pvc vs cpvc glue

[firemanpat2910]

while in lowes yesterday my pops picked up a can of cpvc glue instead of pvc glue. The "ingrediants" all all the same except the last line, my question is..... Is there any real difference? will cpvc glue work on pvc? or do I have to throw it away? I have absolutely no need for cpvc.

 

[BeezFun]

They're not interchangeable.
The only cement that works on multiple types is the transition cement that joins ABS to PVC.

 

[bearcreek paul]

There is an all purpose cement for ABS,PVC and CPVC it's handy to have around.

 

[k0ua]

There is an all purpose cement for ABS,PVC and CPVC it's handy to have around.

Thats what I always get too.

James K0UA

 

[EddieWalker]

For drain lines, you can use just about anything. For water lines, under pressure, you risk failure when using glue.

PVC needs to have purple primer applied to soften and treat the PVC before applying clear PVC cement. The cement actuall melts or welds the piep and fitting together. Kind of like wood glue works. If you do it right, the pipe will break before the cement fails.

CPVC works the same way, but because it's rated for high temperatures, it requires a different cement to get the same results.

They are not interchangable. While you might get lucky for a period of time, you risk failure when the wrong product is used.

It's cheap. Don't take any chances. Do it right and never worry about it.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

I recently had purple cleaner and only CPVC glue. I used it because I was repairing a sprinkler fitting. I would never use it for any pressurized line or particularly a PVC line inside a wall. As it turns out, right after I used the CPVC glue on my sprinkler, I went to put it away and there was my PVC cement. How did I miss it?:confused2: The real problem with these products is that the normal homeowner has a lifetime supply in a single small can. What do you do with 10 year old PVC cement? IF the can is rusty, I won't use it. I just go buy another fresh can. The old cans burn really well when dumped on the burn pile before lighting.

 

[BeezFun]

What do you do with 10 year old PVC cement?

Sell it to the local teenagers, they know what to do with it.

 

[jonyyuma]

Most of the glue has a date on the bottom..Some of it jells and then does not work. I always use fresh glue when working on my household piping. My home is is CPVC piping..

 

[studor]

What do you do with 10 year old PVC cement?

Try sticking something together you don't want stuck - it's bound to work
If it is still liquid I use it - if not it goes to the hazardous waste depot

 

[jenkinsph]

I recently had purple cleaner and only CPVC glue. I used it because I was repairing a sprinkler fitting. I would never use it for any pressurized line or particularly a PVC line inside a wall. As it turns out, right after I used the CPVC glue on my sprinkler, I went to put it away and there was my PVC cement. How did I miss it?:confused2: The real problem with these products is that the normal homeowner has a lifetime supply in a single small can. What do you do with 10 year old PVC cement? IF the can is rusty, I won't use it. I just go buy another fresh can. The old cans burn really well when dumped on the burn pile before lighting.

Jinman,
Try the blue Rain or Shine cement for pvc sprinkler pipe next time. It will work if the pipe is still wet, good for situations where it is difficult to get the water to completely stop dripping.

I use purple primer for most of the work but use the clear primer where it can damage or discolor new work. PVC traps under sinks are an example of a good use of the clear primer. Definately don't wan't to put a purple stain on anything inside a lady's new house.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think the purple dye is just so you can see that you primed it and where the extent of the priming went. Maybe just put in for the QC inspector so he can verify that it was primer prior to glue.

 

[Redbug]

When that cement thickens in the can, I stir in some MEK, to put it to the right consistency again. MEK is the solvent used in those glues.

 

[jinman]

When that cement thickens in the can, I stir in some MEK, to put it to the right consistency again. MEK is the solvent used in those glues.

You think I keep MEK around when I can't even find my glue when I need it?:laughing:

Try the blue Rain or Shine cement for pvc sprinkler pipe next time. It will work if the pipe is still wet, good for situations where it is difficult to get the water to completely stop dripping.

