Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I read somewhere on here about recycling PVC pieces with hot air gun. It Works.

1 cut the pipe about 5-10 mils away from joiner/end cap/elbow/Tee etc
2. have thick welders type gloves... this gets hot.
3 using hot air gun heat around the outside but most heat down the hole
4 when pipe starts to go black use narrow screwdriver and insert between pipe and joiner 3 or 4 different spots
5 sometimes screwdriver will pull it out otherwise needle nose pliers grab pipe and twist it rather than pulling.
6 If you have to remove another piece from same joiner let it cool down first ...go to another piece.
7 If you rush AND/OR get the joiner too hot you can bend it out of shape...trick I found, let it cool down naturally, then when ready to put new good piece of pipe...heat joiner till just pliable, slap glue on pipe, and insert with a twisting action to get in correctly.
8. when piece is cooling down and its got bent out of shape... stick on off cut of pipe in and keep turning... wont allow joiner to go out of shape.
I just got about $100 worth of used joiners from second hand pipe this way.

It will not work where a reducing joiner has been inserted into another piece... you need the screwdriver to actually break the seal.

wont work on storm water pipe

have fun
Dont burn yourself
Dont do in small enclosed area... unless you want a small thrill to the brain.

..
And don't forget the other trick.. which is a little more convenient.. and has no heat risks..

Same as.. cutting off leaving 5 to 10 mm of tube, butnow paint the internal tube with glue, hold vertical and set fire to the glue..
Wait until extinguished or blow out remainder... and then reapply and burn again..
Carefully force long nose pliers between the tube and fitting and wind the tube from the fitting.. like opening a can

Add more glue and burn if the tube fights back...

And whilst it's burning.. hold at a slight angle to vertical and rotate.. I think it gives more even heating..

Last week I reused what would likely have cost 200 in fittings..
..
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So has anyone ideas on how to remove reducers from elbows/Tee pieces etc please!!!