Is it possible to bend polypropylene pipes?

How to bend a polypropylene pipe and can it be done at home? This question is one of the most common on the Internet forums and portals devoted to construction topics. Plastic pipes are rapidly replacing technically obsolete metal products. In addition, polypropylene, unlike iron, is more convenient in terms of installation, so most people prefers to independently install heating and water supply in the apartment, without resorting to services professionals. Bending polypropylene products at home does not cause much trouble for professionals. But beginners have to suffer the question: "Is it even possible to do this"? Let's get it together.

Why bend?

It must immediately be clarified that manufacturers of these products do not recommend handling their products in this way. The explanation is quite logical - the pipe service life may be reduced and leaks may occur. If everything is done correctly, then such consequences can be avoided.

When installing water supply or heating, wiring in an apartment very rarely goes in a straight line. There are situations when you need to go around the corner or bring the pipe to a specific place. To do this, the product will have to bend or use fittings or adapters. From the point of view of observing the installation rules, the second option is preferable, but the first is much simpler. At home, you can make a bend on a polypropylene pipe in various ways. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

We use a building hair dryer

However, if a building hair dryer is not at hand, you can use a gas burner. In addition, you will need any object made of solid material having the angle necessary for bending. It will be a template. It must be clarified that the surface of the template must be perfectly flat. This will help to avoid dents or cracks in the surface of the pipe.

The further bending process at home is as follows:

• The product is evenly heated over the entire surface of the bend. Do not overdo this procedure and do not bring the plastic too close to the fire. This material burns great! Therefore, observe the precautions!
• When the surface becomes plastic, the pipe is pressed against the template and bent at the desired angle.
• It is recommended to hold the product until the surface has completely hardened.
• When the heated area hardens, you can proceed with further installation.

How to bend a polypropylene tube using a molding machine

This is a more complicated way to perform the desired bend. To do this, you need a fiberboard sheet, sandpaper, silicone and a molding machine. To begin with, a special frame is made from fiberboard. All sharp corners, notches and burrs are machined with sandpaper. The bending shape you need is made of silicone on the molding machine. The diameter of the mold should be slightly larger than the pipe itself.

The mold is mounted on a frame and placed in a molding machine (the pipe itself is in the mold) for heating. When the material softens, the product will neatly lie on the prepared frame. After cooling, the product is removed from the silicone mold and used for its intended purpose.

Bend with a spring

To make a bend on a plastic pipe at home, you can use a special spring. Such springs are available for internal and external diameters. It is better to use external springs, this will greatly simplify the process. The procedure looks as follows. The spring is put on the bend, the surface of the pipe is heated with a building hair dryer. When the material becomes pliable, the plastic bends at the right angle. After complete cooling, the spring is removed. To do this, it is rotated clockwise.

Cold way

You can bend a pipe made of polypropylene without resorting to heat. This can also be done at home. Plastic is a fairly soft material, so it can be bent simply by applying the necessary force. Despite the apparent simplicity of the process, this method is quite complicated. Firstly, to bend the product with a diameter of even half an inch, you will have to make a significant effort. Secondly, it is necessary to accurately calculate the bending angle, otherwise the surface may burst. The recommended bending angle should not exceed the pipe diameter more than 8 times.

As you can see, subject to safety precautions and following the instructions exactly, it is possible to bend a plastic pipe at home without any problems. The main thing is not to rush and approach the process carefully. Indeed, the pipe service life will depend on the quality of the bend.