Thunderforge Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 I was thinking of using some PVC pipe and angle section for scratch building a few things, but I want some advice before I get into it. PVC is very different to the HIPS plastic of airfix kits or white styrene which can be welded together with polystyrene cement. I’ve tried polystyrene cement on PVC and it doesn’t touch the stuff (in fact not even superglue gave a very strong hold!) Can anyone recommend a glue which would allow me to weld the PVC together? I’ve found ‘glue that is suitable for PVC’ in my local DIY shop but on closer inspection it looks like a gorilla glue type which sticks TO it, rather melts into it. Thanks in advance, Thunderforge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Hi, I use Butanone or MEK to fix uPVC drainage pipework, and which I also use for all my styrene scratchbuilding, as it is the only easily available solvent here in Spain for modelling Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderforge Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 MEK? I think that stuff’s illegal over here now. My old boss had a tin for making rubber (temporarily) rubbery again, he used to take a big sniff from the tin and say how lovely it was. You’ll note I’m using past tense here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Butanone or MEK can be bought quite legally throughout the EU for plumbing, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) is illegal for use in the UK unless a special licence and certificate is granted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted July 5, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 5, 2018 And I'm probably preaching to the choir, but if you are using stuff like this do it in a well ventilated room and try not to inhale more than you have too; it's nasty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnylinny Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) is illegal for use in the UK unless a special licence and certificate is granted Can I have a source for that please? I'm pretty sure I bought some from the model shop only a few days as Plastic Weld... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted July 5, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 5, 2018 (edited) Acetone will also weld PVC. Methylene Chloride seems to be freely available without certification https://www.chemicals.co.uk/methylene-chloride Edited July 5, 2018 by Andy Hayter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trustytrev Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Hello, https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/solventweld.htm This stuff is available at Screwfix or most DIY stores for plumbing etc trustytrev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 (edited) I bought some stuff from eBay in the plumbing section which is supposed to weld PVC pipework. I have still to try it out, though I have used a similar product in the past. This, but I paid rather less than £7. (The seller I bought from doesn't seem to have it at the moment.) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Evo-Stik-PVC-Pipe-Weld-50ml-30814647/112747398049?epid=28002362138&hash=item1a4044c3a1:g:QncAAOSwogpaUQY3 It should be available from plumber's merchants or DIY stores. (I couldn't find any in Lakeside B & Q - which doesn't mean they don't stock it.) EDIT. I've dug it out to investigate. The tube contains 50ml and the packaging states that it is suitable for ABS and PVC and contains Cyclohexanone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone and Bisphol-A-Epichlorhydrin Epoxy Resin and a long list of safety warnings. It also states a shelf life of 24 months, but I couldn't find any manufacturing date, so this information is of questionable usefulness. Edited July 6, 2018 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brigo Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 Few solvents available from Screwfix https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=upvc+solvent#category=cat831510 Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGi Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 (edited) Can I have a source for that please? I'm pretty sure I bought some from the model shop only a few days as Plastic Weld... Not to be used in paint strippers sold to consumers following a number of reported deaths. Other uses e.g. degreaser still allowed. https://www.paintsquare.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=7328 Acetone will also weld PVC. Methylene Chloride seems to be freely available without certification https://www.chemicals.co.uk/methylene-chloride That looks like a useful and informative site but you may have to complete a declaration before purchase. They also have a separate page for dichloromethane (even though its the same chemical!). That page does mention a ban on DIY use. Do I need to fill in a declaration form to buy chemicals from ReAgent?In most cases this isn’t needed, however some of our chemicals are regulated by the Home Office or restricted for commercial use only. If you’d like to purchase one of these chemicals you may be asked to complete a declaration of use form before we can authorise the transaction. Edited July 6, 2018 by JohnGi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KalKat Posted July 6, 2018 Share Posted July 6, 2018 You can get methylene chloride through e-bay, I use it for kit building, I found it didn't touch some pipework I wanted to repair, so got some pipe solvent from screwfix. Emma Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderforge Posted July 6, 2018 Author Share Posted July 6, 2018 I've gone for a small tube of 'Ever Build Stick2 Hard Plastic Adhesive' which contains acetone. There was another tube with a much faster hold and a longer list of chemicals, but I thought I might be safer with this one first. I'll let you know my results. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and information everyone! :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejstubbs Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 (edited) Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) is illegal for use in the UK unless a special licence and certificate is granted Dicholormethane (CH2Cl2) is not the same compound as butanone/MEK (CH3C(O)CH2CH3), which is what Ron Heggs suggested using. Both can be easily bought for modelling purposes in the UK, eg: https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=3084&name=butanone-60ml&Itemid=189&category_pathway=1007 https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=1150&name=plasticweld-57ml&Itemid=189&category_pathway=1007 (Plasticweld is dichloromethane - it says so on the label.) JohnGi's statement about the controls on dichlormethane's use in paint strippers is correct. In that use case it was being slappped on by the bucketload or even used in a submersion bath, which is not the same as a few drops on a joint. If butanone will do the job, though, then I think I would be inclined use that since there seems to be less risk identified with it. Still a good idea to use either compound in a well ventilated area, though. Edited July 9, 2018 by ejstubbs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now