Sometimes you need to bend PVC pipe to follow the route for your conduit run. You can also save money by bending your own instead of buying factory bends. Although there is a limit to how much of a heat bend that can be made and still maintain the conformity and ID size of the pipe.
All 90 degree bends should be made with factory bent fittings. But you can make your own heat bends for kicks and offsets. These bends can be made with a propane torch but I wouldn't advise this due to the probability of scorching the pipe.
So when you need to bend PVC pipe it is simple to do but there are precautions
that need to be taken. The best thing that I have found to use to heat bend
PVC pipe is a kerosene blower heater like you see on some construction sites. It heats a wide range on your pipe and that is important to keep from kinking the pipe during the bend. Kick bends and offset bends work real well by using heat to soften the pipe and allow it to
bend.
You want to measure first and determine where you need the bend to be made
on the pipe and mark it with a pencil all the way around the pipe. You want to
heat the pipe at least 8 to 12 inches on each side of your mark so you will
actually be heating a section about 2 feet. Hold the PVC conduit about a foot from
the blower heater moving it back and forth and slowly turning the pipe.
You want to heat the entire perimeter of the PVC pipe along the 24 inch section
where your mark was made and continue to slowly turn the pipe while moving it
back and forth. When the pipe starts getting soft take it off of the heat and
make your bend being careful not to kink it. Hold your bend for a few minutes
until the PVC pipe begins to cool. Rubbing some cold water on the pipe will
speed up this process.
I would advise not bending much more than a 45 degree angle using this
method. If you need a 90 degree bend it is probably best to use a factory 90.
You can use a five gallon bucket to bend the pipe if it tries to kink on you. Just
bend the PVC pipe around the bucket until your desired bend is made.
Things To Remember:
- The wider area that you heat will increase the ease of the bend without kinking it.
- Spin the PVC pipe slowly during the heating process to insure that the heat is evenly distributed around the entire perimeter of the pipe.
- Don't hold the PVC pipe to close to the kerosene blower heater or you will scorch it very easily.
