Bill, I would recommend that you protect your feet when working with boiling hot water. I know how easy it is to get scalded. (Takes weeks for the skin to heal back to normal.)
Man... I am so glad for this video because I was going to fill the pvc pipe with sand and then take it to a furnace or something else in order to bend it, but this idea of yours is so easy, simple and effective!!! Thank you so much for this tip!!!
You video worked perfectly. I wanted hoops over my 13 x 17 pond and your demonstration sahowed me the way. I didn't want a perfect loop so I pent the first one with a steeper angle on one side, the one closest to my deck. with the other elongated. I used the first to roughly template the other two. I obviously needef two 10' pipes for each loop so I glued fittings on each end of the loop and just pushed the added length into the fitting. At first I planned to glue the entire piece but changed my mind when consitering where I'd store them when spring arrived. Thanks so much for the video.
This is so simple and it works! I will use a hook and eye on the rope to reproduce duplicate curves many pieces. Just in time for my project. Thanks, John
If you want identical curves. I suggest setting up some type of jig, or curve. The boiling water cools as it flows through. So each bend will be slightly different.
This seems a lot cheaper and a lot easier than the Sand/HeatGun method. I'm not against it but when on a job site and needing to move quick then yeah I suggest this man's smart method! Thank you
This is AWESOME! I am making a round cold frame for my Garden Tower and was able to make some nice bends using this method. Soooooo easy! Thank you so much:)
I built a frame for over my pond with pvc probably around 20 years ago using fittings to put it all together. The idea was to keep the fall leaves out of the pond since I live in the wiids and there are a lot of leaves. It was a monstrocity that was somewhat effective but not nearly so as I would have liked. Leaves would pile up in valleys plus putting it up and taking it down was a pain. I finally gave that up after 4 or 5 years and tried to get as many leaves out before they sunk to the bottom. That was labor intensive and really less successful than the pvc frame. Lucky I only had comets instead of expensive koi or I would have been digging floaters out all year. Then there was the issue of blue herring that decided my pond was a restaurant. Move forward 20 years and I want to get active with the pond again. Saw a great video of a guy that used 3 arcs of Pvc over a pond slightly bigger than my 10 x17. He drove rebar into the ground at appx. 45 degree angles and put one end in the rebar on one side of the pond, went to the other and did the same there. ingenious but he didn't describe how he bent the pvc. Now I know how and my pond will be very clean after the fall (both figuratively and literally. Now all I have to do is figure out the calculations for each arc's size as the pond's dimensions vary from front to back but the netting is ordered and I'm off to the races. Much thanks Bill Lawson!
Thanks for this! I had an idea that requires 3 complete circles and, when I tried to do it without heat, it wasn't going to work. I'm definitely going to try this method. THANKS!
@@lawsonpix, I gave this a try and it worked great. Unfortunately, I am going to have to build a good mold to get the results I need, a consistent arc over a 6'-8' length. Going for a 8' and two 10' diameter circles. Ended up with a curved rectangle. LOL Back to the ol' drawing board.
Cool! (Oops, I mean, hot!). I wonder if abs pipe can be shaped with the same method. Also, it appears that it isn’t necessary to pour cold water through the pipe afterward, to “set” the shape. Thanks for demonstrating this method- I like it!
Me too. I was looking at something that wasn't customized for my situation the was going to cost $250. I've already priced out my estimated cost and it's less than $75 and a little work on my part.
Yeah it has plenty of structural integrity. I used it to build a hoop shelter. I was able to hang on my shelter made with only 5 half inch ribs. It was very strong.
+mtaur100 Any fitting that allows the water to pass though will work. I used a "T" on one end, and an "elbow" on the other end. A coupling would be the cheapest.
Sure you can do it without fittings. But remember, the pipe becomes soft, so the pipe will flex at the ends. And then you can't put fittings on anymore.
+chris spotville This is not a good way to make elbows. This method is best for larger arches, as seen in the video. You can try putting short pieces into a pot of boiling water, then you can make a tight bend. But elbows, no.
Walter West that's a great question. I've never tried it. We know that boiling water softens the PVC so you can bend it. So you can probably bend it a little, then pour the boiling water in, then let it cool, then bend it a little more, and continue the process until it's bent enough.
