I'm about to update my dust extraction system and would prefer to use clear pipe, rather than soil pipe, so I can see any hang-ups or blockages - are there any sources of 1 or 2 m lengths at a reasonable price?
The two cheapest options are clear rigid PVC or extruded acrylic, but they are both a lot more expensive than grey or brown PVC. Probably around £50 for a 2-2.5m length of 110mm diameter.
More prone to static build-up?
The best I could find was rather more expensive than that, but even those prices are more than I want to pay. If I can't find anything cheaper I'll use regular soil pipe and add some inspection windows.
I'll be adding a drain wire to be on the safe side
Axminster have 910mm lengths for £20 inc vat
I don't know whether you could use a wire spiral sheathed by cut-off 2 litr e drink bottles. I daresay not what you had in mind, but it would get you a clear view.
Or you might install an LED at one end of each straight run and a small win dow at the other.
NT
If you use them in a light location like outside both could be prone to uv damage or yellowing whitening or both. I once saw such pipe used at a show home and it seemed that the people who bought it damned quickly put in grey pvc!
Some suppliers of exhibitions and shop fittings have it as edo some companies specialising in lab equipment, but whether the materials would be suitable I'd not like to say. Brian
Clear uPVC would, but clear acrylic is completely UV stable.
For many years I had a tumble drier feeding into a square section transparent ... err pipe? ... that was the shipping box for a curtain pole.
IIRC the pole was a lot less than £50.
Andy
Cut the top and bottom off 2 litre soft drinks bottles and tape them together (Sellotape for transparency, duct-tape for strength). Remember that PET bottles are made to deal with the pressure from fizzy drinks, so should be strong enough.
It might not look good, but will be free and the bottles easily replaceable.
They are very thin and will probably collapse under a vacuum. Pop bottles are pressurised.
hence the wire spiral. Do keep up.
Do reply with something useful for a change JWS.
Why do you really need the whole run to be clear? Just a short bit so you can see the stuff flying by will show wether or not the system is working as it should.
True. It would "clearly" be better to have the whole run clear but the cost/benefit balance seems not to work, hence my mention of inspection windows earlier.
Not been following so apologies if already covered. There was a thread way way back where static electricity/sparks/fire risk issues were covered.
Also covered was the huge loss in performance with non smooth interior hose.
I'll be using a drain wire to deal with electrostatic charge, and it will be smooth pipe.
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