Thread: heating PVC and fumes and health

If what you are smelling is an acrid acidic smell then that is HCl which is indeed nasty especially if you breathe it
If you are smelling a sort of plasticky smell that that is .
BUT
if you are heating the PVC to the point of decomposition (where it starts to blister and turn a yellow - brown -black) then you are heating it too much, it should not need to be heated to this temp to work it.

Originally Posted by BobL

If what you are smelling is an acrid acidic smell then that is HCl which is indeed nasty especially if you breathe it
If you are smelling a sort of plasticky smell that that is .
BUT
if you are heating the PVC to the point of decomposition (where it starts to blister and turn a yellow - brown -black) then you are heating it too much, it should not need to be heated to this temp to work it.

BobL,
I think I missed something in the above. When heating it did not blister or change colour. I probably heated it for 2 minutes, constantly moving where I applied the heat. I do not remember the smell being acidic. Are you saying that would be of no/minor health concern?
thanks
Mick

Originally Posted by mick59wests

BobL,
I think I missed something in the above. When heating it did not blister or change colour. I probably heated it for 2 minutes, constantly moving where I applied the heat. I do not remember the smell being acidic. Are you saying that would be of no/minor health concern?
thanks
Mick

Yep minor concern. I wouldn't sit there breathing it in all day but for welding or bending few pieces you should be OK.
If you have to bend or weld a lot of it then some ventilation should be used.

Originally Posted by BobL

Yep minor concern. I wouldn't sit there breathing it in all day but for welding or bending few pieces you should be OK.
If you have to bend or weld a lot of it then some ventilation should be used.

BobL,
as always, very much appreciated. As I knew that you used it I thought it would have to be OK
cheers
Mick

Um yeh...not realy good to breath too much of that stuff.....although it may not have discoloured, you may still be getting it too hot.

When I do this stuff I do it with good ventilation and keep the air stream from the heat gun blowing away from me where possible.

getting big pieces of plastic tube evenly hot takes time a patience.

A very real alternative is hot water......if I am only softening an end or a short piece I will do it with boiling water in a bucket.....remember the bucket needs to be able to cop the heat.

cheers

Originally Posted by soundman

Um yeh...not realy good to breath too much of that stuff.....although it may not have discoloured, you may still be getting it too hot.

When I do this stuff I do it with good ventilation and keep the air stream from the heat gun blowing away from me where possible.

getting big pieces of plastic tube evenly hot takes time a patience.

A very real alternative is hot water......if I am only softening an end or a short piece I will do it with boiling water in a bucket.....remember the bucket needs to be able to cop the heat.

cheers

thanks for above. for 'melting' when joining pipes (especially to the blast gates I have) I think trying hot water first is very sensible.
cheers
Mick

for fitting ends to other fittings hot water IS the way to go.

you do not have the problem of getting the whole diemeter evenly hot or getting more of the tube hot than necessary.

decide how much of the tube you want soft.....fill whatever container you have up to that level with boiling water..and you are away...I supose you could do it in a saucepan on the stove...but I have never tried that.

cheers

Spa baths are in many many houses around the country and the world. PVC pipe is behind every one of them and every pipe is heated and formed into shape. Using the same principle as a heat gun. The pipe is passed through a coiled electric element and turned until flexible. Great job in winter and you can toast your sandwiches too.
open your shed doors it will be just like a big warehouse.
For me i wouldn't bother boiling water to melt the pipe. Just use the heat gun but keeping the distance out until you get more comfortable with how far/how long.

Ive bent pipe and conduit with burners, heat guns and kitchen stoves......but if you want to heat just an end.....a pot of boiling water cant be beat.

cheers