Can spa flex be clamped?

[summer6]

Can you use fittings, with clamps, with spa flex, or does it have to be glued?

[msuzuki126]

Use PVC glue to glue the spa flex and fittings. I would only use clamps on soft tubing.

[Acrylics]

Spa-Flex is not designed to go over barbed fittings. It is sized to go into the female side of it's corresponding IPS fitting just like any other PVC pipe, so glue should be used as you would with rigid PVC piping.
That said, I have warmed it and put it over barbed fittings and clamped it without incident, but wouldn't exactly recommend it, it's just not that soft to be counted upon like flexible PVC (vinyl) hose :)

James

[flyyyguy]

It can be clamped over a barbed fitting if thats what you are asking. Its NOT how it ws designed to work, it is intnded to be glued just like regular pipe inside the fittings.

If you must clamp it, make sure to get the nipple in as far as it will go and clamp tight.

I actually use it unclamped hooked up the the nipples on my chillers and it seals fine

[summer6]

thanks all.

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9450028#post9450028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acrylics
Spa-Flex is not designed to go over barbed fittings. It is sized to go into the female side of it's corresponding IPS fitting just like any other PVC pipe, so glue should be used as you would with rigid PVC piping.
That said, I have warmed it and put it over barbed fittings and clamped it without incident, but wouldn't exactly recommend it, it's just not that soft to be counted upon like flexible PVC (vinyl) hose :)

James

Yup... I use a heat gun and SS "marman" or "breeze" style hose clamp I soften the tube and force it over the barb and clamp it while it it still very soft. Not perfect I would imagine, but I have good luck with the technique on my Velocity T4 pumps.

[BeanAnimal]

ALso, if you glue, you should use solvent glue designed for flex PVC, regular PVC cement is not ideal (not enough solids to make a good bond).

Bean

[summer6]

^^^I would order the glue from the savko site, especially for spa -flex.
Hey, I wonder why does it seem that people use the spa flex over flexible vinyl tubing?
For my current (under tank set-up) I have vinyl tubing, barbed fittings, and stainless steel clamps. But since I've been researching - spa flex seems to be the choice for flexiblity needed in basement application. (which i'm switching to )

[BeanAnimal]

1) It does not kink
2) It fits standard PVC fittings
3) It is opaque and does not grow algea
4) It is dense and holds it shape and will not sag under weight
5) etc

[summer6]

Thanks again BeanAnimal for those points.
Now that it's starting to come down to "crunch time," with all the planning, and buying of new equipment for the basement sump, I begin questioning everything again...
Right now my plumbing lines are very simple, but I need to take the time to include all the necessary ball valves, gate valve, couplings etc., to get this right.

[BeanAnimal]

You will want to heat the spa-flex and form it... then cool it in the shape you want it. You can use a heat gun for small pieces... the oven (don't burn down the house) for larger pieces....

OR better yet, place it out on the blacktop for a few hours on a sunny day and use the garden hose to "set" it once you have your shape.

[medic29]

Wow Bean, I was just working with some yesterday kind of testing to see if I liked it and wasn't so sure because I couldn't get it to go into the shape I wanted. I didn't think about it very long, but now that you reminded me I could heat it up and that would make it more pliable and more interested into getting into the shape I want, I think I will re-look at it tomorrow.

Thanks again!!!

[BeanAnimal]

I hae used the microwave as well :D

[summer6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9453269#post9453269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
You will want to heat the spa-flex and form it... then cool it in the shape you want it. You can use a heat gun for small pieces... the oven (don't burn down the house) for larger pieces....

OR better yet, place it out on the blacktop for a few hours on a sunny day and use the garden hose to "set" it once you have your shape.

Where do you get a heat gun? From a hardware store, or cratft store?
I'm not sure if my blacktop will be warm enough here in the east - the temp's barely out of the 50's on a good day - doubt that's warm enough to get the spa flex pliable.
I assume that I only need to soften the spa flex if I'm interested in using barbed fittings, but will it be fine when using regular sch. 40 fittings?
Since I was planning on using the spa flex for the entire length (about 15') from tank to basement, will this turn out to be too difficult to handle on those long drain and return lines?
Thanks.:)

[medic29]

You can get a heat gun at Menards or Lowes or HD; in the paint section.

