Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I had to use this old trick today and thought I would show those that hadn't seen it before.

Step 1: Trip pipe close to fitting



Step 2: Paint inside of the pipe only with PVC cement



Step 3:

Step 4: gently lever out as pipe is now soft from the heat



Step 5: hopefully you are left with a fairly clean undamaged fitting that can be reused



Hope this helps someone

I use a heat gun, But that looks like a hell of good time.

I dont glue mine.
The critical ones that I cant afford to come loose I just put a small tek screw in the join to stop it moving. The screw goes in just enough so that only 1 or 2 mm sticks into pipe.
Thought maybe that screw could corrode and effect water but exposure is minimal.

hehehe...Hubby - usually quite a dab hand at this technique from having to find and re-use parts in a hurry when an irrigation pipe needs fixin', somehow managed to slip and nearly hit bone on his thumb last week when trying to remove the inner section with a VERY sharp budding knife

... moral of the story - it works a treat and is a really good technique...(great photos - well done Simo)... but choose your 'inner pipe removal' implements wisely

It can sometimes take a bit of levering if you havnt kept it lit for long enough (which I think is what hubby might have done) - but can melt outer pipe if left for too long? - is that right or do you just let it burn out Simo?

Simo, that's cool. I have split the inside pipe with a hacksaw blade in a couple of places and removed with knife.
Thanks for the info.

Yep you need to judge the flame time just right, once you have done it a few time you can figure out exactly how much glue to put on so it burns out leaving the pipe just the right temp.

I do the same, but normally use a smallish flat blade screwdriver. once you lever down, if it doesnt come loose, then you can twist it up nicely so all the edges pop out.


have also come very close to putting a large hole in my hand when i've been in a hurry.