DIY pipe welding

Plastic pipes have long gained their popularity in construction markets, not least, due to their low cost and simple process of assembling the finished design, which allowed them to stand out among other options. Plastic pipes are reliable and durable, they are not afraid of rust and have light weight - which, in conjunction with other advantages and provided them with such popularity. However, such pipes can also give leaks. This is mainly due to the violation of the process of soldering pipes and errors made at the same time. About this, as well as about the features of the installation, will be described later.

Table of contents

1. Varieties of welding pipes PVC
2. Welding equipment used
3. How is pvc pipes welding
4. Common errors when welding pipes
5. Pipe welding tips

Varieties of welding pipes PVC

At the moment, there are two ways to spike pipe pipes. The manual welding of the pipes is technically uncomplicated, but even preparatory work should be carried out carefully and accurately to avoid the appearance of leaks in the future. Experts identify the following methods of work:

• welding pipes using a special soldering iron and scissors for cutting (such welding technology is used in many works and is essentially the most widespread),
• Cold welding (this method is more simple and allows you to work without the availability of an apparatus for adhesion. To carry out work on connecting pipes, it is enough to work with aggressive glue for solid plastics).

The first two methods are primarily suitable for pipeline systems, through which high pressure water is not expected. If it is supposed to supply water or for heating systems under pressure, then welding involves slightly different methods:

• flip welding. In this case, the connecting elements (couplings, fittings, etc.) are additionally welded to the pipe,,
• electromoft welding. In this type of welding, the couplings contain special connecting elements, which, when the voltage is supplied to them, melt, providing reliable adhesions with pipe sections,
• assing welding. The process used to welding large diameter pipes is quite simple in essence. In this case, the ends of the pipes are heated to the melting temperature (200-250 degrees) and simply interconnected.

In fact, all the described methods are based on the same aspect: PVC material, when exposed to high temperature on it, melts and forms a reliable connection due to the mutual penetration of particles into each other.

Each of the methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Simple welding allows you to work with various types of plastic pipes, but requires a certain dexterity. The use of adhesive compound has high rates, practically not inferior to welding. But given the fact that pipe made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not recommended for hot water (except for some varieties that can withstand high temperatures), this method of connection using glue is best used for communications systems that do not use high pressure.

Welding equipment used

Welding of plastic pipes does not require a specific tool and allows you to carry out all the work alone. To do this, you will need scissors for cutting (it is only important to verify the unnecessary segment at first, how sharply they are sharpened to avoid possible deformation and the appearance of burrs during cutting) and a special soldering iron with various nozzles for trimming pipes. The manual welding machine (soldering iron) should be selected taking into account the specifics of the work. For example, for welding plastic structures, the soldering iron power should be selected taking into account the diameter of the pipe. This will be discussed below.

When performing work, it is important to do all the actions deliberately and slowly, since the welding of pipes is quite simple and can provide 15 years of the unprumitable service of the water system, but only if the work is done correctly.

How is pvc pipes welding

Any welding process, whether it is cold or standard soldering using a special soldering iron, requires first preparatory work. They include the following stages:

• cleaning pipes in places of future connection from any elements of contamination,
• degreasing the joints of the pipes by wiping alcohol,
• preparation at the segments of the entry into the fitting (non -removable connecting part of the pipeline, which are installed in those places where the pipes have branches or turns), while remembering that the pipe is not inserted to the maximum stop, it is required to leave the gap at least a millimeter,
• removing the chamfer from the ends of the pipe so that the pipe is as tightly and without much effort enters the connecting fitting.

After the preliminary work was completed, they begin directly to the soldering process. Such a stage of work as welding pipes is easy to do with your own hands. In fact, the task is divided into four stages:

• cutting,
• heating to the desired temperature (250 degrees),
• connection of pipe segments among themselves,
• cooling.

Pipe cutting is carried out using a pipeline (well -sharpened special scissors, which will allow you to quickly and without defects to neatly cut off sections of the pipe of the desired size (if this tool is absent, a hacksaw for metal is suitable).

Welding should occur in heat -resistant gloves and, subject to safety regulations, in order to avoid obtaining burns from the heating elements of the soldering iron. In fact, this is the most important stage of work, since the actions should be carried out at such a speed that the melted elements do not have time to cool, and it is important to prevent distortion during the co -carving.

After connecting the pipe segments, it is important to secure the connection reliably, without applying any external loads to it. The last stage is to allow us to cool down the finished connection (at least 20 minutes).

As can be seen from the process of work, at first glance it is quite simple. Its important feature is the correct calculation, since any negligence allowed during work - in the near future it can extremely negatively affect the reliability of the compounds. Those pipes are plastic, the welding of which was carried out with skillful hands, will not need repairs for many years.

