End stripping of aluminum foil is required. There are two types of pipe cleaning: technology and tools. Let's get started
The use of pipes in composite metal structures is very beneficial: pipes give the joints increased strength and rigidity, while simultaneously reducing the weight of the assembly. However, pairing the pipes with each other is labor-intensive and requires special preparation of the ends. This job can be made easier by using special devices– pipe trimmers.
Operating principle of a metal pipe trimmer
The task of a pipe ender is to minimize the gaps that inevitably result when fitting the ends manually, and also to give welded joint sufficient aesthetics.
It is known that when connecting and inserting steel pipes, depending on the angle of their mutual inclination and diameter, the mutual conjugation curve can be a parabola, an arc, or even a straight line. Therefore, it is very difficult to perform a successful pairing using analytical calculations. The problem can be solved by spatial 3D modeling using the well-known KOMPAS or AutoCAD programs, but in practice they do things differently.
In mass production, pipe trimming is carried out using milling machine equipped with a dividing head. The method is accurate, but requires appropriate equipment, which is not always available home handyman. At the same time, having powerful drill
for metal (from 1000 W) and a core cutter, you can quickly profile the end of any pipe. Industrial options
In the specialized literature, such devices are called tube notchers (groove cutters, although they are also capable of performing curved contours).
- The pipe cutter includes: A shaft, at one end of which there is seat
- under the drill chuck, and on the second - a seat for a core cutter.
- A bearing unit, rotating in which the shaft receives the necessary rigidity.
- The body, sometimes with a vice for clamping a tubular workpiece.
- A rotating device with which the workpiece can be positioned at the desired angle.
Adjustment screw.
For processing long pipes, manual pipe cutters with a chain clamp are used, and for short products, the supporting and guide parts of the device are combined in one unit. Safety of work is ensured by the presence of retaining rings that limit the longitudinal movement of the shaft.
The shaft is the most structurally complex element trimmer. Firstly, it must receive longitudinal movement as the cutter penetrates the metal of the pipe. Secondly, milling creates vibrations that are caused by sharp fluctuations in the torque of the base power tool. Therefore, the shaft is made polished, has a sliding fit of high precision, and the bearings used are needle type, which allow compensation of axial and radial loads.
The price of such devices is from 8,000 to 50,000 rubles. At the same time, all end-cutters for pipes in the TT size range are fairly compact devices that are fixed in the chuck of a lathe. An electric drill is secured in the same way. When processing small-diameter pipes, the device can be rested directly on the workshop floor.
Do-it-yourself pipe trimmer
In mass production of shaped pipes (for example, in sports car and motorcycle workshops, or in plumbing repair shops), a manual pipe ender can be made independently. To do this, the initial diagram of the trimmer, which is shown in the figure, is made according to the workpieces available to the home craftsman.
The design consists of the following parts:
- Base in which milled grooves are made for installation clamping fixture. In turn, the shape of the base can be adapted to an existing workbench, work table, etc.
- L-shaped bracket with three longitudinal grooves, the presence of which allows you to fix pipes of different diameters in the fixture.
- Sliders with adjusting and clamping screw.
- Replaceable presser foot.
- A bracket that presses the foot to the slide with screws.
- Bearing unit.
- A swing arm that serves as a supporting surface for the bearing assembly.
- A shaft that is structurally no different from a similar part of industrial facing machines.
To make a shaft, you can use the front shock absorber strut passenger car(for example, VAZ - they are easier to get at a car service center). In addition, the steel grade of the shock absorber strut, in terms of its strength and performance characteristics, fully complies with the rigidity requirements for high-quality trimming of steel (and, especially, aluminum) pipes. The guides of the rack itself are suitable for guiding the shaft: they have a wear-resistant surface coating based on antifriction alloys. The ends of the stand are naturally subject to additional processing - for mounting in a drill chuck, and for installing a core cutter.
Needle bearings should be pressed into the guides, the size of which is selected according to the dimensions of the guides. Two bearings installed in the guide from the return cylinders of a decommissioned hydraulic press will ensure the necessary rigidity and parallelism of the main working unit of the trimmer. Bearings are installed simultaneously at both ends of the housing.
The existing advice regarding the installation of fluoroplastic guides should be treated with skepticism, since load bearing capacity fluoroplastic is significantly lower than bearings.
