw.

As to the cheaper knock off's ... I've come to the conclusion that going that route is false economy with tools. Which is not to say that I'd insist on a dremel if there was a suitable alternative. I like the Maktec stuff for example.


Thanks for the input guys

 

good steak knife will do the job

 

lol - VERY Senior Member