Putting together a return line for my tank

[A_Lee]

[quote author=Elite link=topic=5235.msg64735#msg64735 date=1226959585]
I've never use the primer and never had a problem. I clean the pipe really good before glueing though.
[/quote]

Clean the PVC pipe with like a towel and water?

 

[sfsuphysics]

Well dirt and grease is one part of it, but on a molecular level the PVC chains along the boundary of any surface behave a bit differently than those within the object , so the primer serves to loosen them up so the glue can penetrate and you can get a tight sold bond rather than an adhesion.

 

[Elite]

Yeah.. I clean all the pipes not just for glueing. There might be stuff inside the pipe (spider's wed, dirts....). That's why I clean them in the bathtub using hot water. Apply the glue evenly on both ends and don't forget BurTBear's advise to give it a little twist.

It's not that I disagree with Mike. If I glue a bunch of stuff, yeah I will use the primer. But this is only for a return pipe. It's a waste to buy a can (even the smallest one) and use just a bit. I'm cheap ;D ..

 

[A_Lee]

Is primer expensive?

 

[Elite]

$3-$5 ;D

 

[A_Lee]

hahahahaha
I may swoop up a can just to learn how to do it. Is there somewhere in particular people get their primer and PVC cement? Ace Hardware?

 

[DurTBear]

You can get a primer/glue pack at Home Depot or Lowes. It's pretty cheap (less than $10 I believe).

 

[Elite]

Union cheaper at Ace Hardware. I get pipe, elbow and gatevalve at OSH. They are right across others so it's easy for me.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Bah primer isn't like the PVC cement, you can stick it on the shelf forever and it'll still work!

 

[A_Lee]

[quote author=DurTBear link=topic=5235.msg64762#msg64762 date=1226964725]
You can get a primer/glue pack at Home Depot or Lowes. It's pretty cheap (less than $10 I believe).
[/quote]

Nice, now I can get primer AND pvc cement in the same package ... AND for <$10 ... sweet.
I just took a looksy at your build thread Durwin - looks like things are "piecing together!" Don't worry - pun intended

 

[DurTBear]

Haha! It's a slow process. I really should just spend an entire day during the weekend and do it all at once. Actually, I was planning on doing that yesterday but after I got home from the hardward store (my second time there and I need to go back again), I realized my measurements were totally off and that I wouldn't be able to put the tank underneath the stand. So my plans were foiled yet again. Hopefully it'll be ok just sitting there on the floor.

 

[A_Lee]

Should be fine, just don't step in it
I didn't know the priming cementing process took all day? Do you mean it has to cure for 24-48 hrs., or does it literally takes a day to prime and cement something like a return line?

 

[DurTBear]

Oh no...the priming/gluing process only takes a few minutes. Add primer to the pipe and inside of the fitting. Let that sit/dry for a minute or two and put glue on the pipe. Stick the pipe in the fitting and give it a little twist. All done within a few minutes. I've just been lazy, that's all!

 

[A_Lee]

haha, I have some time next week, so I think I am going to try and get the whole priming and cementing thing done next week ... that is if I can decide what parts I am going to use

 

[Elite]

Although people have no problem filling up the water shortly after glueing the pipe, I always wait for a day to be safe.

 

[A_Lee]

yeah, I don't plan to add water to the tank for 1-2 weeks after finishing all the plumbing. So everything will have a good couple hundred hours to cure and settle in