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["Warren F. Smith" <WarrenSmith AT PalmettoBuilders.net>]

>>Tvo,
>>
>>Suppose I wanted to take 2" to 2 1/2" or so (they'd all be the same)
>>sections of thin wall 1/2" PVC and distort them into a
>>slighly conical shape
>>(section of a cone) with the result that the ID of one end
>>remains the same
>>but the ID of the other end is widened by 10% or 15%.     Is
>>this feasible?
>>Would I push the pipe sections over a heated cone or would I
>>rather heat the
>>pipe and push the heated plastic over a cold cone?  Or is
>>there a better
>>way?
>>
>>James

I'm not TVO but we used to do this on jobsites with pvc electrical conduit
(the grey stuff). We had a hotbox made that basically used straight heating
elements. We'd place the pipe in it for a few minutes until it began to
soften, take it out and bend angles or push it over a piece of steel pipe to
bell the ends so it would fit over the next piece.

If you heat it with a torch use a spreader for the flame and use caution.
You want uniform heat and don't want to scorch the pipe. If you're just
doing the ends a yard sale toaster oven would do the trick if you could
override the safety on the door. Set up your "cone" right next to the oven.



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