Be aware that if you're trying to make a perfect arch, it may not work. The arch I made was uneven and weird looking. I shaped my form on a plywood with small wood blocks and then poured boiling water in it and it worked perfectly.
yes, his arch is uneven also, as it retained stiffness at the far end of the pour where the water which had lost most of its heat into the material sat. the pour end accepted the bend and did not spring back. definitely best to use a form and make sure to send more hot water through both ends, i think, as i sit in my chair not doing this.
Is it hot enough to bend a 1” pipe? If so, how long do you have to shape it before it starts to harden again? I’ve seen another video where the creator claimed it wasn’t hot enough to bend a thicker pipe. In yet another video the pipe was boiled in hot water and it had to be shaped within 30 seconds.
I've used this method to bend 1inch pipe. As long as the water in the pipe is hot you can shape it. When the water cools off, you can no longer shape it.
Photographer Bill Lawson Thank you very much! Grateful I don’t have to buy and heat up sand, buy end caps or 45-degree elbow fittings, and worry about off-gassing chemicals!
Love it!!! I will be plumbing a pool tomorrow with 1.5” pvc and am thinking of trying this instead of using 45* fittings to make the turns. What ya think?
Hmm, I tried this and my pipe collapsed in the middle and is destroyed. Does that mean too tight of a bend? Any other way to avoid pipe collapsing? It was schedule 40, 3/4",10ft long, trying to spread a 56" gap.
If you need to do tight bends, I suggest doing this method multiple times. Bend it as far as it will go without crushing. Heat it, cool it. Then bend it as far as it will go, heat it and cool it and repeat. I was able to bend a 1/2 inch pipe in a complete circle to fit in a 1 foot box.
good solution for long sections that just need gentle arching bends. but useless for shorter sections that need sharper bends...have anyone tried using heat tape?
The 3/4 backbone just slides into place. Once you put a tarp on top, the backbone isn't going anywhere. I was even able to pull myself up using the backbone. It's quite strong. The 8' ribs can be cut shorter if you want. 8' is only a nice starting point.
Good tips. Thanks Bill. I've decided not bend the ribs. I can transport the straight lengths easier . I feel that I can get all pieces into a 3" PVC pipe, capped at both ends. Thanks again for you quick response.
pvc is for cold water and sewer applications whereas cpvc is required for hot water applications although it can also be used for cold water. pvc is white and cpvc is kind of yellowish.
Ha ha Be careful with boiling water and be sure to use leather gloves (and be in your bare feet with shorts on) lol Great Tip though, I need to bend some pipe, Thanks!
This is great! It's my understanding that PVC bigger than 1/2 inch is much harder to try and bend and that this is actually the size most used for raised bed 'hoops' and greenhouses (at the top) anyway?! Easy pessy! Thanks so much! Still 'teaching' in 2019!!!
Is the concern about sending boiling water down PVC pipes a reasonable one? Some plumbers say it's no problem, others that it could be a problem. If the latter is true, how so? Even if the PVC becomes more malleable because of boiling water, this is only briefly the case. And you're not actually down there in the pipes bending anything.
Bill, I would recommend that you protect your feet when working with boiling hot water. I know how easy it is to get scalded. (Takes weeks for the skin to heal back to normal.)
Man... I am so glad for this video because I was going to fill the pvc pipe with sand and then take it to a furnace or something else in order to bend it, but this idea of yours is so easy, simple and effective!!! Thank you so much for this tip!!!
You're welcome!
You video worked perfectly. I wanted hoops over my 13 x 17 pond and your demonstration sahowed me the way. I didn't want a perfect loop so I pent the first one with a steeper angle on one side, the one closest to my deck. with the other elongated. I used the first to roughly template the other two.
I obviously needef two 10' pipes for each loop so I glued fittings on each end of the loop and just pushed the added length into the fitting. At first I planned to glue the entire piece but changed my mind when consitering where I'd store them when spring arrived.
Thanks so much for the video.
I love this idea and thank you for sharing. Straight to the point and informative
This is such a cool and helpful video ! Awesome! Thanks for showing us!!
Have u seen the obscene prices wedding arches go for? U are a godsend!!
This is so simple and it works! I will use a hook and eye on the rope to reproduce duplicate curves many pieces. Just in time for my project.
Thanks, John
If you want identical curves. I suggest setting up some type of jig, or curve. The boiling water cools as it flows through. So each bend will be slightly different.
