How to Cut HPLC Tubing: Your Guide to Peak Performance

High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a powerful analytical technique, but results can depend greatly on seemingly minor details, such as the tubing used throughout the system. In this article, we’ll explore various cutting techniques, pre-cut options, and a new innovative solution for leak-free, hassle-free HPLC connections.

Sharp Cuts for Peak Performance

Proper connections are essential for achieving consistent and accurate HPLC results. If the tubing has jagged edges rather than clean-cut edges, you’re at risk of experiencing unnecessary dead volume, leaky connections, and even contamination. This can impact peak shapes and lead to inaccurate results. PEEK and Stainless Steel (SS) are the two most common materials for HPLC tubing. Occasionally, you may need to cut your HPLC tubing to a specific length, so here is how to achieve clean, square cuts for each material:

• PEEK Tubing: Our guillotine-style polymer tubing cutter delivers precise cuts. Ensure a perpendicular cut to minimize dead volume and prevent leaks.
• SS Tubing: The Terry Tool is the recommended tubing cutter for SS tubing. It cuts without deforming the tubing so that nuts and ferrules slip on without additional reaming or deburring.

Pre-Cut for Precision and Convenience

We recommend pre-cut SS tubing for most chromatographers. Below, we compare the edges of tubing that is pre-cut, cut with a commercially available tubing cutter, and filed tubing.

Especially for stainless steel tubing, the drawbacks of cutting your own tubing generally outweigh minimal cost savings. Pre-cut HPLC tubing offers several advantages:

• Ensure consistency: ensure uniform lengths, cuts, and minimized dead volume or variations that can affect results
• Minimize contamination risks: eliminate the potential for contamination introduced during the cutting process
• Save valuable time: focus on the analysis rather than preparing the tubing
  

Save time, reduce risk, ensure consistency with our pre-cut lengths of HPLC tubing:

SS

Precut or Custom
Length 316 SS Tubing

PEEK

Bio-Compatible, Great
SS Tubing Alternative

PEEKsil

PEEK-Lined 
Fused Silica Tubing

Capillaries

Flexible Capillaries for
Agilent Instrumentation

MarvelXACT for Added Convenience and Consistency

Are you worried about leaks and overtightening? IDEX recently released MarvelXACT HPLC connections. These innovative fittings audibly click for exact tightening, plus the PEEK or SS tubing is pre-attached. So, you have worry-free and hassle-free connections – no training or instructions needed. 

• No risk of over-tightening with an audible “click” for exact tightening
• Ensure zero dead volume and minimize carryover, peak broadening, and peak tailing
• Fingertight to 19,000 psi for 100+ connections

Conclusion

HPLC tubing, while seemingly simple, plays a crucial role in achieving accurate and reliable results. By understanding proper cutting techniques and the benefits of pre-cut options, you can ensure your HPLC system operates at peak performance.