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Anyone use PVC pipe in scratchbuilding?

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  • Member since
    September 2008
Anyone use PVC pipe in scratchbuilding?
Posted by Lee in Texas on Friday, September 24, 2010 10:33 PM

I'm wondering how well it takes paint and CA glue. I know there are glues made just for PVC, but I would prefer CA. I need to machine two pieces of PVC and glue them together. I'd rather not mess with the two-part, messy pipe cement.

 

Thanks, Lee

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Friday, September 24, 2010 11:15 PM

I use PVC and CPVC a lot for scratchbuilding and I use CA and two part epoxy.


" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    September 2008
Posted by Lee in Texas on Friday, September 24, 2010 11:36 PM

Thanks. I'll try it out over the weekend.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, September 25, 2010 8:20 AM

I recently used a piece of PVC pipe to replace the main tankage structure on the Explorer launch vehicle (the kit body was very much oval shaped rather than circular).  CA glue worked fine re-attaching details from the kit, plus gluing on nose and engine section. I prime with Krylon primer and it held (and subsequently coats of color enamel held) fine.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    September 2008
Posted by Lee in Texas on Saturday, September 25, 2010 9:47 AM

Thanks, Don. That's good info. I'm making a German 60cm searchlight and PVC pipe is a dirt-cheap source of material for it.  Just take a few thousandths off the O.D. and there's the main body of it.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:02 PM

Share some pictures so we know how it turns out. Wink


" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    September 2008
Posted by Lee in Texas on Saturday, October 2, 2010 9:27 PM

I'm having trouble getting glue to stick. I'm going to try pipe cement on it. It's being machined anyway so I can just take off the excess with the lathe.

I work 60+ hours a week so modeling time is hard to come by. So far I only have the main body of the search light.

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 6:28 PM

Hi LEE; I have used PVC for the pressure hulls on subs.I don,t understand what you are referring to when you say two part cement. I always just use the clear PVC cement and it works fine for me. I would say though , I do apply it with a very fine brush . I put it lightly on both surfaces and wait about ten seconds and stick the parts together. It works like a charm.     TANKERBUILDER

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Heart of the Ozarks, Mansfield, MO (AKA, the 3rd world)
Posted by Rich on Friday, November 5, 2010 12:10 AM

I just recently used 1" PVC pipe to simulate the stack on a steam powered fisherman. I'm going to insert a pircr of 1/2" copper pipe concentrically and install a smoke generator in that. The PVC took Testor's acryllic with no problem. I glued it on with 2 part epoxy. Through sad experience I for one will never again use CA for anything other than to temporarly hold parts while waiting for some other glue to set. I have 30+ year old models that are falling apart because of the brittleness of CA joints. While the only problem I've ever had with epoxy is when I've attempted to use it over a painted surface.

Rich

Nautical Society of Oregon Model Shipwrights

Portland Model Power Boat Association

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