joining PVC pipes

[Oumati Asami]

I need to join two PVC pipes which are 6" apart. Do I cut a piece of exactly 6" long or I need a slightly shorter piece, say, 5.5", so I'll have leeway to wiggle the pipe? These are 1 1/2" pipes.

[gfretwell]

How much can you move the pipe back? Far enough to get a coupler in there? If you have no lateral movement you could use a rubber "fernco" coupler if there is no significant pressure there. (basically a hose and 2 hose clamps). You can use a regular cement in coupler to the first joint and the ferco to the last joint. Make the pipe about

5.75". You lose about 1/8" in a slip joint and you would still have enough room to slide the pipe over for the fernco, slip it all the way on, slide it back half way and clamp it up.

[Oumati Asami]

I'm going to use regular couplings. I can move the pipe a little, one inch maybe.

When doing dry fit, I found that the pipe never reached the center of the coupling. Not sure how far the pipe will go with cement glue.

I have seen video in which people actually sand of the little inside barrier at the center of the coupling so the coupling can actually slide on the pipe. I think it pretty neat.

[Dean Hoffman]

Have you thought about a slip coupling or slip union?

[Wally]

5.8125"

[Oumati Asami]

Thanks for the suggestion but I don't have much choices here.

[trader_4]

You want a "repair coupling" which does not have the barrier at the center. That's there for new work, so that it's easy to get the pipes in evenly to the center. A repair coupling is the same, without the center barrier, so that you can do repairs like yours, slide the coupling completely over the pipe to assemble. Then cut the replacement piece about 1/8" shorter than the span and put some marks on the pipe so you know where the correct distance is to slide the couplings into place.

[Oumati Asami]

Yes but I can't find it. So, I best bet is to purchase a regular coupling and sand off the barrier.