To make other elements of a homemade pipe trimmer, you can use rolled profiles - angles or channels of the appropriate size. It is better to perform profiling and production of grooves on a coordinate milling machine, thereby guaranteeing their accuracy and parallelism. It will not be difficult to make and clamping device, for which a new clamp with the required diameter and length is suitable.
The rotary lever must have sufficient rigidity, so for its manufacture it is necessary to use a strip with a thickness of at least 12...16 mm. On the part of the body where the rotary lever is installed, it is worth putting angular marks along which it is easier to position the pipe.
Trimmer for polypropylene pipes
The need to process the end elements of such pipes is due to the following:
- Low durability of reinforced polypropylene pipes, especially with significant temperature changes;
- Ensuring a stronger connection of the reinforced pipe with the fittings, for which it is necessary to remove part of the aluminum foil;
- For fiberglass pipes where the aluminum reinforcement is always located in the middle of the pipe wall.
The trimmer for polypropylene pipes with reinforcement includes:
- Two couplings with dimensions that allow stripping the ends of pipes of different diameters (usually from 16 to 120 mm).
- Replaceable steel knives.
- A pair of rotary handles.
- Aluminium case.
- Attachment for an electric drill (shaver).
A shaver is necessary for external facing of pipes. It consists of two parts - a guide, which is made of durable duralumin grade D16T and a carbide cutting part. When inserted into the pipe, the latter rests on the guide, after which the drill is turned on (you can also use a hammer drill) and part of the reinforcing layer of the pipe is cut out. Since the shaver has a certain length, trimming for different pipes are always produced at the same length, which facilitates their subsequent connection.
The price of a trimmer attachment for polypropylene pipes depends on the diameter and amounts to 400...2000 rubles. Trimmers manual type cheaper: from 250 to 800 rubles.
Quite often, ridiculous situations happen to people. For example, when starting to repair a pipeline in a house, the owner calls installers. Of course, specialists charge a certain amount of money for their work. The final price is determined by the amount of materials spent, as well as the actions they performed. When starting to understand, the customer does not always understand what the actions were and why they were performed by the specialists, resulting in a dispute.
Undoubtedly, in this situation the customer looks ridiculous, since, without understanding it, he disputes the final cost. To avoid such a situation, especially regarding the replacement of old pipes with new, polypropylene ones, you should independently understand what a trimmer for polypropylene pipes is and why it is needed.
Undoubtedly, they are the most popular today, as they are endowed with a number of advantages. However, in addition to a large number of advantages, polypropylene also has a number of features that should be taken into account when choosing this material. Don't forget two very important factors when choosing these pipes:
- the maximum liquid temperature should not exceed 95 degrees. Based on current standards, such pipes can be used for laying hot water supply, since the water temperature, according to them, is limited to precisely this mark. However, unforeseen circumstances do occur, but rarely;
- thermal expansion has a high coefficient. The flexibility of the material can compensate for this factor, however certain cases pipe deformation can have a negative impact. An example is hidden pipes under plaster.
Reinforcement can solve both problems to some extent. Of course, the reinforcement copes well with thermal expansion; in addition, it also prevents the plastic from softening and deforming when high temperature heating However correct installation installation of a pipeline requires some knowledge, including how to use a trimmer.
Today there are two options for reinforcing polypropylene pipes:
- using aluminum foil. In this case, the aluminum layer varies between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. This layer can be located both outside the product and inside it. Aluminum is connected to plastic using glue;
- using fiberglass mesh. The design of such pipes consists of three layers - polypropylene, a mixture of fiberglass and polypropylene, polypropylene.
Not many people know, especially when attempting to independently replace and install a pipeline, that before installation it is imperative to clean the reinforcement. But this is very important!
What is it for?
The need for stripping
It is a simple process consisting of several stages. Each stage involves the use of a special tool, without which stripping cannot be carried out. One such tool is a polypropylene pipe trimmer. It is worth noting that with fiberglass reinforcement, stripping is not required, since the mesh is securely hidden between polypropylene layers, which saves it from contact with water.
In the case of external or internal aluminum reinforcement, stripping is mandatory. So, in the first version, the foil covers the upper surface of the pipe. Installation of a pipeline involves connecting its individual elements by means of fittings or gluing. In this case, a slight melting of both surfaces of the pipe is required. Of course, the polypropylene alloy will in some way weld with aluminum, which will negatively affect the reliability of the structure, and it will crumble over time. This can be easily avoided by stripping the foil.
