[Strawbale] PVC - continuing OT thread

[Robert Tom]

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:55:23 -0500, Mike Weaver <mweaver at misteam.net>  
wrote:

> If one wanted use something other than PVC for a large plumbing project
> - I need 8" to 10" diameter pipes,
> are there any recommendations?
>
> It's drainage issue so it doesn't need to be safe for drinking water,
> and hopefully would be pretty cheap.


>> On 2008, Feb 16, at 10:54, Sherwood Botsford wrote:

>>> ABS hadn't occurred to me.  Is it flexible enough to put an 1/8
>>> circular arc (45 degree) in 16 feet?


Mike;

Big "O"  www.bigodrain.ca  makes corrugated high-density polyethylene pipe  
that is used universally for footing drains and field drainage here in  
Canada, 4" diamter stuff (perforated and underperforated) being the most  
common.

However, I have seen Big "O" product that must be at least 4 or 5 feet in  
diameter currently being installed in a highway widening project here in  
Ottawa. (I was zipping by at ~100 kph so didn't hop out to size up the  
stuff and it has been quite some time since I've been to town so I'm  
speaking from (faulty) memory only)

The 4" diameter stuff comes in big coils with a filter sock pre-applied to  
the perforated-style pipe. Cost is around $45. per 100 ft coil. Larger  
coils are available for field drainage apps. I've never purchased the 8" &  
10" stuff but I'm pretty sure that I've seen it in 20 ft lengths.

While the 4"  dia stuff is relatively thin-walled material, it is  
surprisingly strong. I've driven over stuff that was supported only on the  
sides by crushed stone ballast, the top still exposed -- no deformation.


Sherwood;

The smallest diameter ABS DWV pipe I've seen is 1.25" diameter and it  
typically comes in 10 ft lengths.  That diameter gives it considerable  
stiffness WRT bending resistance.

For the arc you describe, it would require glueing-together of two or more  
pieces and I suspect that it would require heating the pipe (ie more than  
just leaving it out in the sun) to bend it without causing failure of the  
glue joints.

It may be simpler to make the frame as a rigid arch (ie like a gambrel  
roof) with straight frame members, using the standard 30 and 45 degree  
couplings that are made for ABS.

ABS DWV pipe is pretty durable stuff. I have some cut-offs from 3" and 4"  
diameter stock that I've filled with concrete and use as rollers for  
moving huge boulders and small buildings around, some of which (the  
rollers that is) are over 20 years old, left outdoors in full sun all of  
this time  and are still providing service when called up for duty.

PVC in the same situation would have self-destructed long ago.

-- 
=== * ===
Rob Tom
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
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