Working with PVC pipe

Posted by James on July 28, 2006, 1:23 pm

Hello,

I had some PVC pipe left over from a project and my kids discovered it was
fun to play with. Having cut it into a few segments and smoothed up the
ends, I also had a spare T joint which I gave up.

It is a real hit, but, it turns out that it is difficult for little hands
to pry apart 1 1/2" PVC pipe from fittings. Obviously PVC is meant to get
glued together and stay together.

I was thinking of shaving down the diameter of the pipes for about 1" from
each end, to make the fittings less snug. Does anyone have an alternative
idea, or does anyone have a practical suggestion how to do this easily?

Thanks!

Posted by Glenn on July 28, 2006, 1:28 pm

Sure. A little sandpaper will do the trick.

> Hello,
> I had some PVC pipe left over from a project and my kids
> discovered it was fun to play with. Having cut it into a
> few segments and smoothed up the ends, I also had a spare
> T joint which I gave up.
> It is a real hit, but, it turns out that it is difficult
> for little hands to pry apart 1 1/2" PVC pipe from
> fittings. Obviously PVC is meant to get glued together
> and stay together.
> I was thinking of shaving down the diameter of the pipes
> for about 1" from each end, to make the fittings less
> snug. Does anyone have an alternative idea, or does
> anyone have a practical suggestion how to do this easily?
> Thanks!

Posted by on July 28, 2006, 1:46 pm

wrote:

>Hello,
>I had some PVC pipe left over from a project and my kids discovered it was
>fun to play with. Having cut it into a few segments and smoothed up the
>ends, I also had a spare T joint which I gave up.
>It is a real hit, but, it turns out that it is difficult for little hands
>to pry apart 1 1/2" PVC pipe from fittings. Obviously PVC is meant to get
>glued together and stay together.
>I was thinking of shaving down the diameter of the pipes for about 1" from
>each end, to make the fittings less snug. Does anyone have an alternative
>idea, or does anyone have a practical suggestion how to do this easily?
>Thanks!

Silicon lub will make them slide in and out pretty easy but it may be
too messy. If you are not going to put a load on it you can also cut a
small kerf in the couplings so they have some give to them.

Posted by Bob Morrison on July 28, 2006, 5:57 pm

In a previous post gfretwell@aol.com wrote...

> Silicon lub will make them slide in and out pretty easy but it may be
> too messy. If you are not going to put a load on it you can also cut a
> small kerf in the couplings so they have some give to them.
>

Along this line you could try a silicone spray on the ends.

--
Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA
bob at rlmorrisonengr dot com

Posted by Joshua Putnam on July 28, 2006, 1:47 pm

@dontspam.me.invalid says...

> I was thinking of shaving down the diameter of the pipes for about 1" from
> each end, to make the fittings less snug. Does anyone have an alternative
> idea, or does anyone have a practical suggestion how to do this easily?

I've used PVC to make displays that knock down easily. Sanding the ends
works well.

--
josh@phred.org is Joshua Putnam

<http://www.phred.org/~josh/>

Updated Infrared Photography Books List:

<http://www.phred.org/~josh/photo/irbooks.html>

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