Glueing spa-flex into PVC?

[homer1475]

The nice thing about spa-flex is it glues up just like PVC. Just use regular old PVC primer and glue. I prefer the clear primer, just so it doesn't leave that purple residue on my colored pipes.

As far as pipe dope, teflon tape is garbage for our purposes, use the oatey's teflon paste. It stays soft even after years of use, and is easy peasy to remove from the threads.

 

[A sea K]

What type of pipe dope should I use on the threaded joints? Everybody seems to use Teflon tape- but have heard/seen that is a no-no ?

As far as pipe dope, teflon tape is garbage for our purposes, use the oatey's teflon paste. It stays soft even after years of use, and is easy peasy to remove from the threads.

Even though I typically use the paste, why is the tape not suitable for our use? I'm only asking for the sake of curiosity.

 

[homer1475]

It's perfectly suitable for our use, but what typically happens with the tape, people put to many wraps on it defeating the purpose of its use. Also it adds to the thickness of the threads and can cause a fitting to split because of the added thickness.

It's also a PITA to remove from the threads when you have to take a threaded fitting apart and rewrap it for future use.

 

[A sea K]

Ah ha, very valid points. Thanks for the response.

 

[Ou8me2]

I also agree with the spa flex hose I used it and barb fittings on the return on my 60 and the memory of it was horrible. It was close to the end of the role and was incredibly difficult to work with so now I am turned off the idea of it.

You aren't supposed to use barb fitting with spa flex. It's made to work with PVC fittings, not barbed ones. So yeah, It's gonna suck.

 

[C.Eymann]

Anytime I was plumbing a tank and had to incorporate flex, I would always use Oatley Rain or Shine PVC glue (blue stuff) its a lot thicker and seals better.
I would also let it sit out on a hot driveway if it was warm enough out or soak in a bathtub full of hot water to make it much more pliable/ rid it of memory.