This seems a lot cheaper and a lot easier than the Sand/HeatGun method. I'm not against it but when on a job site and needing to move quick then yeah I suggest this man's smart method! Thank you
You're welcome! Glad I could help.
good solution for long sections that just need gentle arching bends. but useless for shorter sections that need sharper bends...
Try a bending spring even quicker
What a great idea-thank you! Love the teapot. Thank you for sharing.
F.Y.I. That is a copper hot water Kettle.
This is AWESOME! I am making a round cold frame for my Garden Tower and was able to make some nice bends using this method. Soooooo easy! Thank you so much:)
+Barb That's great Barb. Glad I could help!
Thanks for the video Bill. Very helpful!
+David Noll glad I can help!
thank you for this video!!!!! Great help!!!!!
우와, 너무 쉬운 방법이네요. 저도 지금 해보려고 해요. 감사해요
Thank you, needed a trick to bend pvc
Thank you for the simplicity , the free lesson and making this great video : ), i am going to be shaping 2 inch pvc for bicycle fenders : )
You're welcome. Glad I could help!
did it work on 2 inch pvc for a bicycle fenders?
Genius! Thank you!
Best method I've seen so far. Even I can do this when I build my garden hoop houses. Thank you❤
Great info video! I have been trying to find an alternative to bend PVC that doesn't require a heat gun or heated sand. Thank you!
+John Mayer Make sure the water is fully boiling, then pour plenty in there. works great!
What like a bending spring
Thank you so much. I will consider it for netting frames of raised bed.
Richard P that's a great idea!
Top notch video sir!
Finding this video has been the joy of my week! If I had only learned this like 10 years ago! this is sooooooo awesome. Thanks a million.
I built a frame for over my pond with pvc probably around 20 years ago using fittings to put it all together. The idea was to keep the fall leaves out of the pond since I live in the wiids and there are a lot of leaves. It was a monstrocity that was somewhat effective but not nearly so as I would have liked. Leaves would pile up in valleys plus putting it up and taking it down was a pain. I finally gave that up after 4 or 5 years and tried to get as many leaves out before they sunk to the bottom. That was labor intensive and really less successful than the pvc frame. Lucky I only had comets instead of expensive koi or I would have been digging floaters out all year. Then there was the issue of blue herring that decided my pond was a restaurant.
Move forward 20 years and I want to get active with the pond again. Saw a great video of a guy that used 3 arcs of Pvc over a pond slightly bigger than my 10 x17. He drove rebar into the ground at appx. 45 degree angles and put one end in the rebar on one side of the pond, went to the other and did the same there. ingenious but he didn't describe how he bent the pvc.
Now I know how and my pond will be very clean after the fall (both figuratively and literally. Now all I have to do is figure out the calculations for each arc's size as the pond's dimensions vary from front to back but the netting is ordered and I'm off to the races.
Much thanks Bill Lawson!
Wow, quickest cheapest and easiest, great
Thank you Howie Mendel.
Great video , actually just got a idea for my jon boat now Thank You
Glad I could help.
Brilliant!!!
Thank you so much
A small trick and a big save on time, thank you dear. God bless you with health and new ideas
Thanks for this! I had an idea that requires 3 complete circles and, when I tried to do it without heat, it wasn't going to work. I'm definitely going to try this method. THANKS!
The tightest circle I have be able to get, is about a 8 inch circumference. But I put the pipe in a pot of boiling water.
@@lawsonpix, I gave this a try and it worked great. Unfortunately, I am going to have to build a good mold to get the results I need, a consistent arc over a 6'-8' length. Going for a 8' and two 10' diameter circles. Ended up with a curved rectangle. LOL Back to the ol' drawing board.
Cool! (Oops, I mean, hot!). I wonder if abs pipe can be shaped with the same method. Also, it appears that it isn’t necessary to pour cold water through the pipe afterward, to “set” the shape. Thanks for demonstrating this method- I like it!
Totally brilliant!💡 thanks👍
Glad you liked it!
helpful tips .. thank you
This man knows his knots
Wow this is sooooooo awesome!!!! thanks for sharing!!!
glad you like it. Thanks!
GREAT JOB! but i wonder what happened to his deck post top after he put the roaring hot kettle on it.....
He replaced it.
Thanks ! Great idea
Thank you.
This is perfect for making small arches for lights for an event...holiday to wrap lights around...thanks
Wow, that's a great idea!
Awesome Bill!
You just saved me major bucks! Thank you
Me too. I was looking at something that wasn't customized for my situation the was going to cost $250. I've already priced out my estimated cost and it's less than $75 and a little work on my part.
