Delrin Sleeve, 1/4

This 1/4-inch Delrin sleeve from Midland Metal is a precision ferrule used in compression-style tube fittings to create a secure, leak-resistant seal on plastic or soft tubing. Delrin, an acetal engineering plastic, is tough yet low in friction, allowing it to grip tubing firmly without crushing or scoring it, which is why it is such a popular sealing element in water treatment, reverse osmosis, and small-line plumbing connections.

In a compression fitting, the sleeve is compressed against the tubing as the nut is tightened down onto the fitting body. That controlled compression is what forms the seal, holding the tube in place and keeping water contained within the line. Because the seal depends on a clean, properly shaped ferrule, using the correctly sized Delrin sleeve is important for a reliable connection, and fitting a fresh ferrule when remaking a joint helps avoid the leaks that so often come from reusing worn or deformed parts.

• Brand: Midland Metal Mfg
• Fitting type: compression sleeve (ferrule)
• Material: Delrin (acetal plastic)
• Size: 1/4 inch
• Gentle yet secure grip ideal for plastic tubing
• Item weight: 0.01 lbs

Delrin's properties make it especially well matched to plastic and poly tubing, where a metal ferrule might bite too aggressively. It provides enough holding force to resist the tube pulling out under pressure while remaining kind to the tube wall, helping the connection stay both secure and serviceable.

Because ferrules are best replaced rather than reused after a fitting has been disassembled, keeping a supply of these inexpensive sleeves on hand makes tube-fitting work fast, clean, and dependable. Pair the sleeve with the correct 1/4-inch compression nut and a matching fitting body, and, for soft tubing, consider adding a tube support insert to keep the tube round under compression. The result is a tidy, leak-free connection you can make confidently every time. For technicians who make many tube connections, buying these ferrules in quantity ensures you always have a fresh one when reassembling a joint, which is the single most reliable way to keep compression fittings leak-free. A clean, square-cut tube end also helps the ferrule seal evenly, so taking a moment to trim the tubing properly before assembly is a small habit that pays off in connections that hold the first time, every time.