PVC Pipe Solvent/Cement, How do you Prolong in storage ?

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Kamphiker wrote:
Any tricks in keeping shelf Life ?

I purchase the smallest size containers for occasional use. By the time I get to another project I have to throw out the last purchase & buy new.

It is the air in the can that kills it !

The cans have very little air when they come out of the factory and may even be vacuumed sealed. Add air when they are opened and life gets shorter.

You are half correct. PVC cement has two basic parts. Resin and solvent. When you open the can, air enters and contacts the resin. It begins to cure. (harden) At the same time, the volatile solvent(s) escape out of the can. You smell the solvents. The solvent (THF) is important because it dissolves (melts) the pipe and the fitting so that the two eventually fuse together. The resin fills any voids between the two making the joint water/air tight. The solvent portion also contains thinners (acetone and cyclohexanone) to get the viscosity of the cement correct for the ambient temperature, the pipe material/diameter, and cure time.

Chum lee

MrWizard wrote:


Yep, I just consider it part of the price of the repair project

Ditto that.

Buy only small, new one for new project. If it turns out your old can is still OK, don't open the new one - save 'til next time....:W


Side note:
The plumber "thing":

Forget the brand....
Next time you are in Loews (not sure if HD has it) - there's a wood filler with labels that read "normally" - however the "pry-off" lid of
the can will be *on the bottom*......the can is stored upside-down, at least until *you* store it the other way round.

And yeah it's a - "use in well ventilated area" - guess the logic is the same as the ABS/PVC hint to keep it from drying out.

:@

interesting idea to vacuum seal the can. I might have to try that. Also be nice if they sold like a single use tube of material.

Yep, I just consider it part of the price of the repair project

with 50 years of PVC glue experience I can tell you you can not store it for long periods. Just buy small cans. Check it before your next project and buy new small cans if need be.

I just had a can last an abnormally long time and I have no idea why?

I have thought of giving the can a spray of aerosol computer cleaner in a spray can before putting away.

Now I see they have the solvent in a spray can, may try that next time.

So and I'm the only one that has had the lid glue itself shut so tight I couldn't get it off? Only needed enough for two joints so I just punctured the bottom.

I've never bothered trying to prolong the life of PVC / ABS cement which I can buy in small cans as I may need it but with larger containers of paint, drywall mud, etc, I find that placing a layer of clear plastic film over the top surface of whatever is remaining in the can goes a long way to preserving the contents in it's original state. I've used drywall mud and paint several years after original purchase and it's been just as good as when I bought the container new.

Kamphiker wrote:
Any tricks in keeping shelf Life ?

I purchase the smallest size containers for occasional use. By the time I get to another project I have to throw out the last purchase & buy new.

It is the air in the can that kills it !

The cans have very little air when they come out of the factory and may even be vacuumed sealed. Add air when they are opened and life gets shorter.

Seal-a-meal vacuum sealer? I haven't done it with PVC cement but have with other items. Put it in a bag, suck, and seal.