Thanks for the replies... All great info.... and have all the options...
My design criteria, is
- Reliable, leak free
- Easy to connect / disconnect / route
- Light and simple (less parts)
- Cost and weight minimized
So many choices
It looks like the PUSH on devices (which are kind of new to me) are all over now a days, not only the usual suspects, but other non aviation on line aviation. Not that expensive. I will try it. These tubes and fittings are used in pneumatics, robotics, and shop equipment. So price is very good. Looks like a no brainer. Still the Alum to Plastic question....
Aviation isle at the local big box home improvement can get the pitot/static job done (in brass, compression fittings and 1/4" and polyethylene tube). The hardware store brass fitting method is not that cheap and not light. Brass compression fittings made for 1/4" copper tubes would work on alum. They go to NPT male. Then a female to female NPT female coupler, finally to NPT to push on fitting for plastic.
I could go aluminum tube flared AN hardware to NPT male, Non critical AN fittings from the car guys not too bad on money. Flare nut set up to NPT, and alum AN NPT coupler to NPT to push on plastic tube fitting. It would look nice.
That is another thing I want it to look good. I am not a fan of Van's Pop Rivet push on a tube and blob of RTV method for static sources. It "works" but if you ever paid an avionics guy money for your Pitot Static Transponder test and there is a tiny leak it's a pain to chase it down. And may have to come back and cost more money. I want a solid no leak last a long time set up.
The PUSH on couple on to the alum tube? I was not sure (still not) sure how these would do on METAL tubes, as they seem to be for plastic tubes. However Dynon seems to do this. I think this is the way I am going. Does not work I can go AN fitting or "old school" below.
The old school alluded to above, is how I use to do it, vinyl tube, barbed fittings, small clamps or safety wire clamp tool (it is a tool to make several paralleled wraps of safety wire around a hose, to make a hose clamp). Making a splice, or transition from 1/4" alum to 1/4" plastic can be done old school, vinyl tube with 1/4" ID and clamp on the smaller tubes. The PUSH on looks more elegant. Just not sure it was made for metal tubes, but Dynon seems to do this.
Pretty much going with push on. It looks like there are non aviation suppliers I can make a kit from.... I am going to buy the parts and start playing erector set Mr. plumber. If I don't like something I'll in the time honored tradition for kit building do it again.
