Thanks,
Dave
Aah. Thank you. Much appreciated.
Dave
Huh. I didn't kow CPVC came in two types. I must have the one step type.
Thanks for the info.
Dave
> Can I use CPVC cement on standard PVC?
I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but what does the can say? When in doubt,
read the directions... :)
In any case, a small can of dedicated CPVC cement is cheap, and not worth
risking possible complications. If your can of PVC cement is old, it's
probably gelled by now anyway.
Regardless of which cement you use, remember to clean the pipe and fitting
first with the purple "primer".
Good luck,
Anthony
Why purple primer?
R
Ok.. question... at what point does PVC cement go bad and not perform
well in "welding" a PVC joint. Obviousy if it is so hardened that it
won't coat the PVC, then it is bad. But what if it is just a bit
gelled (as in a little thick) but still is able to give a nice liquid
coating to the PVC? Will it still be just as strong?
I only occasionally end up using PVC so the cement and primer can end
up sitting around my basement for years. I do a good job of sealing
the cans tightly and then put them in air-tight plastic bags, so the
stuff does seem to stay fresh longer than one might expect -- on
principal, I hate to throw things out, but obviously, I would if
needed for an optimum weld.
Any thoughts?
"Just a bit gelled" is somewhat subjective, but I've used less than
perfectly fresh stuff successfully on many occasions. Most important
thing IMO is surface preparation. I carefully and thoroughly sand both
pieces with 180-220 grit to break the glaze. I know the primer is
supposed to do that, but then I've never had a joint fail, as have
several of my non-sanding friends. Also of course the rotation during
assembly helps distribute the glue evenly.
> Why purple primer?
Obviously, the color doesn't matter, but around here (WA state) the purple
primer is what you typically find in the home centers. I haven't seen clear
primer in years.
PVC/CPVC primer is usually purple.
CPVC cement is usually orange.
PVC cement is usually clear (or blue).
ABS cement is usually black.
The color primarily lets you (and the inspector) see at a glance what type
of glue was used and whether or not the primer was used.
Anthony
I have used slightly gelled PVC cements in non-critical situations (outdoor
lines, or other easily accessable locations) and they seem to work fine as
long as you can get a good coating around the pipe and fitting.
However, if I'm joining a pipe that will be embedded in a wall or otherwise
covered up, I wouldn't take the risk for the small cost of a new can of
cement.
> I only occasionally end up using PVC so the cement and
> primer can end up sitting around my basement for years.
> I do a good job of sealing the cans tightly and then put
> them in air-tight plastic bags, so the stuff does seem
> to stay fresh longer than one might expect
Once you open the can, you let air in that will let the cement start
gelling. For that reason, I usually buy two or three of the smallest cans
instead of the large cans. I use what I need for the current project, then
keep the unopened cans for those spur of the moment plumbing tasks.
Also, if you discover the cement has gelled a few years later, it's less
wasteful to lose part of a small can than part of a larger can.
Anthony
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