PVC Conduit 45 Cut From 90?

[minuteman62-64]

OK, guys, since I got such great info from my previous query, here's another. I'm working with 1" PVC conduit and need a 45 degree fitting. Seems like my local HD is out of 45's, although they have plenty of 90's. Instead of running all over town to different HD's, can I just get a 90 and cut it in half? Looking at the 1/2" and 3/4" fittings, the 45's look exactly like 90's cut in half.

 

[jbcurt00]

For what exactly?

I've used PVC 90s and 45s for lots of stuff, but cant picture how you plan to use a cut in half 90 as a 45 for any purpose

Cut it thru the 90s inside corner, at a 22.5deg twice, once for each half of a 45? And what, glue the 22.5deg butt ends together? Fuse them together?

Because the pipe has to slid into both ends of the fitting. If you just cut the 90 down to a 45, I think you'll find the pipe wont fit well/right into the elbow portion at your 45 cut. Certainly not well enough to keep it together or sealed.

 

[StarTed]

It depends upon what you plan to use it for. If it needs it to be liquid or air tight then wait and buy the proper fitting. If it's just going to be a connector that won't be glued then check to see if a 1 1/4" PVC will be tight enough.

Another option is to heat and bend the PVC conduit to your needs. Use a coupler to add some length if needed.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Because the pipe has to slid into both ends of the fitting. If you just cut the 90 down to a 45, I think you'll find the pipe wont fit well/right into the elbow portion at your 45 cut. Certainly not well enough to keep it together or sealed.

That's what I was planning to do, and, the fit was my concern. I had a 90 from the old installation and just tried just cutting it in half. Coupling fitted on just fine (on the cut end) - the wide sweep curve and the tolerance of the conduit fittings (don't have to pass a pressure test) seems to allow this as an option. Anyways, I've got to go to another part of town this p.m. and will check the HD there. If they have a 45 I'll just get it and avoid any issues.

 

[poconojoe]

Just gently heat a straight piece to the angle you want. Do it gently without collapsing it. You might have to practice a bit. Slow heat from a distance. Don't burn it. Use a heat gun or torch from a distance. I do it all the time. I am an IBEW electrician.

 

[poconojoe]

Heat it evenly back and forth quickly while gradually bending it. Heat gun works best.

 

[Grandad]

I agree with bending your own. I haven't bent full 90's but many offsets up to 45 degree bends using heat, mostly 1 1/4" and 2" electrical conduit. Be gentle with the heat. If you don't have a heat gun, you'll probably find that a hair dryer will almost do the job, but not quite. A propane torch will be difficult to control and you may get hot spots and scorching. I found the best home remedy is an electric stove element (sometime when the admiral's not home). Rotate the pipe several inches above a red hot element, then form it on top of a cookie sheet, retaining it's proper cross-sectional shape with gloved hands. I haven't used a gas stove, but that may work too. I've heard you can use a gas barbeque, but I think confining the heat to a localized area may be troublesome on small pipe. - Grandad

 

[gm280]

I also suggest heating it and bending it. However, If you don't want it to kink, fill the pipe with sand before heating and bending. However, with that said, I would first search for the proper fitting and go that route. JMHO!

 

[NYBo]

You can check the inventory at HD using their app on your smartphone. It will even tell what aisle and bay the item is in. I use it all the time at work (I work at HD).

 

[Tim Frank]

I think we may be assuming that you are talking about a 90 deg fitting like an ABS 90.
If you mean one of the PVC conduit 90s that is about 6" on each leg and one end has a belled opening for the next piece of pipe, cutting that in the right place should work OK.

 

[minuteman62-64]

In HD, took a closer look at the 1" and bigger 45's. They do have a straight section, about 1" long, right at each end to accommodate the coupling. While it looked like the cut 90 would work in a pinch, the HD 45's are only $1.19, so why mess around.

I have bent PVC water pipe and conduit before in smaller (3/4" & 1/2") sizes with success - but only for odd-ball angles or in a pinch when no time to run to store.