The second option, when the foil is conveniently located inside the pipe, involves trimming the polypropylene pipes, since the aluminum will be in direct contact with water. If we omit the trimming procedure, then the slightest potential difference will lead to destruction of the structure as a result of electrochemical processes.
Tools
It is easiest to remove foil for external reinforcement. Will help in this matter simple tools– couplings with steel blades inside. They are easy to use, you just need to insert the pipe into the cavity of the coupling and turn, the blades will do their job quickly and accurately. It is very convenient to use double-sided couplings, with the help of which it is easy to produce pipes having a different diameter from each other.
Internal cleaning is carried out using a trimmer. Externally, the design of the trimmer is practically no different from the design of the couplings. So, this tool is a muff, the blades of which are located on the inner end of the device. As in the first option, you need to insert the pipe into the cavity of the device and make several turns.
A universal tool that can be used to remove reinforcement, both internal and external, is a drill with special attachments. Externally, they differ from the same end saw by the presence of a steel rod, which is necessary for installation in the drill socket.
Trimmer - what is it?
A few words were mentioned above about the trimmer and why pipes need to be trimmed. It is worth taking a closer look at this instrument and understanding its structure. Quite often you can hear another name for a trimmer - a stripping tool for stripping the middle layer. This name is fully justified by the specialization of the tool, with which it is easy to clean the internal reinforcement of the pipe.
The trimmer device for polypropylene pipes allows you to quickly clean the pipe from foil to the depth required to connect it to the fitting. Inside the tool there are steel knives, which, when turning the tool, carefully cut the foil to the required level.
It is worth noting that modern trimmers are equipped with a system of adjustable knives. Thanks to this, it became possible to purchase a one-time tool that is suitable for working with pipes from different manufacturers. Using the regulator, you can quickly adjust the knives to any level of foil placement. In addition, trimmers are available for sale, on both sides of which there are cavities designed for pipes of various diameters. This approach also allows you to avoid wasting money on purchasing additional tools.
When carrying out constant cleaning work, it is recommended to purchase a drill attachment in the form of a trimmer. In this case, the person will not need to clean the pipe manually. The drill allows you to process a large number of pipes in a short period of time without the use of physical force.
It is worth saying that automatic cleaning is only advisable for large and regular volumes of work. One-time trimming should be done manually. It is important to remember that polypropylene is soft material, and the slightest deviation will damage the pipe. Manual trimming is not capable of harming the product.
Dimensions and cost
Today you can find a large number of varieties of tools on sale, and the trimmer is no exception. The cost of this tool varies from 300 rubles to 1000. Of course, you can find a product at a higher price. When choosing a tool, you need to carefully examine its condition. There should be no damage or burrs. Any imperfection could damage the pipe when it is placed in the end saw, or the pipe may not fit into the end saw at all. You should be equally careful about the condition of the blades. It is important that they are made of steel; softer material may be damaged when in contact with aluminum or may not cut through it.
You can also find on sale replaceable blades for the tool. Of course, over time and with frequent use they may become unusable. Replacing blades is much easier than buying a new tool. The most popular today are end-cutters designed for pipes of the following sizes:
- 20/25 mm;
- 32/40 mm;
- 50/63 mm.
The cost of a product directly depends on its size. So, a trimmer for small pipes will cost much less than an analogue designed for pipes with dimensions of 50/63 mm.
Popularity on modern market plastic pipes are difficult to dispute. They are found in every second apartment or house. Homeowners with plastic pipes can be understood. This material is durable, reliable, but at the same time very mobile, low weight, low cost and easy to process.
Of the four, plastic pipelines are especially popular. They are further processed for even greater efficiency.
However, there are some nuances regarding interaction with polypropylene pipes. In particular, for plastic products of this type, you need to buy several additional tools that carry out trimming. Without trimming, certain classes of polypropylene pipes cannot be soldered to each other.
What is it and why is it needed? Now let's find out more.
Contents of the article
Features of the material
Polypropylene, just like any other construction plastic is a special polymer with a certain set of properties.
It would take a long time to list them, let’s highlight only the most important ones:
- strength;
- ease;
- ease of maintenance;
- the ability to manipulate segments at your discretion;
- no reaction to corrosion;
- low price;
It is thanks to these points that they have gained such wild popularity in the market.
But plastic products also have disadvantages. Before you buy them, you need to read the list weaknesses specific material. In particular, perhaps the most a big problem plastic – its vulnerable reaction to temperature changes.
