PVCcleaner

[herbwhite59]

When working/repairing pvc pipe is it really necessary to use the blue pvc cleaner? Please advise Herb

[Oren]

I vote yes.

[trader_4]

+1

Also depends on what he means by "working with". If it's for water pipe under pressure, I'd say absolutely yes. If it's making one joint to make a reaching pole to poke at something, you can probably get away without it.

[invalid unparseable]

I had to repair some PVC several weeks ago. I was just looking at my can of PVC adhesive and it gives specific instructions about wiping off the cut part after chamfering and then how to apply the adhesive. There was nothing about using PVC cleaner.

[Vic Smith]

[invalid unparseable]

Stuff I used called for two coats so it might be primer and adhesive.

[Bob F]

That was a good read!

[Vic Smith]

I always just use sandpaper to clean the PVC before using cement. But my experience with PVC is limited to sump pump lines. I wouldn't use it on anything else.

[trader_4]

Couple of things. I assume these tests were done at room temp. IMO, too many tests at room temp, none at min and max temp. I think min is ~40F? Solvent could have a more significant effect at temp extremes, perhaps at low end. And what kind of pipe? Brand new PVC? Or twenty year old PVC that your are patching onto? Nice and clean? Or with some dirt on it? Yeah, we know it's supposed to be clean, but we all know what happens anyway. That solvent is loaded with acetone and you can see it melting the plastic, so any old surface, some dirt is going to get taken off and at least distributed around the joint, leaving fresh PVC exposed. The glue itself is thicker and seems less likely it's going to work past old PVC, dirt, etc.

[TimR]

I wondered about that too. I've done some work in a cold basement. Even in the summer early in the morning it can be chilly.

What was really interesting was the time it took to develop full strength. Those tests showed 24 hours, while most people (including me) assume these joints are strong pretty much as soon as they set. I would think in cold temperatures the strength would develop even more slowly.

[trader_4]

I think the cement cans say something like can be handled in X mins, OK for X lbs pressure at 2 hours.... IDK what the exact numbers were but I know it said something like that. And also I think that was at room temperature.