language neutral instructions

[Tim w]

Assembling the waste and trap under my shower tray. The instructions are non-language ie symbols and arrows only. They show a paintbrush with PVC written across it in places. I have bought some evostick PVC pipe-weld. Do I have to worry about the type of plastic waste pipe I am connecting to? it's about 15 yrs old and white.

The PVC paintbrush points to a glue-on reducer, so fine, I glue it on. Also seems to point to various threads for instance on the compression joint of reducer to waste body. Is it normal good practice to glue up threads, o-rings and everything? I would have vaselined them.

Tim W

[Tim Watts]

No you do not glue threaded joints.

[Andrew Gabriel]

There are two (common) types of pipe and fittings, and two types of solvent weld.

Pipe and fittings are available in ABS and PVC, PVC being the more expensive (and muPVC being the best of all, available in 40mm and up). Waste traps never seem to come in PVC.

The solvent weld is available as 'cement' which is solvent with PVC already dissolved in it, or just the solvent. The solvent will glue PVC to PVC, but isn't so good with ABS. The cement is thicker and will glue both types. Check the label carefully for what products it's designed to work with.

You don't glue threads as Tim said.

For lubrication, if it's just to aid fitting, use soap (it will wash away or dry, and the fitting will be more stable). If it's to enable something to continue moving (such as expansion joints), use silicone grease. Petroleum grease (e.g. Vaseline) is not good for some rubbers.

[Tim w]

Thanks, both, for clarifying.

Tim W