Plastic does not like too high temperatures. If you pour water with a temperature above 100 degrees, that is, boiling water, into such a pipe, then the plastic, as people say, will float. It will become soft and pliable. In this state it is easy to deform, and here it is not far from breakdown.
Actually, there is nothing extraordinary in this behavior. Almost any plastic behaves the same way. But it floats not only in extremely high temperatures.
Even just hot water affects polypropylene in a certain way. We are talking about the expansion coefficient of the pipe. For plastic this indicator is quite high, but for steel and other metals it is extremely low.
WITH low temperatures Not everything is fine either. If from hot water When polypropylene softens, it bursts at extremely low temperatures, especially when water freezes inside. And it bursts unexpectedly. In general, as you yourself understand, when contacting low temperatures, things also take an unpleasant turn.
It is for such purposes that reinforcement of plastic products was invented.
Reinforced polypropylene
In construction language, reinforcement is the process of introducing a reinforcing and supporting frame into a supporting structure, which prevents the destruction of the working material, and also improves its resistance to bending and compression loads.
But don't be scared right away. No one in polypropylene pipes steel frames doesn't shove. In our case, the loads are quite low, and the goal of the manufacturers remains the same - to create a lightweight and durable material with a low price. Therefore, two materials are used as a reinforcement layer:
- fiberglass;
- aluminum foil.
Fiberglass is stronger, but much more expensive. It is indicated inside the polypropylene pipe by a strip of a specific color. Red color – durable fiberglass.
Green or blue are weaker samples with average performance. Although everything of course depends on the manufacturer. Therefore, before you buy a pipe of one type or another, you should contact a consultant.
Aluminum foil reinforcement is much more widespread in our area. In fact, in some stores it will be quite problematic to buy fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene, while products with foil reinforcement are found everywhere.
A machine is used to form the reinforcement layer. The machine wraps the foil onto a pipe blank, then inserts it into a second blank.
The output is the same polypropylene pipe, but with a much more adequate response to temperature changes.
Why is cleaning necessary?
Reinforcement has its advantages, but there are also disadvantages. The disadvantages relate to the complexity of working with polypropylene.
The fact is that stripping for polypropylene pipes, if we are talking about reinforced samples, is simply necessary.
Without it, gluing pipes to each other or to fittings is impossible. Or rather, you can try it at any time, but the result will not please you. A layer of foil will constantly interfere. It will either not allow normal bonding at all, or it will grab very weakly.
Stripping is precisely what is needed so that the edge of the round or profile pipes you could first remove the reinforcement layer and then securely and quickly fasten it in any way you wish.
Note that only pipes with foil reinforcement need stripping. Fiberglass samples do not face such limitations. Actually, that's why they cost more.
Stripping Tools
You cannot clean a pipe with your bare hands: you must first select and buy a cleaning tool.
In addition, the tool for polypropylene pipes differs depending on what tasks are assigned to it.
So, in our time, masters use:
- shaver;
- trimmer
A shaver is a tool that strongly resembles a coupling with holes and applied handles. Its task is to clean the external pipe from the plastic layer, and then remove the reinforcement.
After processing, the shaver leaves pure polypropylene without reinforcement, burrs, or other inconveniences.
Inside, the shaver is equipped with knives made of tool steel. The outside of its body is made of light metals. It works the same way as a pencil sharpener. Only the cut of the knives is smoother and is designed for the solid structure of polypropylene. You also need to work with it in the same way as with a sharpener.
Plant it, make a few turns (usually no more than 5) and you’re done. Shavers sell for up to $10 per unit.
A trimmer is a tool of a similar type. If the shaver is intended for external stripping of reinforcement, then the trimmer is used for internal stripping.
It already resembles a modified one. Only, unlike a tap, it does not cut threads, but cuts off polypropylene shavings along with the reinforcement.
It makes sense to use a trimmer when pipes are supposed to be soldered through a machine with heating at inside pipes. The cost of a manual trimmer is 5-8 dollars. There are also more expensive models.
There are also mechanized nozzles. They are mounted on a drill or machine. The parts in question demonstrate amazing efficiency.
The machine strips a single pipe in literally a second, and the quality of stripping is simply ideal. But not everyone has access to such equipment. During repairs or construction at home, the machine can completely replace a manual shaver and trimmer.
Review and interaction with polypropylene pipes (video)
Stripping and soldering
The workflow is simple and can be easily done by hand. All you need to do is strip the pipe and then fasten it to another section or by heating.
