Flattening PVC water pipe

[3Ts]

I've bent PVC into custom shapes, mostly for conduit to bend around obstacles. I use a heat gun and keep it moving all the time! I have also used a propane torch, but that is more of a challenge to keep from scorching the plastic. Check periodically to see if it is soft because it will go from stiff to soft quickly. I have also converted PVC pipe to PVC sheet. You have to have a clamp and apply lots of pressure while it is cooling, it has a tendency to stay in the pipe form. Once it's cool, it will keep it's shape.

Note: If you just go back and forth, the center will get twice as much heat as the ends so you need to pause at the ends to be sure you heat it evenly.

 

[tomplum]

I've not ever reshaped fittings, but you will find the pipe easy to do. There are enough fumes where you wouldn't want to do it in the kitchen. A grill works well for a larger piece.

 

[s219]

I have done it in the oven to make a patch to go over a sewer line I nicked one time. Low temperature and keep an eye on it. Protect the ends as they will take on more heat.

I am guessing that larger "cored" thick-wall PVC will not behave well, as the middle material is slightly different formulation. But if it's solid PVC with no difference in the middle it should be easy to work with. Thin wall PVC drain pipe would probably be a cinch to work with.

 

[orezok]

I have seen electricians heat pvc by sticking it over the exhaust of their truck when the forgot to bring the electric conduit heater to the job. The exhaust flows through the center and heats the pipe equally.

 

[PILOON]

Once owned a small aircraft, a Luscomb, that had a scrapped windshield.
I pieced it back together braced on a wood form and very finely polished the Bondo patches.
I had previously made an arrangement with a local pizza guy to use his oven to heat and shape my plexiglass sheet.

Well my DIY windshield fabrication was a total success and the gov't inspector passed it OK.

With heat most plastics can be shaped and moulded.
Do small tests with scraps if U are not sure.

Just last fall I heat shaped a liner for my blower chute and that was a real success as I never clogged even with the worst wet snows.
I used a plumber's torch so it its not pretty, but it works.

Reminds me, a friend just bought a 48 inch heat bar to mould/shape covid screens for his business. That should offer all sorts of plastic moulding possibilities.
Since I'm the guy that located the heat bar on the web I guess I have dibs.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I bought a plastic cutting board, ran it through a table saw into the pieces I needed, bolted it all together and mounted it on my 3 pt log splitter about 4 years ago. Its still there after sitting in the sunlight and weather and still works great.

 

[bunyip]

Thanks all, a lot of ideas to run with, pretty is not important just functional.

 

[EarPlug]

Schedule 40 begins to soften at 250 deg. and becomes liquid at 350 deg. It does emit toxic fumes when heated or burned.

Reference - Physical Properties for PVC and CPVC Pipe( Schedule 4 and 8) | U.S. Plastic

 

[MossRoad]

I've always wanted an old electric stove in my garage for just such projects.

 

[om21braz]

Schedule 40 begins to soften at 250 deg. and becomes liquid at 350 deg. It does emit toxic fumes when heated or burned.

Reference - Physical Properties for PVC and CPVC Pipe( Schedule 4 and 8) | U.S. Plastic

+1 I know of a commercial manufacturer of it that has an updraft vacuum and applicable filtering in order to heat and bend it.