PVC 101 Need a Lesson

[greenstarman]

Can someone give me a brief description on the installtion of PVC.

1) Should I use a primer?
2) Any specific cements, brand names.
3) How to clean.

Never dabbled with plumbing that much. Any response would be helpful.

 

[jtemple42000]

PVC is easy to work with. You do not need anything special for the aquarium. You will just use the same stuf that you would use for home plumbing.

You need to get the primer/cleaner, usually purple. You will also need the cement. Cut your pieces to the desired length. Deburr the edges. Then you need to prime the inside of the coupler, elbow, tee, etc.... and prime the outside of the pipe. Prime the surfaces that will be touching, usually about 2-3 inches back from the end is good. Let the primer dry. Then I use cement on both surfaces as well. Slide the two pieces to gether and give them a little twist back and fourth. Do it quick, because after 10-20 seconds the cement will be hard and you will not be able to move anything. Wipe down the finished joint to get off excess glue. Thats it........run water through the plumbing to clean it up.

 

[maddyfish]

I use Oatey purple primer, and Oatey all purpose cement, with no leaks.

 

[TCU Reefer]

If you're working with 1" or under, buy some PVC cutters. They sell for about $12 at Home Depot. Makes nice clean cuts with no burrs.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7904874#post7904874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TCU Reefer
If you're working with 1" or under, buy some PVC cutters. They sell for about $12 at Home Depot. Makes nice clean cuts with no burrs.

I agree. These are invaluable when working with small diameter pvc.

The primer also comes in clear so you pipes do not turn purple. Same job, just a neater look.

 

[Konadog]

Be sure to hold the newly glued joint together for 10 seconds or so to be sure that it doesn't squeeze back out, the glue will act as a lubricant until it bonds.

 

[tye_c]

If you are working with over 1" pipe and have a circular saw. I would get a Masonry blade. They are like $5 at Home Depot. They work great for cutting larger PVC.

 

[greenstarman]

For small pipes can I use my miter saw with a wood blade?

Other wise that seems down right easy. I wasn't sure what the primer was for or if I need it. But the explanations have been straight forward.

Thanks all.

 

[jtemple42000]

You may be able to use a power miter saw if you use a fine tooth blade. Just make sure you hold the pipe tight against the fence or the blade may catch a break the pipe.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7905766#post7905766 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenstarman
For small pipes can I use my miter saw with a wood blade?

Other wise that seems down right easy. I wasn't sure what the primer was for or if I need it. But the explanations have been straight forward.

Thanks all.

I routinely cut pvc pipe with my miter saw. Works great, just clean off the shavings on the inside and outside of the pipe. Otherwise, they could get clogged inside your pumps.

 

[tye_c]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7905759#post7905759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tye_c
If you are working with over 1" pipe and have a circular saw. I would get a Masonry blade. They are like $5 at Home Depot. They work great for cutting larger PVC.

I meant Miter saw not Circular saw. The reason to use the masonry blade is that they are cheap. Fine tooth blades are more like $20 and up. I would rather ruin a cheap blade than an expensive one.

 

[Fire Marshall Dave]

Is primer really necessary? I just cleaned the the PVC with rubbing alcohol last time I plumbed a tank.

Yeah. I do realize that the primer is less than $5 a can.

 

[tgunn]

I have cut plenty of PVC and ABS with a carbide tipped framing blade in my miter saw. Just make sure to wear goggles, hold the pipe snugly and make the cut slowly.

The cuts are sooooo much quicker and always turn out nice and square.

Be very careful is shaving off a thin slice of pipe or a smaller piece as it can sometimes snag on the blade and fly from the saw. I usually only try to use the miter saw for cutting pieces at least 3" long.. I have cut every size from 1/2" up to 2".

Make sure to use a dust collection bag on your saw or you'll get plastic shavings EVERYWHERE..

 

[jtemple42000]

I suppose that primer isn't neccessary as long as it is cleaned with some sort of slovent before it is glued. However, for the best results and least chance for leaks I would use primer and glue that is made specifically for pcv.

 

[Pbrown3701]

first, i'm pretty sure you are not supposed to let the primer dry before adding the cement. The primer softens the plastic so that the cement can bond better - i've always heard do it while it is still wet.

Primer is not necessary as long as you are working with clean pipes. Primer is good for when you are working with a broken pipe underground on your sprinkler system, but for new pipes on a reef tank - not needed IMO. I usually just apply cement to both peices, wait about 15 seconds, reapply cement and then push together and hold 15 seconds. Never had a leak.

 

[MJAnderson]

Thread steal!

Do you hang your PVC pipe? I see all these pics of byzantine piping setups and rarely see any support.

 

[jtemple42000]

Blank

 

[BeanAnimal]

DO NOT LET THE PRIMER DRY!

DO ALWAYS USE THE PRIMER!

The primer is raw solvent. It is what does most of the work. If you let it dry, it will harden the pipe and the glue will have a harder time re-softening it.

The glue is "primer" with some solids added. It does not melt the pipe as well because of the solids and it's viscocity.

Anything less than about 2" pipe should get a quarter turn when you push the joint together. YOU MUST hold the joint for 15 seconds or so, the SOCKETS are tapered and will tend to push the wet joint apart if you don't hold it.

DO NOT MOVE the joint once you push it together, it will severaly weakin the bond.

DO WIPE off the excess glue, otherwise it will tend to soften that small area and weaken it. There should be no GLUE outside the joint... wipe it off.

 

[BeanAnimal]

All of my pipe is supported and neat... for short runs it does not really matter... but I like neat and clean.

 

[Jasen Hicks]

Primer is not needed on pipe 4" and under. It can be safer to use it, but i have only used it once on things that were less than 4" and it didnt really do anything special... the pipes i have primer on and those i dont... neither leak both are strong.

I use my mitre saw blade from the box and it works very well on PVC... granted after a while the blade is useless but its good... going slow is a must i have had pipe fly back at me... thank god for my saftey glass.... my knee on the other hand had a nice gash.

Jasen