Stages of work:
- We are preparing tools and materials.
- We clean it with a shaver or trimmer.
- If necessary, remove excess or burrs.
- We solder the sections.
It is advisable not to overdo it with stripping. Three to five turns good tool quite enough. If you strip more, the layer of polypropylene at the junction of the pipes will become too thin, and this can already weaken the entire structure.
Features of reinforcement of polypropylene pipes
Stripping polypropylene pipes
Stripping Tools
Stripping and reinforcing polypropylene pipes is not the most complex tasks, but they contain many nuances. About this and we'll talk in the article.
One of the advantages of polypropylene pipes is their long service life. They can be used many times longer than metal products. But the service life largely depends on the quality of the work carried out installation work. It can be maximized if the reinforced polypropylene pipes have been properly cleaned.
It plays such a high role due to the fact that the presence of various irregularities and burrs will prevent a reliable connection. Even when planning the installation of a polypropylene pipeline, it is worth delving into why this procedure is required. It is also worth understanding what tools exist for stripping polypropylene pipes (read: “What tools are needed for polypropylene pipes and how to use them during installation”). Special attention should be paid to products with a reinforcing layer.
High performance properties of polypropylene pipes are achieved thanks to their coating protective layer. If we are talking about products intended for household use, then usually its thickness is no more than 0.1 mm.
Advantages of reinforced pipes:
- Reducing the impact of high temperatures on the product. An ordinary polypropylene pipe is designed for operation in conditions where the temperature does not exceed 95 degrees. This is usually sufficient for installing heating systems or domestic water supply systems. However, in certain situations, such as emergencies, the temperature of the transported liquid may exceed the maximum permissible value. This mode of operation leads to sections of the pipeline being deformed or completely failing. Reinforcement allows you to reduce the impact of high temperatures on the product, preventing system ruptures.
- Increased resistance to temperature changes. One of the main disadvantages of conventional polypropylene pipes is their susceptibility to temperature changes. The result is their sharp expansion and contraction. The product does not tolerate such deformations, gradually losing its initial properties. Over time, the pipes will simply fail. To avoid this situation, they are additionally reinforced.
However, reinforcement has one significant disadvantage. It makes welding somewhat more difficult. polypropylene compounds. For this reason, pipe stripping is required first. The procedure is extremely simple: removing the top thin layer of aluminum from the product. If this is not done, the quality of welding will decrease, which will lead to a decrease in the service life of the entire pipeline.
It is important to do the work carefully, understanding the general principle. To better understand everything, study technological process, and also prepare necessary tools. Detailed information on these issues will be presented later in the article.
Stripping polypropylene pipes
There are several stripping methods, each of them is designed for a specific reinforcing layer.
Outer layer. If reinforcement is applied as the top layer of a polypropylene pipe, it will become an obstacle when connecting the structure to the fitting. Then the pipe section included in it melts during installation. If you skip stripping, the molten aluminum will not be able to bond with the molten polymer. In this case, nothing will ensure the tightness of the connection. It will be broken immediately after the system is started.
Inner layer. Despite the fact that the aluminum located between the polypropylene layers is not used for welding, it still needs high-quality cleaning. It is necessary to prevent the interaction of aluminum and water. If a potential jump occurs in the pipeline, there is a risk of electrochemical processes occurring. They can completely destroy the aluminum layer.
Clue! The reinforcing layer of aluminum can be applied entirely or with holes. If there is a choice, then the second option is much more preferable. The perforated aluminum layer has good adhesion and does not require glue. In addition, stripping a pipe with perforated aluminum is much faster.
Glass fiber reinforcement. In this option, do-it-yourself stripping of polypropylene pipes is not required. A thin wall of fiberglass is placed between the layers of polypropylene. It does not come into contact with the fitting and is also not exposed to liquid. One of the advantages of this method is that reliable fastening pipes is achieved without additional work. But this leads to one drawback - sudden temperature changes have a greater impact on such products than on options with aluminum reinforcement.
Stripping Tools
There are manual and mechanical stripping tools for polypropylene pipes. Hand tools Great for doing work at home. If a larger task is ahead, then mechanical tools will be required.
Types of stripping tools:
- Stripping for the outer layer. To remove the outer layer of aluminum, special couplings are used, in the middle of which blades are placed. Such devices have handles (removable and non-removable), which greatly simplify the work process.
- Trimmers.