Great simple technique. Thanks
Glad you like it!
EXCELLENT ! Thank You x 1,000,000 !
Glad it helped!
useful tips... thanks you
Thanks for making this video. You saved my greenhouse
You're welcome! I'm glad your greenhouse is saved.... lol
tq. u are genius
Thank you
Great job
Great
After you dump out hot water run cold water on it or rub it with cold wet rag before untieing the rope it will keep shape then
8yr old video but im exciting that i found it, help greatly as im trying to create a sun shade for the backyard garden
Glad I can help
brilliant!
Thank you!!! :)
Does the PVC regain full/majority structural integrity when it cools ? use 3/4-1' for foam sparring swords, would like to make a curved sword.
Yeah it has plenty of structural integrity. I used it to build a hoop shelter. I was able to hang on my shelter made with only 5 half inch ribs. It was very strong.
Wow, that is a smart idea you got there. What did you use to cap the ends off? Thanks for posting.
+mtaur100 Any fitting that allows the water to pass though will work. I used a "T" on one end, and an "elbow" on the other end. A coupling would be the cheapest.
What's the purpose of the fittings? Couldn't you do this with bare pipe ends?
Sure you can do it without fittings. But remember, the pipe becomes soft, so the pipe will flex at the ends. And then you can't put fittings on anymore.
Cool idea.
it's amazing how much standard hard pvc can bend
I think it is the easiest way. Thank you!
Very clever thank you
Your welcome
Homemade wedding arch here I come! U a 🍑 a Godsend ! Thank you so much
You’re welcome 😊
That is a great idea
Smart idea
Leather Gloves and open-toed shoes. Outstanding.
i am trying to make those pvc pipe bows for me and some friends do you think this would work for that?
+chris spotville This is not a good way to make elbows. This method is best for larger arches, as seen in the video. You can try putting short pieces into a pot of boiling water, then you can make a tight bend. But elbows, no.
+Bill Lawson i meant the bow and arrows made from pvc
+chris spotville You don't need to pre-bend the bow, for a bow and arrow set up. You'll need PVC's ability to straighten back out to launch the arrow.
Will this method still work for a 1-1/2 inch pvc pipe?
Walter West that's a great question. I've never tried it. We know that boiling water softens the PVC so you can bend it. So you can probably bend it a little, then pour the boiling water in, then let it cool, then bend it a little more, and continue the process until it's bent enough.
Is this Schedule 40 pvc?
Yes. The pipe shown in this video is Schedule 40. This method will probably work for Schedule 80 as long as you don't do any tight bends.
Simple but grt
Be aware that if you're trying to make a perfect arch, it may not work. The arch I made was uneven and weird looking. I shaped my form on a plywood with small wood blocks and then poured boiling water in it and it worked perfectly.
Yeah, making a form is the best
yes, his arch is uneven also, as it retained stiffness at the far end of the pour where the water which had lost most of its heat into the material sat. the pour end accepted the bend and did not spring back. definitely best to use a form and make sure to send more hot water through both ends, i think, as i sit in my chair not doing this.
Is it hot enough to bend a 1” pipe? If so, how long do you have to shape it before it starts to harden again? I’ve seen another video where the creator claimed it wasn’t hot enough to bend a thicker pipe. In yet another video the pipe was boiled in hot water and it had to be shaped within 30 seconds.
I've used this method to bend 1inch pipe. As long as the water in the pipe is hot you can shape it. When the water cools off, you can no longer shape it.
Photographer Bill Lawson Thank you very much! Grateful I don’t have to buy and heat up sand, buy end caps or 45-degree elbow fittings, and worry about off-gassing chemicals!
Love it!!! I will be plumbing a pool tomorrow with 1.5” pvc and am thinking of trying this instead of using 45* fittings to make the turns.
What ya think?
Should work. Probably want to leave the water in the pipe longer with the larger diameter. That will soften it up a bit more.
Thaks!
Thanks
Genius idea
Hmm, I tried this and my pipe collapsed in the middle and is destroyed. Does that mean too tight of a bend? Any other way to avoid pipe collapsing? It was schedule 40, 3/4",10ft long, trying to spread a 56" gap.
