Can I Apply PVC Primer Ahead Of Time

robertc65

Tuesday I plan to install a sprinkler system in my yard. I have to join about 45 to 50 lengths of 3/4 PVC together. In order to speed up the process a bit I was wondering if I could clean up the ends and apply the primer to all of the pipe and fittings the day before. I've worked with PVC a good bit , but never 400 feet at a time. I can't even imagine how dizzy I'm going to be after huffing solvent and PVC cement all day.

Thanks

Rob

skymaster

just stay UPWIND I dont think i would pre prime, not worth it and i dont think the glue will work well. only takes a few secs for primer to set b4 glue, i would just do it normally.

rex

yea primer softens up the pipe so when you apply the glue it helps to bond...

Celtic

That's how I feel about it too.

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backhoe1

What do you have against poly? Way easier to work with.

POOLMANinCT

if you pre-prime your slips will get dirty, in the meantime. 400ft is not a big run. if you want to speed up. prop your ends off the the ground w/ a rock or fittin, tape your cans together and get rolling. btw lay anextra "stick" bc you will loose some length by the time your jointed. use colored primer if burried work (so you don't forget which joints you hit.) pvc if winterized properly will last forever. & Don't bury any potatoes under or on top of you're work.

ray

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

robertc65

I have never really worked with poly pipe. Not being a plumber by trade I am just copying what I see the big local irrigation company in my area doing. They lay all Schedule 40 PVC for the trunk lines and short lengths of 1/2 poly as take offs for each sprinkler head. I guess I could have run poly for the trunks.

Rob

robertc65

Thanks for the reply I'll take your advise. By the way, is the potato you are talking about a rock.

NomoPlumber

No you can not apply the primer ahead of time. Primer softens the joining surfaces, and immediately after you need to apply the cement. If you prime then wait, the soften surfaces harden again. (Can you heat metal to weld, then come back later and apply the weld bar? NO). I suggest you go on line to IPSCORP.com and get their "how to book" before you have leaks.

robertc65

Well, after glueing about 30 sections of pipe together I'm ready to try some poly pipe. I have a good bit more to go. I originally planned on laying about 400ft of PVC, but once I started trenching it was going so fast I decided to trench areas I had not planned on.

I was thinking that the poly may have a tendency to stay coiled up and be a pain to work with.. Does it lay in the trench flat or do you just have to cover it with dirt to get it to stay down in the trench.

Thanks

Rob

All Clear Sewer

just kick a little dirt down in the trench ever so many feet and it will stay flat.

POOLMANinCT

poly likes warm sunny days & hates kinks.

btw potatoes -- rocks.
where are you? planning for winterization ????

ray

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

dirt diggler

yeah man, 400 lin ft. is not long at all - especially with 3/4"


one tip too - if it helps (or maybe you've done this already)

something i do with 3/4" pipe - if I have long runs to make, i'll get out of the trenches and go ahead and just plumb a straight line. say 100 ft. bam - that takes all of 5 minutes maybe.

then i throw it in the trench - done. hard to explain - but 3/4" gets pretty flexible (still, use common sense here)

Tmrrptr

Wouldn't sch 200 work fine for sprinkler system?
r

POOLMANinCT

i doubt your letting it hit a decent "handleing strength" dirt

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

robertc65

I'm outside of Baltimore. My entire lot is a hill so I put in some drains holes at the low spots. Thanks for the rock tip, I have been feathering in sifted top soil so as to avoid any rocks. I bought some poly today just to give it a shot. It does lay well in the trench. Pushing the poly onto the barbs is a strugle. I used a little silicone, which helped but that last 1/4 inch is a hard push. My arms hurt tonight.

robertc65

Yea Dirt, I'm doing just that. I'm building long runs and then placing them into the trench. I just let them sit next to the trench for 20 minutes or so before I move them.

Actually I'm running a good bit more than 400 ft of pipe. 400 ft was the original plan, but the trenching was going so fast I decided to cover areas I had not planned on.