Roresishms

A Virtual World of Live Pictures.

Over 28 years of showing people how to build PVC furniture, a question I am often asked is, “why clean PVC pipe before assembling my PVC project?”

The reason is that when you pick up pipe lengths from the hardware store, they are always dusty, stained, and have blemishes from shipping, handling, and storage. Also, the pipe has manufacturing details inked up and down that need to be removed if you want your project to look right. And, if you intend to paint your project, you must first clean it thoroughly.

All in all, it’s pretty quick and easy to do.

To remove manufacturer’s fingerprints and any other marks from the pipe, it is best to do before permanently pasting your project. Otherwise, the PVC glue can cover some of the marks and make them impossible to remove.

Tip: Cut the various lengths of PVC pipe for your project first, then remove the markings. It’s easier and less cumbersome than working on a 10 foot long pipe.

Here are 4 ways to clean the pipe…

1. Wipe off dust with a damp cloth. Then dab some powdered cleanser onto a green nylon scouring pad, dampen, and simply scrub into the marks. Rinse with a damp cloth. This method removes most marks and dirt. (Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. It depends on the ingredients of the printed ink.)

2. For difficult prints, try this:

*Soak a small piece of 000 or 0000 steel wool in acetone and begin scrubbing.

* Wipe in short sections of two to three feet or less because acetone dries quickly and ink tends to smear.

* Wipe the tubing with a clean rag before the acetone dries.

* Replace the steel wool with a new one after cleaning approximately 10 feet of pipe.

Caution: Wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Be sure to follow the instructions on the acetone container and work in a well-ventilated area.

Note: If you use PVC primer before gluing, any overflow can be cleaned up with acetone.

3. Sand the marks with 100 grit sandpaper. (This will, of course, damage the pipe a bit. So it’s up to you, depending on what your project is.)

Finally, in my opinion, the easier One way to clean a PVC pipe is…

4. Lightly sand blemishes and inked prints with an inexpensive sanding pad. Get one with medium grit on one side and fine grit on the other. You’ll find them at most hardware stores.

The sanding pads conform to the contour of the pipe and will quickly remove any marks and blemishes. For me this is much better and easier than messing around with acetone or other cleaning agents. Also, light sanding is best for proper paint adhesion, should you decide to paint your project.

You’ll find it’s easy to achieve professional results with your PVC projects simply by following the cleaning tips above.

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