A plastic pipe is a PVC product, inside of which there is a reinforcing layer. Thanks to the rapid development of modern technologies, such materials quickly replaced heavy and bulky cast-iron pipes from the construction industry. Therefore, at home, when arranging warm floors and installing water pipes, the question often arises of how to perform pipe bending. You will find a description of the technology, features and methods of working with PVC pipes in our article.
Methods for bending plastic pipes
When carrying out work on changing the configuration of pipes of various sections, the tension of the upper plastic layer occurs, which leads to cracking of the reinforcing metal inside the hose. Therefore, in order to avoid external or internal damage during the bending of the pipe, it is necessary to apply some special techniques and recommendations.
The main options for proper bending of a plastic pipe are:
- application of the machine for bending;
- manual bending;
- use of sand;
- work with a specially selected spring;
- heating the bending point with a building hairdryer.
The use of sand and heating is both an independent method and an additional auxiliary method for carrying out the process of bending PVC pipes.
Manual pipe bending
To avoid marriage during the work on bending metal-plastic products, it is necessary to have sufficient physical strength and strictly adhere to a certain technology.
So, you need to perform pipe bending manually as follows:
- we take a piece of pipe with both hands at the ends of the proposed bend;
- gently bend to an angle of 20º;
- shift the force of pressing to the right or left of the formed angle;
- bend again by 20º;
- We produce several small mini-bends to achieve the desired workpiece angle.
Bending the pipe in one step can lead to breakage of the workpiece. To maintain the given angle, you need to bend the pipe a little more, and then return it to its original position. If you want to straighten the pipe, all operations must be done in the reverse order, taking special care. This method is easily used for pipes with a diameter of up to 20 mm, but workpieces of a larger cross section will be difficult to do manually.
The use of a mechanical device
The mechanical method of bending pipes is ideal for changing the configuration of a workpiece at home, but performing a one-time job is not justified from an economic point of view. Using the machine, you can get perfectly smooth bending of different types of products, without applying great physical effort.
The hose bending technology is as follows:
- set the required bending angle in the crossbow;
- insert a piece of the workpiece so that the bend is in the center of the device;
- gently push the handle of the mechanism to give a given angle.
Depending on the drive devices for bending are divided into the following types:
- manual, which are designed to work with pipes of small diameter from a polymeric material, stainless steel or non-ferrous metal;
- hydraulic units allow bending workpieces of larger diameter;
- Electromechanical devices are able to bend pipes of various diameters and high accuracy classes.
Pipe bending with a spring
With this method, the role of the shock absorber is performed by a spring of the required diameter. It is the ribs of the spring that protect the reinforcing layer of the pipe from wrinkling and damage. Typically, such a device is sold in pairs (external and internal parts). The diameter of the device is selected according to the size of the workpiece, and it is better to choose a spring with O-rings.
To make it easier to insert the pipe into the outer part of the spring, the manufacturer has expanded one of its ends. The inner spring has one tapered end, which provides easy access to the bend, and a loop at the other end for easy removal of the spring after work.
Spring bending technology:
- tie the cord to the loop and insert the inner spring into the pipe;
- an external spring is put on the workpiece;
- smoothly bend the pipe to the desired angle;
- at the end of the bend, slightly open the corner and take out the device.
In order for the polyethylene inside the pipe to bend evenly, the whole process must be carried out carefully, with smooth swinging movements. The same technological principle is laid down in the bending of a pipe with a wire. The restraining element is a piece of soft wire of suitable cross section. The main thing is not to forget to tie a cord to one end to remove the wire after work.
Improving bending quality with sand and a hairdryer
The method of bending billets using sand can be called an additional tool to reduce marriage when changing the configuration of the pipe. This method is very similar to manual work, only here sand is poured into the inner space of the pipe, which prevents deformation of the workpiece.
Sand bending:
- one end of the pipe is carefully sealed;
- the blank is filled with fine sand;
- the second end is carefully sealed;
- smooth bending of the product to the desired angle;
- after completion, all plugs are removed, sand is poured out of the pipe.
Using a construction hair dryer, you can heat the bend of the hose to facilitate the process of bending the workpiece to a certain angle. The main thing is not to overheat the plastic pipe.
How to bend a profile pipe
A pipe having a form different from a round section is called a profile one. It can be square, rectangular, oval or hexagonal.
Despite the apparent ease of operation, bending a profile pipe can cause some problems:
- the inside can turn corrugated;
- rupture of the outer wall;
- the billet during bending will lose alignment of the elements.
Currently, there are two methods used to change the configuration of a profile blank - hot and cold. In the first case, the bending process is carried out only on a heated pipe. Such a technological solution significantly increases the ductility of the material and facilitates its bending. The second method is applied to the product without prior exposure to the heating element.
Corrugated pipes
For installation of electrical wiring in an open and hidden way, a flexible corrugated PVC pipe is used. The operation of such pipes is possible both in the open air and inside an industrial or residential building.
In order to improve protection against mechanical damage and exposure to aggressive substances, double-walled flexible pipes are used. Their distinctive feature is a large ring stiffness. The inside wall of the pipe is smooth and the outside is corrugated.
Any of these methods of bending plastic and profile pipes has been successfully used by masters for more than one year. The main thing when doing the job is to keep calm and do it without haste.