Bulkhead to PVC... what am I doing wrong?

a-mused · May 10, 2018

ABS<-> PVC solvent (Green) is one way to go. The better way is to use threaded fittings (e.g. a true union ..coupled to the bulkhead via a nipple). Just a touch of silicone on the threads, screw it together, and you're set to go. Easy to remove should the need arise, but will be water tight. The true union right at the bulkhead will give you the ability to use a thread x slip elbow and correct any angle issues if you're not going to be perfectly vertical - and removes the need for spa-flex right at the bulkhead, which could put odd, angular stress on the bulkhead and cause a piping or glass failure.

lapin · May 10, 2018

samnaz said:
After applying both glue and primer to pipe and bulkhead, I inserted pipe with a 1/4” turn and pressed joints together firmly for 30 seconds.
That wasn’t long enough, pipe started to creep out. So I held it together with all my strength for over 4 minutes. Assumed it would be long enough. Yet the pipe still forced its way out a few mm.
Is this normal? It certainly does not look like a water tight seal to me.
Should I be using ABS to PVC specific cement? This did not happen much when I joined pvc pipe to pvc fittings.

I didnt read every post so this might have already be said . Can you see inside the bulkhead where the pipe is cemented? If so to be safe you can run a bead of your pvc cement inside where the 2 meet. You could also use Weld-on 16 for the bead. It should fill in any gaps where water can leak out. With the amount of glue already used I doubt the pipes will come apart. What part of your system is this going to be used for? Drain or pump intake, it should be fine. Normally home tanks dont use very high pressures.

Centerline · May 11, 2018

samnaz said:
ha, that sounds unlucky to me... is the moral of the story don't glue ABS to PVC, or just don't do a crappy job?

I have never used primer and never had a glued joint fail. I'm pretty sure that primer cleans and softens the PVC. BTW, I'm in the process of building a new office in a new warehouse - today the plumbers were setting 4 bathrooms. I asked them about primer and they said they only use it on high pressure slip fittings.

theMeat · May 11, 2018

Centerline said:
I have never used primer and never had a glued joint fail. I'm pretty sure that primer cleans and softens the PVC. BTW, I'm in the process of building a new office in a new warehouse - today the plumbers were setting 4 bathrooms. I asked them about primer and they said they only use it on high pressure slip fittings.

Well then builders aren’t building to code. In a commercial setting that is a mistake. The reason why primer is purple is so inspectors can see it was used.
While I agree that primer is overkill, and a light scuff with s scotch pad then glue is plenty for just about any application

theMeat · May 11, 2018

lapin said:
I didnt read every post so this might have already be said . Can you see inside the bulkhead where the pipe is cemented? If so to be safe you can run a bead of your pvc cement inside where the 2 meet. You could also use Weld-on 16 for the bead. It should fill in any gaps where water can leak out. With the amount of glue already used I doubt the pipes will come apart. What part of your system is this going to be used for? Drain or pump intake, it should be fine. Normally home tanks dont use very high pressures.

That’s not the way pvc cement works. It bonds the two pipes together. Lapping some on the outside or inside of the end of the joint does little to not

lapin · May 11, 2018

theMeat said:
That’s not the way pvc cement works. It bonds the two pipes together. Lapping some on the outside or inside of the end of the joint does little to not

I am tying to help fix a problem without starting over. I totally agree that it does little. That is what i was trying to do "just a little". If the joint is strong then this might prevent a leak, if run on the inside of the joint.

drtrash · May 11, 2018

What about bulkheads going into sump? Glue or press? Most sump bulkheads are ABS

vic5hands · May 11, 2018

Recommend scuffing joints first to insure bond

theMeat · May 11, 2018

If the joint is not strong, or if it’s leaking, and you don’t want to fix it the right way, use this

http://eclecticproducts.com/products/amazing-goop/amazing-goop-plumbing.html

That stuff is “amazing goop” unbelievable how strong and good it works. Like forever

theMeat · May 11, 2018

drtrash said:
What about bulkheads going into sump? Glue or press? Most sump bulkheads are ABS

What do you mean glue or press?

drtrash · May 11, 2018

Sump bulkhead, wondering if they need st be glued or just pushed into bulkhead

theMeat · May 11, 2018

If it’s the bulkhead going into top for drain, pushed in is good

Forsaken77 · May 11, 2018

samnaz said:
After applying both glue and primer to pipe and bulkhead, I inserted pipe with a 1/4” turn and pressed joints together firmly for 30 seconds.

That wasn’t long enough, pipe started to creep out. So I held it together with all my strength for over 4 minutes. Assumed it would be long enough. Yet the pipe still forced its way out a few mm.

Is this normal? It certainly does not look like a water tight seal to me.

Should I be using ABS to PVC specific cement? This did not happen much when I joined pvc pipe to pvc fittings.

See photos...

I’m using this...

You're not supposed to use primer on abs at all, per the manufacturer Oatey. The primer softens the plastic too much for abs and can cause it to crack. You should only prime the pvc side and put glue on the pvc side so it's not too much glue. You should clean the abs side, but not prime it. And then a light coating of glue.

I asked people here about the abs to pvc cement, because I was going to use it myself. Some folks had a bad experience with it.

But I think you're getting push out from too much glue.

theMeat · May 11, 2018

While it’s not recommended by oatley to use primer on abs, i’d say call them and say you did and ask if it’s going to degrade the joint. I’d guess the answer will be no.
Would also say that a joint that is abs to pvc, primed and cemented on both sides, will be a much stronger bond than if not primed.
People bring up pvc to abs specific cement but because it’s sold doesn’t mean it’s good, or meets any use standards or requirements.
Will finish with saying that in 30+ years of plumbing have yet to see an abs to pvc connection fail, with or without primer, and only see people use a chafing tool on only 4” or bigger pipes, and even then hardly ever.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 14, 2018

Did some quick research on this. The green transition glue will work just fine, but it will work even better if you use the PVC Primer on the PVC side first. This is what I will be doing at my bulkheads where the PVC meets.

Aquavaj · Sep 14, 2018

I used Christy's Red Hot (blue) and didn't get any pull out and seems to be holding fine. Didn't think about abs to pvc (not a plumbing guy) so I'm gonna check it again tonight. It's been 2 weeks and I haven't noticed any leaks yet.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 14, 2018

Aquavaj said:
I used Christy's Red Hot (blue) and didn't get any pull out and seems to be holding fine. Didn't think about abs to pvc (not a plumbing guy) so I'm gonna check it again tonight. It's been 2 weeks and I haven't noticed any leaks yet.

Had no idea it was a thing. If my initial plan doesn't work, I can go with this stuff, maybe.

Bayareareefer18 · Sep 14, 2018

DirtDiggler2823 said:
Had no idea it was a thing. If my initial plan doesn't work, I can go with this stuff, maybe.

I used the red oatey can which is an all purpose solvent designed for pvc, abs, cpvc. It can be used on all your joints and not have to have a whole separate can just for two or three joints