Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Don Stephan
Clear flexible vinyl tubing from the hardware store maintains a severe bend. Found one small label on one of the cardboard rollers, all it says is made in Taiwan. There is no manufacturer's id on the tubing, so I can't find a manufacturer's web site to ask how to relax the tubing so it will lie straight. Has anyone found a way to relax it so it will be straight rather than curved?
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
without a better description of what we are talking about this is a guess but you need to get it warm. You might try submerging it in hot water and then stretch it straight until it cools.
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Garthinsandiego
Roll it out as strait as you can on your driveway in the sun. Use whatever weights you have to secure both ends. Depending on how hot the tubing gets, it should relax in a couple of hours. Vynil (PVC) relaxes at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Easily achieved on a hot sunny day.
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Garthinsandiego
That should work. All you need is a pot large enough to contain the tubing in a pot of hot water, at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Paul Blackwell
When I built a marble machine, the method of getting the marbles to the top of the contraption was clear vinyl tubing, and I had to bend it in two places to 90 degrees. The method they recommended was to heat the tubing in the oven (don't remember how hot) and bend it around a form. Worked fine, but had to be careful with the tubing closing up at the bend. Should work with straightening also.
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey
I did this once to get "store kinks" and curve out of clear tubing.
1. plug one end (cork, stopper, or a clamp)
2. with a funnel, fill the tube with hot 170 F water.
3. plug the open end
4. stretch out and let it cool
Re: Straighten Clear Vinyl Tubing
Don Stephan
Not having a hot water heater at work, I held the tubing flat on a narrow board and used a hot air gun until the vinyl was too hot to hold and felt less stiff than when cold. After allowing it to cool I unclamped and it was still straight several hours later when I left for the day. Worked on both 1/2" and 1 1/4" ID tubing.
THANK YOU!!!