Today, technically obsolete metal products are being replaced by similar ones made of plastic. In this regard, many beginners are interested in whether it is possible to bend a polypropylene pipe?
According to experts, knowing the technology, you can cope with this task at home. Judging by the numerous reviews, unlike iron pipes, polypropylene is much more convenient to mount. This explains the fact that many home craftsmen for the installation of heating and water supply prefer plastic. People who repair professionally know how to bend a polypropylene pipe . Anyone who has mastered these skills may not need to resort to the services of professionals in the future. Information on how to bend a polypropylene pipe at home is contained in this article.
Why bend?
Before you talk about how to bend a polypropylene pipe, you need to figure out why this should be done. According to experts, the need for bending is due to the fact that in apartments and houses plumbing and heating distributions often do not go in a straight line. Therefore, the master often has to go around corners and bring pipes to the right place. For this purpose, polypropylene products are bent. Some wizards perform wiring using fittings or adapters. According to the rules of installation, the second option is more preferable. However, judging by the numerous reviews, it is much more convenient for masters to bend pipes.
Ways
Those who are interested in how to bend a polypropylene pipe with their own hands, professionals recommend using the following methods. Pipes are easy to bend with a hair dryer, internal spring and wire. You can also use a special molding machine. A detailed description of the process of working with polypropylene products - further in the article.
About the use of molding machine
Judging by numerous reviews, the use of this unit provides the easiest and most reliable bending of the product. Those who have acquired this device, but do not know how to bend a polypropylene pipe, experts recommend performing the following steps:
- First you need to make a special frame, the shape of which is planned to give a plastic product. You can make it from a fiberboard. The finished frame is carefully processed with sandpaper. It is important that the form is free from nicks and burrs. Otherwise, dents and chips will appear on the pipe.
- Place the polypropylene product in the frame and securely fasten.
- In the frame, the pipe is mounted in a molding machine. Further, the material is heated.
- You need to wait until the plastic is soft enough. Then he settles on the frame, thus acquiring the desired shape.
- Wait 10 minutes for the product to cool.
- Remove the structure.
At the very end of an already bent pipe, it takes some time for it to cool completely.
How to bend a polypropylene pipe with a hairdryer?
If this building tool is not at hand, a gas burner will be an alternative. Before bending the polypropylene pipe, you need to prepare some solid object with the angle necessary for bending.
It will be used as a template. It will be possible to prevent dents and chips if it has a perfectly flat surface. The bending process itself is carried out as follows:
- The pipe in the place of its bend must first be uniformly heated. As experienced craftsmen recommend, performing this procedure is especially not worth zealous, since plastic is a highly flammable material. Warm up should be at some distance from the source of fire, observing safety rules.
- Bending of a polypropylene pipe is carried out when it becomes sufficiently ductile. To do this, the product must be pressed to the template and bent at a certain angle.
- In this bent position, the pipe is held until its surface finally hardens.
After performing the above steps, the polypropylene product should be allowed some time to cool completely. Only then can you start installation work.
Using a spring
Often, beginners are interested in how to bend a polypropylene pipe into a ring, using a spring for this purpose. According to experienced craftsmen, in order to successfully bend plastic at home, you need to acquire a special device. On the shelves there are springs with an inner and outer diameter. Judging by the reviews, it is much more convenient for some home craftsmen to work with external springs. To do this, just put it on the bend. Next, the pipe is heated using a building hair dryer or a gas burner. Polypropylene after a while becomes softer and more pliable. Now it can be bent. When the pipe has completely cooled down, you can remove the spring from it by rotating it clockwise. Also quite effective is the method using an internal spring. When choosing this device, experts recommend paying attention to its diameter, namely, the cross sections of the spring and the polypropylene pipe should match.
The product bends gradually. So that at the end of work there are no difficulties with removing the spring, it is desirable that the adjacent surface of the pipe be thoroughly lubricated with oil. For this purpose, a used machine is suitable.
How to bend a wire?
This method is one of the varieties of deformation of polypropylene pipes using a filler, in which case in this case there will be a wire. Before work, it should be cut into several separate pieces. Then they need to fill the inner space of the pipe so that it does not leave voids. This is a cold bending method for which a warm-up procedure is not provided. The workpiece is wound up on a round hard surface. It should be held at both ends. Being a fairly soft material, polypropylene will bend without heat. So that the surface at the bend point does not burst, the craftsman should accurately calculate the angle. According to experts, the use of wire is limited: if the bend has a too small radius, it will be difficult for the master to remove the filler.
Using sand
Those who are going to use sand as a filler should get the following tools and materials:
- Carefully sifted dry sand.
- Two plastic caps.
- Blowtorch or construction hair dryer.
- Joiner's vice.
The bending procedure is performed in stages:
- First you need to fill the inner space of the polypropylene pipe.
- Plug both ends with plastic plugs.
- Fix the workpiece in a vice at some distance from the source of fire.
- Mark the bend point on the workpiece. Further in this place the pipe will warm up.
Judging by the reviews, it is difficult for some beginners to determine the degree of sand calcination. Experts recommend using paper for this. It is enough to bring it to the pipe. If the paper is charred, then the sand is already quite heated and the pipe can be bent.
Finally
The procedure for bending polypropylene pipes is not difficult. The work should be carried out in stages, following the recommendations of specialists. To prevent injury, you must adhere to standard safety rules: bend pipes in a specially designated place for this and in protective gloves.