Stripping for propylene reinforced pipes
In such a tool, the blades are located on the inner end of the coupling, and not on the outside. The trimmer is threaded into the pipe, then it is necessary to make several full turns. This allows you to get the perfect cut. Then you can proceed to welding the products. Such tools for stripping pipes are also used for other types, not just polypropylene. Even those without a reinforcing layer are suitable.
- Shaver. This is a special drill attachment used for stripping both the inner and outer layers of the pipe. There are shavers designed for different types reinforcement They vary in diameter.
Important nuance! It is worth understanding the difference between cleaning pipes before welding and cleaning metal products. That's two different types work. For each of them applies various equipment. In addition, they have different technological processes, which should also be taken into account.
Also for stripping polymer pipes You will need: a tape measure, the necessary stripping tool, a construction pencil for making marks, a soldering iron, as well as scissors, a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. These are sought-after tools and can be found in almost every home.
To obtain a perfect pipe cut, you should use high-alloy steel tools. It is preferable to choose two-way solutions. This tool is effective when working with products of different diameters.
Stripping polypropylene pipes is not particularly difficult. One person can cope with the task; no special knowledge is required. Also, no expensive tools are required. Simple machines They'll handle it quite well. Even with their help, the cleaning can be done quite efficiently and accurately. It is enough just to prepare everything in advance, carefully studying the technological process of this task.
Stripping for polypropylene pipes is used for high-quality welding of products reinforced with aluminum foil. During the work, a layer of polymer and aluminum is removed to the depth required to connect the pipe to the fitting. At the same time, the cleaned edges of the communications remain smooth and even. Shavers for stripping come in several types. Simple hand tools are well suited for one-time jobs, while automatic designs make it possible to process products on an industrial scale.
Why was reinforcement needed?
Polypropylene communications have many advantages and a number of disadvantages when using them.
They are well suited for transporting hot and cold water supplies. Withstand temperature regime up to 95 degrees. Short-term temperature changes are allowed.
At the same time, polypropylene has to a large extent thermal expansion. Due to its special flexibility, the material is able to recover when the situation normalizes. And yet, deformation, even temporary, is extremely undesirable, especially when the structure is laid inside the walls.
To avoid emergency situations, began to produce reinforced pipes for water supply. Thanks to the reinforcement, the communications expand and do not deform at high water temperatures.
But in some cases, even these pipes can fail. During transportation of water above 100 degrees, polypropylene, at the junction with the fitting, may soften. This will cause a water pipe to burst.
Reinforced pipes are not recommended for industrial water supply.
Reinforcement of polypropylene pipes comes in two types:
- fiberglass reinforced- do not require cleaning. They are a three-layer structure. Two layers - outer and inner, consist of polypropylene, and the middle layer is a mixture of polymer and fiberglass.
- reinforced with aluminum foil - this is the most common method of reinforcement. Aluminum layers of different sizes are used here - from 0.1 mm. up to 0.5 mm. Aluminum can be located outside or inside the polypropylene pipe, between layers of plastic
Why do you need to clean reinforced pipes?
Stripping reinforced polypropylene pipes is necessary in order to remove the reinforcement layer from the part of the structure where the pipe sections and fittings will be soldered.
External cleaning.
Part 4. Stripping polypropylene pipes
This type of work is used when the aluminum layer is on the surface of the pipe. If you do not clean the metal part, it will be impossible to weld the pipe sections. Therefore, using a special tool, it is necessary to remove the surface of the pipe with aluminum to the depth necessary for high-quality connection of the fitting and pipe sections.
If aluminum foil is inside the material, then a shaver is used to strip the metal inside the cavity. In this case, stripping is used to ensure that the metal does not come into contact with water at the junction of pipes and fittings. If undesirable consequences occur, electrochemical processes will begin inside the communications, which will lead to corrosion and destruction of the reinforcing layer.
Tools for stripping polypropylene pipes
Several types of tools are used to strip reinforced pipes. This could be a trimmer for handmade, and special nozzles for using a drill. Hand shavers are equipped with removable or non-removable handles for ease of use. And attachments that are intended for drills are inserted instead of a drill.
Work with mechanical tool requires special care, because polypropylene is an elastic material and can be easily damaged.
To carry out the work you will need:
- pencil for marking the stripping level;
- scissors for plastic products;
- special welding machine;
- the stripping tool itself for polypropylene pipes
The tool, designed for stripping polypropylene structures, is made from high-quality of stainless steel by pressing. The device is equipped with knives made of high-alloy steel. Comfortable handles are provided for working with hand tools.
