PVC pipe molds

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bdonald

bdonald

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
127
Location
Detroit, MI, USA.
Ok, I was at Lowes, and picked up some 3/4 cpvc for the molds, because it was the only kind that they had in 5 foot lengths, and they wouldnt cut it, a 10 footer wasnt going to fit in my focus :( Is there any difference between the cpvc and the pvc? Also, will I need to use a release agent <such as pam> or is the inside slick enough? I already gathered there is some shrinkage in the castin clear from what I read here, so I was going to add an inch to each mold per blank <i.e. 13 inch pipe to get 2 out of it>. Thanks in advance for any info!
Figured I'd check here before wasting my time cutting it up.
 
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I've had mixed results with resin releasing from PVC so I would expect the same problems with CPVC. While the PR usually self releases from PVC, requiring only modest effort to extract, sometimes it gets a death grip on the PVC and will not let go no matter how hard you try to drive it out.

I've never experimented with any sort of release agent
 
I have never had to use a release agent in a pvc mold.Cast it let it dry and turn it upside down and hit the floor a time or two and it will come right out.If you want to you can lightly coat the pvc with Pam but I stopped using it and have'nt had any problems.PR shrinks but not that much.13 inches would be a good length to get 2 blanks although I prefer to have 2 smaller molds rather than one big one.Gives you a few more options.
 
bdonald said:
Ok, I was at Lowes, and picked up some 3/4 cpvc for the molds, because it was the only kind that they had in 5 foot lengths, and they wouldnt cut it, a 10 footer wasnt going to fit in my focus
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Bob; When I am going out for a short piece of long pipe stock, I throw a short pruning saw in the trunk. Lowes and most other places have a place in the back near the trim wood molding with a saw.
 
Or just pick up one of the pvc cutters they have there for $4.00 and cut the whole thing into 6" segments right there. carry it home in your pockets, lol. The hand cutters will cut pipe up to one inch.
 
I don't use any release agent either. If I have a stubborn blank that wont come out I use a piece of dowel that fits inside the tube and just push down on my bench.
 
Bob, you know I've only done one, and that thing didn't shrink visibly at all. The death grip was too much for any banging or dowels to work. I did not use a release agent.

I ran the length of it along the corner of my grinding wheel to make a "cut" the length of the PVC, then split it out of there.

From my days parusing the plumbing forums, I know that if the CPVC you got is the "Flowguard Gold" kind, the difference is that it's supposed to keep residual buildup to a minimum in your water supply- that means it's slicker than regular PVC or CPVC.
 
some questions about using pvc.
how do you plug the bottom, is it hard to get the blanks out?
this is something i may want to try.

thanks
mbuckley52
 
mbuckley52 said:
some questions about using pvc.
how do you plug the bottom?
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I have tried the PVC caps but I think I prefer soda bottle caps.

PVCMOLD.JPG
 
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I just slap a piece of tape on there. Duct tape, masking tape, they both worked for me. To be fair, it was actually about 5 pieces of tape for added security. I did not cast under pressure. No leaks though.
 
Our Walmart used to have those ice trays, but haven't had them in a while.
Those are probably the easiest to use!
No agents, no mess... sometimes you have to push a blank out, but it's not too bad.
 
Daniel said:
Or just pick up one of the pvc cutters they have there for $4.00 and cut the whole thing into 6" segments right there. carry it home in your pockets, lol. The hand cutters will cut pipe up to one inch.
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And if you're like some of the SOB's we had calling on us when I worked for Lowe's, go straight home, do not go through the check out, do not collect $200, etc. .... I'm sure we probably had people try that too...
One shift I actually found a five pound box of 16p nails that was emptied into someone's pockets... how do you walk around with 5 pounds of nails in your pockets??

No disparities to any of our IAP members..
 
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