Common errors when welding pipes

Errors made in the initial stages will necessarily appear in the future and therefore it is important to avoid negligence when performing work. Specialists identified typical problems that may arise at different stages of work:

• improper combination of connecting elements,
• excessive effort when combining pipes,
• insufficient heating of connecting elements,
• excessive overheating of the tool,
• incorrectly selected heating apparatus.

If, when combined with the PVC fitting, the pipe was not introduced to the inner stop, then there will be a gap, which will have less pressure. In fact, such a site will have a smaller wall thickness and a larger internal diameter. Often such an error occurs if, when heated, the pipe itself was not tightly inserted into the base of the nozzle of the welding element of the soldering iron. From the outside, such a defect will not be noticeable, which complicates the process of detecting shortcomings during soldering.

On the other hand, the use of excessive power is also able to harm the elements of soldering. In this case, the so -called grata will be squeezed between the end of the plastic pipe and the internal emphasis of the connecting fitting, which, when solving, form rings that reduce passable properties. In fact, there will be a noticeable obstacle to the fluid flow.

The insufficient heating of the connecting elements leads to defects of the incorporation of the material, especially if you take into account the fact that the spike of PVC pipes should be quickly, otherwise the quality of the connection will leave the best.

During the connecting work, the temperature of the working surface of the welding nozzle should not exceed 260 degrees, with a plus/minus 10 degrees. This is an optimal temperature for work, and regardless of which pipes diameter is done. Such a degree of warming allows you to create an internal voltage of the material at the spike point, which is necessary to perform work. Therefore, all actions must be performed quickly until overheating has gone beyond the permissible. With this in mind, it is impossible to exceed the heating of the soldering iron, even if it supports the retention of higher temperatures.

The last common error is incorrectly selected equipment for welding polyvinyl chloride pipes. There is a certain pattern that the power of the heater used in the work should correspond to the tenfold value of the diameter of the plastic pipe. In other words, for the adhesion of a pipe diameter of 50 millimeters, a heater with a capacity of 500 watts, diameters of 100 millimeters - a heater of 1000 watts is required.

For welding equipment of the economy class (the manufacturer of which is often China or Turkey) is characterized by the use of additional components as part of the aluminum heater. This is done in order to ensure an additional degree of heating of the heating element in welding equipment, but this sets the excessive load on the power supply and relay contacts. Such innovations are absent in equipment for soldering pipes from more eminent manufacturers, therefore, in this case, the costs of buying good professional equipment with more than pay off with a quality work.

Pipe welding tips

In conclusion, we will summarize several recommendations that will undoubtedly help during the welding of PVC pipes. Try to adhere to these tips in the future:

• polyvinyl chloride pipes and connecting elements should be from one manufacturer. First of all, this applies to the desire to save and purchase, for example, components of good quality, but at the same time buying cheap Chinese pipes - do not expect the melting point will be the same. It is possible that at first the defect will not be detected during the check, but later it will be able to show himself with a high degree of probability,
• before buying, you should check the temperature mode of operation of the soldering iron or welding station. Since the price range of equipment cost is very wide, there may be a desire to save. But in this case, it cannot be guaranteed that when the heater is operated, the required temperature of 260 degrees Celsius will be achieved. It is advisable to check its capabilities in terms of effective soldering before buying equipment. Such advice may look ridiculous, but it is able to prevent monetary loss on the purchase of equipment that is not able to keep the correct temperature regime,
• saving is an enemy of quality. There are known examples when a good thing is not expensive, but if there is a need to use a soldering iron for frequent work with a large amount of material, it is better to adhere to the opinion that the better and accordingly the equipment is more expensive - the longer it will live. The manufacturer also matters. It is better to choose products from eminent manufacturers. The same applies to both nozzles and tools for work,
• keep the connection area clean. The hit of even a small number of particles of dust or dirt can disrupt the quality of the adhesion. Of course, this is not always possible, especially when replacing large diameter pipes that may not be in a clean environment, and yet it is necessary to try to fulfill this recommendation,
• work at the appropriate temperature regime. If the weather on the street or in the room leaves much to be desired, then it should be remembered that work cannot be carried out at a temperature below five degrees of heat. Even at this temperature, the duration of heating increases, and the compounds become fragile.

Nevertheless, it is worth remembering the old battered truth that quality tools are needed for high -quality work. It is necessary to pay attention to all related trifles and then in the process you can avoid possible errors and their consequences. If there are still questions about how pipe welding is performed, the video will clearly demonstrate the process and help to fix the skills.