If you need to do tight bends, I suggest doing this method multiple times. Bend it as far as it will go without crushing. Heat it, cool it. Then bend it as far as it will go, heat it and cool it and repeat. I was able to bend a 1/2 inch pipe in a complete circle to fit in a 1 foot box.
use sand or garden hose inside pvc, then heat gradually and bend to desired shape
Great, making a shower rod for my small camper
Farmer Doug this should work pretty good for that
Can we use this to hang curtains?
Sure
good solution for long sections that just need gentle arching bends. but useless for shorter sections that need sharper bends...have anyone tried using heat tape?
No just use a bending spring
Will this work for 90' angles????
No, 90 degree angles would be to sharp. the sharpest curve I have made is about 5 or 6 inches across. And I did that in a pot of boiling water.
Pinterest sent me here from a pin on a truck camper built with PVC. Any idea who posted that pin? I have questions about that project. Thanks.
Tracey Osborn well you came to the right place! I posted that pin. And it's my project. What are your questions?
How do the 1/2" ribs stay connected to the 3/4" backbone? Also, I cut the ribs to 8' and the peak is much higher than your illustration.
The 3/4 backbone just slides into place. Once you put a tarp on top, the backbone isn't going anywhere. I was even able to pull myself up using the backbone. It's quite strong.
The 8' ribs can be cut shorter if you want. 8' is only a nice starting point.
Good tips. Thanks Bill. I've decided not bend the ribs. I can transport the straight lengths easier . I feel that I can get all pieces into a 3" PVC pipe, capped at both ends. Thanks again for you quick response.
Right, you don't have to bend the ribs with boiling water. I bent the ribs because it made assembly easier.
Did anyone try this with a 2" central vacuum PVC pipe?
As long as it's a gentle bend, it should work.
My pipe just not moving at all...what should be the problem?
What size pipe are you using?
Does this work on 3/4"?
Yes, but leave the hot water in a little longer
I missed why you attached the fittings on each end?
Because the ends get soft and may change shape. If they change shape, then you can't put fittings on later.
@@lawsonpix Ah, ok, thank you.
Fn brilliant
Nice
His ghost assistant knows the pipe is ready to drain. Lol
Do you think this would work to flatten the pvc
An iron might be better for that.
you sure that would work without scorching it
PVC melting point is 350 degrees F. An iron is temperature controlled. Try different levels if you are concerned.
SniperSurvivalist & Bushcraft
Niceeeee..:)
Thanks. Now i can build a roof for my plant shelve.
Have fun!
are you using cold water pipe?
Cold water pipe? I'm using "Schedule 40 PVC" pipe. I've never heard it referred to as "cold water pipe" but I guess you can call it that.
thanks, when I did a repair on a water line, the hardware store called it hot water pipe so I just went with the opposite.
pvc is for cold water and sewer applications whereas cpvc is required for hot water applications although it can also be used for cold water. pvc is white and cpvc is kind of yellowish.
Ha ha Be careful with boiling water and be sure to use leather gloves (and be in your bare feet with shorts on) lol
Great Tip though, I need to bend some pipe, Thanks!
Safety first,right ? Boiling water in flip flops ? But that’s ok you got your gloves on.
heat gun works also
The water heats evenly...can't get that with a heat gun.
This is great! It's my understanding that PVC bigger than 1/2 inch is much harder to try and bend and that this is actually the size most used for raised bed 'hoops' and greenhouses (at the top) anyway?! Easy pessy! Thanks so much! Still 'teaching' in 2019!!!
Don’t think this will work with 2” PVC pipe.
But cant make sharp bends using this method, hot sand will do..
Why not just use a bending spring
Safety flip flops
I thought you weren't supposed to expose PVC to water.
Diver, Sky lmao it's pvc pipe, it's made for water
Not recommended for 'potable' water.
Lol...
@@photog1529 Ever been under a house?
Hi, how long did you leave the hot water in the pvc pipe? Can I use a jute rope or does it have to be nylon?
The pipe warms up fast, so 1 or 2 minutes is plenty of time. Jute rope will work.
@@lawsonpix thank you. It worked.
@@asifahussain6959 that's great!
You should put gloves on your feet too.
its not pvc its pprc
You mix PVC&NYLON
Is the concern about sending boiling water down PVC pipes a reasonable one? Some plumbers say it's no problem, others that it could be a problem. If the latter is true, how so? Even if the PVC becomes more malleable because of boiling water, this is only briefly the case. And you're not actually down there in the pipes bending anything.
I've never heard of that problem.