Hand stripping tools are made double-sided, for two different pipe diameters. This makes the device universal and cheaper in cost. With every hand tools There are spare knives. In order to remove the outer layer of aluminum, you can use a coupling with special knives inside. It is put on the end of a piece of pipe and rotates smoothly. The cut is even and smooth.
Manual strippers for polypropylene pipes
The manual stripping process to remove the outer layer takes only a few seconds.
To remove the reinforcement in the middle layer, a trimmer is used. The blades of this tool are located at the inner end. End stripping for polypropylene pipes occurs as follows: the device is put on the pipe, three or four turns are made, which will free the material from the foil. After this, you can start welding with the machine.
The drill stripping tool is available for only one size of reinforced pipe. But thanks to mechanical processing of pipes, the volume of work performed and productivity increases. Drill attachments allow you to remove both the inner and outer layers of foil. They are located in place of the bit and are selected in accordance with the type of coating of the reinforced layer.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the work process so as not to damage the product itself.
Stripping for polypropylene pipes: methods and tools
Metal is gradually being replaced in household communications various materials from polymers. The properties of polypropylene are especially attractive to consumers, allowing them to be used for all household communications.
Polypropylene is resistant to corrosion and deposits and does not change properties when exposed to aggressive chemicals. Water transported through systems made of this material does not lose its properties. The high throughput capacity due to the completely smooth inner surface is important.
Types of reinforcement
Non-reinforced polypropylene has low thermal conductivity and resistance to high temperatures. Over time it changes shape. This property is called fluidity, which requires the installation of fasteners every 50 cm of the pipeline.
Fluidity is especially pronounced at elevated internal temperatures. The main purpose of reinforcement is to reduce precisely this quality. After reinforcement, the polypropylene material becomes more rigid and sag less when laid horizontally, which makes the system more stable.
Aluminum tape reduces the coefficient of linear expansion to a level that is comparable to that of metal products. In addition, aluminum helps reduce oxygen conductivity. More better quality when reinforced with fiberglass. This material makes installation easier than aluminum tape, eliminating the need for stripping before soldering. It is also important that products with fiberglass are cheaper than products with aluminum tape.
For reinforcement, solid or perforated aluminum foil can be used. It can be located near the outer shell or in the middle of the wall. Solid foil is connected to polypropylene using hot-melt adhesive. The use of low-quality raw materials in production entails delamination during operation.
A similar phenomenon is impossible if perforated aluminum is used for reinforcement. Holes in the foil make it possible to create a monolithic connection between plastic and aluminum without using glue.
When choosing polypropylene products, you should take into account that some manufacturers, in order to reduce costs, use low-quality raw materials and make pipes with too thin walls. This entails delamination and instability to internal pressure. It is quite difficult to distinguish a high-quality product from a low-quality one by external signs. You need to purchase material with the thickest walls (that is, one that is heavier per linear meter).
Recently, glass fiber reinforced polypropylene pipes have appeared on the market. Sometimes they are called fiberglass. If a product reinforced with aluminum essentially consists of five layers, then the use of fiberglass makes it possible to obtain a material with a monolithic structure, since the middle layer is the same polypropylene, but mixed with fiberglass. All three layers are not glued together, but welded, which completely eliminates delamination.
However, glass fiber reinforced products still have one drawback - their linear expansion is 6% greater than when using aluminum. Why do you need stripping for polypropylene pipes before soldering? Some reinforced products must be stripped before soldering to remove the outer layer of polypropylene and aluminum foil, which interferes with creating a strong connection with the fitting.
Stripping of reinforced polypropylene pipes is always required when aluminum is used for reinforcement, regardless of where the foil is located. The only difference is the tool used. If the aluminum is located in the middle of the wall, a trimmer is used. Glass fiber reinforced material does not require stripping, since it is entirely made of polypropylene.
Stripping tool
The stripping tool for polypropylene pipes makes it possible to work with products with a diameter from 16 to 110 mm.
For diameters up to 63 mm, double-sided couplings are produced, which allows you to clean the ends with two different diameters, if the aluminum layer is located at outer surface. The knives of this tool are made of dull-resistant steel.
If the foil is located in the middle of the wall, you need a trimmer for polypropylene pipes, equipped with adjustable knives, which makes it possible to adjust the tool to any diameter. Just like the coupling, the trimmer has a double-sided design (for two different diameters).