Steve, what kind of glue do you use to hold the joints together when you hit the line with your backhoe bucket?:ashamed::laughing:

 

[Catfish Man]

I'm pretty sure the purpose of the purple primer is to get all over your clothes and the wife's bathroom floor.

I suspect the people that make it also make clothing and flooring.

 

[Qapla]

The color of the primer is not all that critical ... however, the color of the glue is. The colors separate different "heat" levels of the same glue (PVC) or the type of pipe being glued (PVC, ABS, CPVC). CPVC pipe is "harder" then PVC and needs a hotter glue. Grey PVC cement is much slower to "tighten up" then the clear and there are "commercial" grades that tighten up much stronger and faster. You definitely don't want to get the "red" glue they use for fire sprinkler pipe on you - it is that "hot" because fire sprinkler pipe is extremely hard.

The solvents and levels in the glues are specific to the pipe being glued. CPVC glue is for CPVC, PVC glue is for PVC - don't mix them or use them on the wrong pipe.

You can "revitalize" PVC cement by adding a bit of the primer in the glue if it is a bit thick - but if it is turning to gel, throw it out.

Many PVC fitting makers are now saying that you should NOT use the primer on 1/2" or 3/4" pipe/fittings unless they are "dirty".

Also, when gluing pipes over 1" you should hold the connection for a few seconds as the chemical reactions can push the connection apart.

BTW - Yes, I do work with PVC for a living :thumbsup:

 

[mjncad]

Sell it to the local teenagers, they know what to do with it.

:laughing::thumbsup:

I think the purple dye is just so you can see that you primed it and where the extent of the priming went.

Yep, keeps the plumbing inspectors happy to see you actually primed it.

Many PVC fitting makers are now saying that you should NOT use the primer on 1/2" or 3/4" pipe/fittings unless they are "dirty".

That's a new one to me; however, I'll continue to prime it.

Also, when gluing pipes over 1" you should hold the connection for a few seconds as the chemical reactions can push the connection apart.

I've had that happen on the smaller stuff too.

 

[EddieWalker]

...Many PVC fitting makers are now saying that you should NOT use the primer on 1/2" or 3/4" pipe/fittings unless they are "dirty".

The primer is a softner that prepairs the PVC for the cement. It's not glue and glue should never be used on water lines under pressure. Drain lines and sprinker lines can use glue.

Cleaner is not the same as primer. Cleaner is for dirtly lines. Afer you use the cleaner, then you have to use the primer and then clear cement on PVC.

The cement melts or welds the pipe and the fittings together. Without the primer, this is not gauranteed to happen and in many cases, leads to failure.

Never skip using purple primer when working with pvc pipe. It's cheap, easy and effective!!!

Eddie

 

[aczlan]

I think the purple dye is just so you can see that you primed it and where the extent of the priming went. Maybe just put in for the QC inspector so he can verify that it was primer prior to glue.

I am told that NY requires purple primer so that the inspector knows that it was used and the inspector is supposed to make you replace the affected joints if it was not used.

Aaron Z

 

[nhkabotab7800]

work for a GC years ago and they had a building where the plumbers were not glueing the cpvc corectly and it was causing leaks. If memory serves it had to do with too much glue used at fittings causing the fittings to fail.

 

[SPYDERLK]

while in lowes yesterday my pops picked up a can of cpvc glue instead of pvc glue. The "ingrediants" all all the same except the last line, my question is..... Is there any real difference? will cpvc glue work on pvc? or do I have to throw it away? I have absolutely no need for cpvc.

PVC and CPVC are solvent bonded using MEK and Tetrahydrofuran in a thickened mix using PVC or CPVC resin resp to thicken the mix. The large area of joint in shear pretty much guarantees that you can use either one successfully if your temps and pressures are in range for the pipe and you let it dry well enuf before applying pressure. The bondline is microscopically thin and consists almost soley of dissolved and resolidified parent material. Altho CPVC is good to a higher temperature the bond area is so large that even a slightly softened hot bondline of PVC/CPVC++ mix would not allow the socket joint to spread.
larry