PVC pipes are widely used in plumbing, especially when it comes to the disposal of domestic wastewater. By their lightness and their practical use, they have even managed to dethrone lead. On the market, there is a wide range of tubes with different dimensions, but we sometimes need a PVC pipe bender to better adapt it to very specific needs.
But do not worry, if you follow the instructions below, you will be able to bend the pipe at 90° without risk of breakage and with ease. The technique used for bending the PVC pipe at 90° is the same as that applied for steel or copper pipes. Thus, you will only need four elements: a PVC tube, a vise, sand, and a heat gun.
To learn more about DIY projects for bending the PVC pipe, visit EZ Bend by clicking here.
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Cool DIY Projects
PVC pipes are basic, inexpensive, and very practical building materials. They come in all sizes and widths. With a simple tool, you can transform the PVC pipes into a computer support, a cabin, a bicycle cart, a floating cage, a feeder, or a wine cellar. The possibilities are endless! You can cut them, paint them, drill them, and glue them — making them a great material for any DIY project, no matter how wacky they are! You can use them to turn your balcony into a vegetable garden using a stacking method. This is especially useful if you live in an apartment and do not have yard space but love to garden. You can use PVC pipes to make a shoe shelf to stack your shoes into a small space. You can use PVC pipes to make a base, which you can put your computer on, so it does not overheat. It can be used to make a clothesline or pieces of furniture.
Child Safety Gate with PVC Pipe
For a small child, you can build a safety gate in your home to prevent accidents. First you would gather the items including fittings and PVC (furniture grade), which is the best choice since these are non-toxic and safe. More importantly, when exposed to sunlight, it will not decompose or break down. You would use slats with measurements between 2 and ¾ inches apart. You would make sure the edges and corners are rounded to prevent snagging or pinching when the gate is closed. Building it with PVC pipe will allow you to attach it to a door frame or wall. You will also be able to have it swing in and out and remove it if you want.
PVC Pipe Hack
There are so many ways that you can use PVC pipe without creating an actual project. Here is an example:
If you need a knife holder to take with you on a camping trip or picnic and don’t want to remove the one you have at home, all you have to do is to put two PVC pipes together with a cap. Glue the cap on only one end of the PVC pipe; marking an “X” on the cap not glued. You will always know the end of the PVC pipe you should open. This is great for camping storage. Now, let us touch on some of the essential tools needed for your DIY projects.
How to choose a heat gun?
The choice of a gun is generally determined by three criteria: power, temperature, and protection system. A good stripper that is suitable for multiple uses should have an engine rated at 1800w or more. It must also offer a wide temperature range that starts with 50° and can reach more than 500°. Finally, the gun must be equipped with a protection system against overheating to ensure safe use.
The Process
You would start by plugging one of the ends of the PVC tube that you want to bend with the tape prior to wedging it in the vice to better fix it. Later, if you do not have a container, you can get it by simply cutting a water bottle in half.
Then, you would fill the tube with sand using the container. Once filling is complete, remove the container. At this level, make sure that the sand is well packed before closing the still-open end of the PVC tube.
The second step consists of the actual bending the PVC pipe. To succeed in this operation, you must apply this trick: the larger the heating surface, the better the results will be.
Indeed, if the heating surface is short or if you make the bending the PVC pipe near the vice, you risk having blowholes. While keeping this little advice in mind, you would start to heat a large area of the PVC pipe using a heat gun which should be set at 400°C.
The operation will take a few minutes until the tube becomes soft. At this point, you would bend it gently until you reach the desired angle.
Once 90° is reached, the tube is cooled using water and the tube is subsequently emptied of sand. And there you go! Your PVC tube is ready for use. If you have finished but feel that your tube needs to be tighter at an angle, no problem! You can still reheat it if the sand is still piled up in the tube.
Get the Equipment you Need to Bend PVC Pipes
To conclude, you must always keep in mind simple tips to be successful with your project. Make sure that the sand is well piled up, heat the tube to the right temperature using a high-performance gun, and finally, you must work on a large enough surface. Organize and keep your accessories and tools including your drill handy so that you can challenge any PVC DIY project.
Want to know more about how to bend PVC Pipe for your next DIY project? Visit EZ Bend here.