Trimming polypropylene pipes is cutting the foil from the end to the welding depth.
Why do you need stripping for polypropylene pipes?
If this procedure is carried out incorrectly, aluminum will prevent the creation reliable connection between the elements of the system, that is, the welding seam will not be of sufficient quality. During operation of the system, water will interact with aluminum, which can lead to leaks and rust formation in heating devices.
Another way to solve the problem of “how to clean a polypropylene pipe” is a drill attachment (shaver). This method is used for large volumes of work to strip the outer layer of polypropylene and remove the reinforcing aluminum layer if it is located on the outer surface. The shaver body is made of aluminum, the knives are made of tool steel.
Thanks to the shaver, stripping for polypropylene pipes is automated, making installation easier and faster for large volumes of work.
The procedure for stripping a pipe (in its classical sense) consists of removing part of the outer layer of polypropylene and aluminum foil from the edge of the pipe so that the pipe and fitting can be welded using socket thermal welding. Some “experts” believe that since pipes reinforced in the middle do not require stripping of the outer layer of polypropylene, it is not necessary to strip them from the end of the pipe. However, it is not.
Process pipe stripping, especially large diameters, is quite labor-intensive. Many installation companies would be happy to avoid the need to remove the aluminum layer before welding. And when a tempting and easy way To achieve this, some installers, despite the recommendations of responsible manufacturers, and often even without knowing anything about them, began to install systems without using a stripping (facing) tool.
Fig.1.
Fig.2. Pipe trimmer, foil reinforced in the middle. View from above.
As short empirical experience in the installation and operation of polypropylene pipes shows, aluminum reinforced in the middle without end stripping of the metal, nothing critical in the short term. The pipes are welded without stripping as standard, the system is pressurized, water is released, and everything seems to be fine.
Fig.3. Installation of reinforced polypropylene pipes. In front of you are two pipes. One of them (right) was stripped before connecting to the fitting (the foil is melted, there will be no contact of aluminum with water), the other (left) was not stripped
But, as the thousand-year experience of human civilization shows, free cheese comes only in mousetraps. main reason, which is why most manufacturers responsible to the consumer advise using special end stripping, this is a short-lived electrochemical corrosion aluminum foil, leading to delamination of the combined pipe and its operational degradation.
Fig.4. Installation of reinforced polypropylene pipes. Unfinished pipe. Physical degradation and stratification are visible. As a result, leaks and cracking occur over time.
Polypropylene pipes with smooth inner surface, indeed, do not overgrow and are not subject to corrosion, however, in the case of pipes reinforced in the middle and reinforced “from the inside,” they can not only overgrow (the polypropylene will swell inward, partially blocking the internal section), but also partially rot due to aluminum corrosion.
After reading everything written above, an inexperienced user or installer may exclaim in their hearts: “How confusing everything is! I'll do it better system on metal-plastic" (approx. the generally accepted name for a pipe with a PEX/AL/PEX layer structure). However, there is no need to rush, everything is actually simple and clear. We take classic pipes with reinforcement closer to the outer edge of the pipe. Bearing in mind that in almost any large facility we have a hammer drill, we buy a special stripping attachment for the hammer drill for relatively little money and, without much effort, using the adjustable torque of the tool, we remove the outer layer of polypropylene along with the aluminum. For those who do not have a hammer drill, but have to clean different sizes of pipes, we can recommend a new cleaning tool - hand shaver(stripping) for four main pipe sizes (20, 25, 32, 40 mm).
Fig.5. Installation of reinforced polypropylene pipes. Tools for stripping polypropylene pipes reinforced with aluminum. The photo shows an attachment for a hammer drill, a universal stripping tool for four standard sizes of pipes and a standard stripping tool for two standard sizes
The only pipes that mostly have the properties of reinforced pipes and do not require stripping are the so-called fiberglass pipes. Such pipes have a three-layer structure with a middle layer of compound (mixture), which contains a premix of fiberglass and polypropylene. That is, during the welding process this layer the end can also be welded, and even more so it will not enter into chemical reactions and corrode. Since all three layers of these pipes contain polypropylene and are basically the same type, these pipes are produced by coextrusion, i.e. The layers of the pipe are superimposed on each other at one point in time. In this case, there is no need to first pass any layer through a water bath and use connecting layers of adhesive.
Rice. 6. Polypropylene pipes fiberglass reinforced do not require stripping.
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