Heating PVC to flatten to sheet or other modifications.

[psycix]

I want to bend pvc, and most people heat their pvc, then shape it and let it cool.
My main questions:
-What is the best temperature to get your pvc at?
-What is the best way of heating it?

I thought of these options of heating it:
-Laying it in the oven (precise temperature and an even heat dissiapation)
-With a heat blower (easiest but not even heated)
-Put it in boiling or heated water
-With a torch (might burn it this way)
-A bit weird idea: We have got ourselves an infrared sauna a few months ago, it goes up to about 70 degrees.


I noticed there is no wiki page yet wich covers sheet pvc or the making of it, it would be nice if someone could start out with that. I think it is a valuable addition.

[FeLeX]

I tried the boiling water and it did not work so good =/

[Matheusilla]

Use some sand, heated in an old pot on the stove. I've seen this done when bending the pipe itself. I've no idea of what temperature though.

[elitesniper]

boil water and cooking oil.

[brogdenlaxmiddie]

i bent some PVC with a blow-torch.... Hooked up to some propane. Just heat it slowly.

[Spuddin]

http://www.freewebs.com/spuddin/pvcsheet.htm

[brother361]

spuddin links is proly the easiest to flatten it out

[jimmy101]

Boiling water works well (like spuddin posted). You might have to do it more than once to get a really flat piece.

It seems like the boiling point of water is just a little lower than the optimal temperature. I suspect that 220F to 230F probably would work a bit better.

[D_Hall]

Why not just BUY a flat piece of PVC?

[iknowmy3tables]

you could by sheet pvc but you usually have to order it , it cost too much money and time,

the best way to heat up pvc for bending,
HEAT GUN


I tried boiling, it sucks didn't work for me, I use to use my blow torch which was great except for the burn marks which always happened with my impatience and sloppiness, but the heat gun is perfect it hardly ever burns the pvc and works really quick

tempeture is not important, its not like you have to know the temperature at which water boils to boil water

[FeLeX]

Do you guys think a hair dryer would work cuz I am a cheapskate and dont have a heat gun.

[clide]

I do my parts in the oven because I'm usually doing big or complex shapes. I've been wanting to get a heat gun for smaller parts. For the oven I usually put it at 250 F

Why not just BUY a flat piece of PVC?

You can also make other useful parts besides flat sheets. I've made stocks, grips, and tons of other parts out of heat-shaped PVC. In fact I rarely build a gun without it now.

[psycix]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think Ill go with the oven since I now know the exact temperatures to do it.
Thanks again

[Jared Haehnel]

Do you guys think a hair dryer would work cuz I am a cheapskate and dont have a heat gun.

Unless you have on heck of an hair dryer...no it doesn't get hot enough

[SpudFarm]

Do you guys think a hair dryer would work cuz I am a cheapskate and dont have a heat gun.

Unless you have on heck of an hair dryer...no it doesn't get hot enough

i melted hole in a soda bottle with my hair dyer..