How to Bend a PVC

by amjohnny in Workshop > Home Improvement

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How to Bend a PVC

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I need to bend a PVC conduit in one of my project. Checking on internet about how to bend a PVC, they will tell you bend with baked sands fill into PVC and cover both side to get sands do not come out......

First, I don't have any sand in my hand at that moment, second, fill hot sands into whole of the PVC, I believe that is a hard job for me. Anyhow I need a more simple way than fill sands.

I don't expect a professional job. I only want the PVC does not kink after bending and still have inner space to go wires. I used the things what I have at my hand - A HAIR DRYER and A DRAIN AUGER

Tools

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A hair dryer and A 1/2" drain auger.

Put Auger in PVC and Heat Bending Area

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Insert the drain auger to the PVC bending area to prevent kink. The 1/2" auger is smaller than the inner diameter of the PVC, but it is ok for my project, at least, it will get enough inner space to go through wires.

Heat outside of the PVC with the hair dryer. The hair dryer is not a very hot tool. Heat little bit longer time is needed. Don't over heat. Heat and Bend little by little.

Bending

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I bend it on a piece of trunk to try to get more or less 2" arc radius. The trunk is ugly, but it works for me. Repeat heating and bending several times to get the final angle. Repeat more times will get much better arc shape (I'm impatient. So the bending job looking is not so good). Don't over bend the angle. It is difficult to bend it back without kink.

Drawing Out the Auger

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After get the needed angle, draw the auger out. It is much easier than sands work. For me, it is a no cost and easiest way to get my project bending.