PVC cement is commonly sold as an all-purpose glue for plastic pipes, but its application to a wide range of pipe materials can cause confusion. PVC cement is recommended for use only with PVC pipe and fittings. The material is not interchangeable with other types of plastic piping, and using it incorrectly can lead to leaks or damaged fittings.
PVC cement comes in a wide range of sizes and formulations, but the varieties generally fall into two categories: regular body and heavy body. Regular body is the thinner variety and is used for smaller pipe diameters, while heavy body is thicker and used for larger diameters. The different formulas don’t cross over; you can’t use regular body on big pipe, or heavy body on small pipe.
Regular body PVC cement falls into two categories: fast and medium setting. Fast setting cements are formulated for quick assembly of large projects; medium setting cements give you about a 10 minute working time before parts become permanently set in place. Heavy body cement comes in two types as well: regular (also called slow) and fast setting.
All PVC cements should be stored in cool dry places (not over 85 degrees Fahrenheit). Once the can has been opened, unused cement should be discarded, even if it has only
PVC cement, also known as solvent weld, is an adhesive. It is used to join plastic pipes and fittings together. The glue works by softening the plastic of both the pipe and fitting being joined, allowing them to fuse together. The solvent weld is flexible, so it can be stretched slightly to fit over slightly uneven or misaligned joints.
PVC cement comes in a variety of strengths and degrees of viscosity (thickness). It is recommended that you use the thickest PVC cement available for your project. This will make sure you get a good strong glue joint between your pipes and fittings.
PVC cement cannot be used on all types of plastic pipes. It is only suitable for use with rigid PVC pipe and fittings (Schedule 40 and 80). The solvent weld will not form a good bond with CPVC, ABS or PB plastic pipes.
PVC cement is a chemical solvent. It literally fuses PVC pipe and fittings together. There are three common types of plastic plumbing pipe: ABS, CPVC, and PVC. Most PVC cement labels will say whether they’re intended for use on a particular plastic. Using the wrong type can cause leaks or pipe failure.
ABS: This black pipe was the first plastic pipe to be used in residential plumbing. Today, it’s most commonly found in drain applications where it’s glued with solvents.
CPVC: This white or cream-colored pipe is used to carry hot and cold water all through the house. Like PVC, it’s glued together with solvent glue.
PVC: This white or cream-colored pipe is the most commonly used pipe for drain lines. It’s also used in irrigation systems, and other outdoor cold water applications.
The main difference between these different types of plastic pipes is the range of temperatures each can withstand**
I thought I knew how to use PVC glue. I was wrong.
For years I’d been using PVC pipe for plumbing and wiring conduits, and always used the same kind of cement: orange bottle, blue label. It said “PVC Cement” right on the label, so it seemed natural to assume that any other kind of cement wouldn’t work.
Then one day I ran out of the more expensive kind of cement the plumber had left me, and went to the hardware store to get more. They were out, but they had this other stuff in a red can that looked similar except it was cheaper and said “PVC Cement” right on the label. How much could it cost? It’s just glue. So I bought some and tried it on a piece of PVC pipe. It didn’t work at all.
I thought this was odd until I went back to the store and looked at what they had in stock. Most of it was in red cans and said “PVC Cement.” But a few weirdos like me had bought some of their supplies from the last millennium, so there were still a few cans left that said “PVC Primer.”
The most common type of joint in PVC piping is the glued joint. When two pipes are joined together, PVC cement is applied to the outside of the pipe where they will be joined and then they are inserted together into a coupling or elbow fitting. The glue then sets quickly (within seconds) and permanently bonds the pipe and fitting together.
I’ve used PVC cement for years and I’ve yet to see one failure. It works great, it’s easy to use, and it’s cheap. If you’re going to be using any plastics at all, then you should have some on hand.
Do you want to make your own PVC furniture? You can with 4 way tee and elbow PVC fittings.
One of the best things about PVC is that it is easy to work with. It is lightweight, easy to cut, and easy to glue together. You can build any number of things out of PVC and fittings. One of the most popular things to build are chairs. Chairs are great because they are both functional and comfortable.
You need different lengths of pipe for the chair legs and seat supports. You also need 4 way tees for the sides, elbows for the corners, and a cross fitting for the middle of the seat supports. The cross fitting will keep your chair from sagging in the middle when someone sits on it.
You can get all these items in different colors so you can coordinate them with your home colors or create a festive atmosphere for parties. Whatever color you choose, make sure you use outdoor paint if you plan on leaving your furniture outdoors.