Modifying PVC fittings

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lakee911

Senior Member
Location
Columbus, OH
Is it permissible to modify a preformed PVC fitting (such as cutting a 90 degree elbow to make two 45 degree elbows)? I found nothing on Carlon's webside allowing or disallowing such a thing. I'm assuming that one can because the straight sticks of conduit can be bent or cut w/o issues.

Thx,
Jason
 
I have done it but an inspector could call you on it. Problem with it is the middle of a 90 is not straight and you might not get good fit. Sticks are intended to be cut.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I have done it but an inspector could call you on it. Problem with it is the middle of a 90 is not straight and you might not get good fit. Sticks are intended to be cut.
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Same with EMT.

I designed a re-forming tool that re-shapes the tubing back to circular after a piece has been cut in the bend.

So, if you did cut bends in PVC, something like the tool for EMT I drew up would be needed, or some heat, a careful hand and a good set of eyes.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I have done it but an inspector could call you on it. Problem with it is the middle of a 90 is not straight and you might not get good fit. Sticks are intended to be cut.
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That's a very good point. Thanks!

barclayd said:
Is an elbow a 'fitting'?
db
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I don't know is it. What else would you call it? Carlon Master Catalog refers to fittings. http://retail.tnb.com/MasterCatalog/Master Catalog.pdf Page 22.

K8MHZ said:
Is a factory 90 an elbow?
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According to the Carlon Master Catalog, it is. http://retail.tnb.com/MasterCatalog/Master Catalog.pdf Page 24

Jim W in Tampa said:
why not just buy 45's or bend a stick with your pipe bender
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I don't know ... not my 45's and not my pipe bender. I'd have to ask the Contractor!
 
Back when I was a helper, we needed to run a feeder over a duct and under a steel beam. I cut a 3" EMT elbow in half to make an offset. A bent offset would have been too long.

I used a half-round file to smooth the cut edges to fit into the coupling to rejoin the halves. I did have to sledge-hammer the flattened parts back to round to fit the coupling.
 
lakee911 said:
That's a very good point. Thanks!



I don't know is it. What else would you call it? Carlon Master Catalog refers to fittings. http://retail.tnb.com/MasterCatalog/Master Catalog.pdf Page 22.
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The heading is conduit, fittings and accessories. It could any of the three. From the NEC, 'like a lock nut or a bushing'. Another term left up to interpretation, but I don't see a piece of conduit being used as conduit being classified as anything other than conduit.



According to the Carlon Master Catalog, it is. http://retail.tnb.com/MasterCatalog/Master Catalog.pdf Page 24
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I see that, good find. In our locality we don't refer to them as elbows. Just 45's, 90's or sweeps.


I don't know ... not my 45's and not my pipe bender. I'd have to ask the Contractor!
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The reason could be as simple as an overstock of 90's. Being able to use them as 45's instead of buying additional stock could be a reason.
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It looks to me like all the elbows have a straight section on the end that's made to fit in the coupling of the pipe.

If you cut an elbow in the middle, then you will have a curved end you would have to glue into a straight coupling.

It just doesn't seem like it would make a very good joint.
 
steve66 said:
It looks to me like all the elbows have a straight section on the end that's made to fit in the coupling of the pipe.

If you cut an elbow in the middle, then you will have a curved end you would have to glue into a straight coupling.

It just doesn't seem like it would make a very good joint.
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I do it all the time. Sometimes it's a good fit, other times you have to help it.

With bigger pipe (2" plus) you sometimes have to heat it up a bit to round it out. A POCO inspector once told me not to do it in his presence. I understand their point but, with just a little effort, you can make it perfect.

As far as using 45's, A) sometimes you need a custom degree bend, B) it's easier to stock only 90's.
 
Would it be equally terrible to shorten one end of a 45? Then, it would look just like half of a 90.

All the PVC 45's and 90' I've seen were made from straight sticks, judging by the printing on them.
 
Cutting elbows in the middle to make different angles is hokey...

I keep an 1.5" heat blanket as well as a heat gun on the truck at all times. There's no reason to be cutting elbows up, that just looks like crap IMO, even if it is in the bottom of a ditch....
 
Cow said:
Cutting elbows in the middle to make different angles is hokey...

I keep an 1.5" heat blanket as well as a heat gun on the truck at all times. There's no reason to be cutting elbows up, that just looks like crap IMO, even if it is in the bottom of a ditch....
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Only reason i would do it is if in middle of job and ran out of 45's , had no heat gun or no electric and no pipe bender. And even then if its 3/4 or 1/2 i would use tail pipe on truck to heat it. As far as legal that is pushing it. Can you afford a bad connection ? We all come up on unexspected needed fittings but this is not a good cure.
 
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