[barbra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9452971#post9452971 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal

3) It is opaque and does not grow algea


I have sections of piping that are spa-flex intermingled with std PVC pipe and the spa-flex grows some really raunchy slime coating that is twice as thick as what is inside the PVC section just an inch or two away.

[summer6]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9456858#post9456858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barbra
I have sections of piping that are spa-flex intermingled with std PVC pipe and the spa-flex grows some really raunchy slime coating that is twice as thick as what is inside the PVC section just an inch or two away.

How long has the system been running for that to happen? Do you perform regular maintenance for flushing out the lines?

[BeanAnimal]

It may provide a better surface for slime growth (or allow more light than hard piping) but it will certainly not grow a thick layer of green algea like vinyl tubing would.

[IMAGINEER]

I bought 30ft today at my local pool supplies !! $1.50 FT for 1.5 "Woohoo !
Not bad considering home depot was 2.69 ft
Im just worred about the glueing to the bulkheads. The guy told be to use the blue (wet conditions) glue

J

[zeusfc]

Spa flex is made to be used in SPAS where the pressures under useage are immense! The guy in the shop is saying use "Blue" because IMO /IME that is the glue that a) is designed for spaflex, and b) has the best success rate under pressure. Did he say whether or not to use primer? over here, our guys say the weld-on blue doesn't need it!
on the question of barbed fittings...

It is NOT designed to be pushed over barbs, and as there are a number of slightly different sized barbs... you need to ensure that if you go down this route, you use a barb fitting that doesn't distort the shape to push the spaflex on (as this MAY cause the spaflex to pull itself apart down the manufacturing seam), and heat the spaflex before tightening the clamp. Dont skimp on clamps either... your pool suppliers have stainless steel clamps... your DIY store may not!

You can sand the edge off a barb, to make them slightly looser, but remember "barb" not "ridge" is still the profile you need!
This may well mean that you need to use a union or two in order to get the pipes in place under the tank...

Spaflex is never the cheap option, but will (if correctly installed) give a good "professional" look to the tank, which will last for many years.
If you botch it, you'll have leaks that will occur for many years!

[BeanAnimal]

Regular PVC glue just does not hold well. You can literllay pull the joints apart by hand. The blue glue has a much higher solids content and therefore bonds the flex pvc to the solid pvc better.

The same chemical that keep the flex PVC soft also make it hard to bond to. It does not melt the same as standard PVC and chemical weld to standard PVC that well.

[lakee911]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9455041#post9455041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
I hae used the microwave as well :D

Probably not a good idea.... could cause premature failure, no?

[BeanAnimal]

Bah! A few radio waves never hurt anything. If it is good nuff to dry my hair then it is good nuff to put myspa-flex in.

[barbra]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9457167#post9457167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by summer6
How long has the system been running for that to happen? Do you perform regular maintenance for flushing out the lines?

I just changed out the pump to a MAG12 after having a MAG7 inline for only 2 months. I did not clean the piping in those 2 months, but it was brand new at the start.

[brackishdude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9465787#post9465787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
I hae used the microwave as well

If it is good nuff to dry my hair then it is good nuff to put myspa-flex in.

I can never get that to work on account of my neck blocking the door.

[brackishdude]

DP

[zeusfc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9465787#post9465787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
Bah! A few radio waves never hurt anything. If it is good nuff to dry my hair then it is good nuff to put myspa-flex in.

Dude!
Is your hair real? or is it a fake rug???

[BeanAnimal]

I am not that old...

[lakee911]

Maybe he puts his toupee or wet hair clippings in there to dry....

[IMAGINEER]

I cannot get 1.5" to take new shape. It wants to bend back to the rolled up shape . I have a heat gun , but its some tough stuff !! I think the bigger the worse it is to mold
J

[shag26272]

yah no kidding, I spent half the morning with some 1 inch and a heat gun, the 3/4 is alot easier, good luck

[Conesus_Kid]

I just received my spa-flex and Weld-On PVC 795 cement (blue label on the can) from Savko.

The instructions call for Weld-On primer, but Savko didn't have it in their online store.

Is this something that I should spend some time looking for? I'd like to do my plumbing one time, rather than several.

TIA