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What's a good way to repair a broken PVC pipe used in construction?
I broke a PVC water pipe off of a Bambini ice machine trailer. I'm wondering if I can glue it back together. (See Picture)
It doesn't hold water pressure, it's not a problem if it leaks a little, it just has to hold the weight of the vinyl pad dragging behind the trailer, and let water drip out of the pipe.
The pipe's got a unique fitting on the end that I don't really want to find, so I'm wondering if I can just use PVC glue or super glue to patch it back together.
All I'm finding on Google is how to repair water pipes, which I know how to do.
Ya, I am very familiar with gluing PVC water pipes with PVC solvent. I should have been more clear. What I'm asking is if there is a semi-reliable way to glue the pipe back together. It's broken too near the weird fitting to cut and patch it with a collar, and it doesn't have to stand up to anything a water pipe would face.
A patch might reinforce it enough to stay together... we'll see.
5 Answers
- DannyLv 73 years agoFavorite Answer
I'd call the Bambini people (where your pic came from), and go from there. If it's USA made, it may very well use common plumbing PVC. If it's not, you'll be talking to the source.
Personally, I'd also try to retro-fit some kind of bracing, before it gets broken again.
http://www.portarinxandbambini.com/bambini.shtml ...
UPDATE, per yours: A "butt" joint, one piece right against another will likely fail very quickly. A coupler depends on going both over the joint and surrounding material, and it sounds like that's out. So, given it's not a pressure line, consider going inside with a smaller insert pipe piece. Probably have to epoxy that in, to fill the gap, as if it's standard PVC, you won't find a snug-fit size. A hollow splint...
- FulanoLv 73 years ago
Well thanks for all the tips, I ended up finding another of the fittings easier than I thought it would be and ended up just cutting the end off and replacing it. I guess I'll never know if super glue would have held it or not... :)
- Spock (rhp)Lv 73 years ago
PVC isn't glued. we call it glue, but it really is a temporary solvent. that means the way it actually works is to soften two pieces of plastic, after which you mash them together into one.
I say this so you'll understand when I tell you it won't work to use PVC "glue" -- you can't mash the pieces together into a coherent whole.
super glue or an epoxy might work ... for a while. My bet is that vibration will make it fall apart again.
best would be to a) replace the broken part or b) cut it off and replace broken bit with pvc and a coupler between the two pieces
Source(s): grampa - ?Lv 63 years ago
Perhaps an acetone wipe and automotive fiberglass mesh/epoxy repair kit would do the job?
- Anonymous3 years ago
Your picture doesn't really show enough detail of the damage so I doubt I can help you. Usually you can use a PVC coupling to repair the pipe but it sounds like the damage is close to an odd fitting which would make the repair difficult without a new fitting. You might be able to use epoxy and a small fiberglass patch to repair and strengthen the area of the break. Again, it's not clear how bad the damage is.
