Introduction: 3 Things You Can Make From PVC Pipes (Part 1)
It's always a good idea to keep some PVC pipes at home, because they can be very handy.
PVC pipes are like Lego's for adults.
In this Instructable, we will have a look at 3 Things that you can make from PVC pipes.
We'll make a foam cutter, hacksaw and a selfie stick.
You will need:
For the Foam Cutter:
- PVC pipe and 2 x caps
- Nichrome wire(I used 26 Gauge)
- Universal power adapter (similar to the one I used)
- 2 x Eye Bolts
- Heat-shrink tubing, cable and ring terminals
For the HackSaw:
- PVC Pipe
- Hacksaw blade
- Steel wire
- Split washers
For the Selfie Stick:
- 2 different size PVC pipes (smaller should perfectly fit inside of the big one)
- Steel wire
- PVC cap
- Twist - Hose clamp
- A screw that fits your camera
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Step 1: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
Make sure to wear a respirator or heat the PVC outside!
I took a pipe bender spring and put it inside of the PVC.
I heated up the PVC in the place I was going to bend it.
Then I carefully bent it.
The procedure was repeated until the pipe took the desired shape.
Step 2: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
The I trimmed it shorter and drilled a hole for the cables.
Step 3: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
I drilled a hole in a PVC cap to insert an eye bolt.
After crimping terminals to the cables, I attached them to the bolts.
Then I put the caps onto the PVC ends.
Step 4: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
I used an universal power adapter as my power source.
I soldered it to the cables coming out from the PVC (polarity does not matter)
I used a heat-shrink tubing to isolate the connection and make it look neater.
Then I glued it to the PVC with a black glue.
Step 5: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
To make sure the handle does not move sideways when I hold it, I glued it together.
Step 6: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
I stretched a nichrome wire across the bolts.
Because our PVC pipe is flexible, the wire will stay tight even when it heats up or cools down.
Step 7: Handheld PVC Foam Cutter
You can regulate the heat by changing the voltage.
Foam can be cut just like the butter.
Step 8: PVC HackSaw
After inserting the spring into the PVC, I heated up the pipe.
Then I kept shaping the PVC, until it looked like a letter "C".
Step 9: PVC HackSaw
I put a smaller spring inside of the pipe to make sure I could get it out later.
I wrapped the pipe with a steel wire that was attached to the table.
Step 10: PVC HackSaw
To make sure the pipe does not unfold when heated, I tied it together with an electrical tape.
I heated up a small part of PVC and then pulled it UP to create a pattern.
When the pipe was cold again, I changed the position of the wire and repeated the same procedure.
I also did it on the other side of the pipe.
Step 11: PVC HackSaw
Then I cut the pipe shorter and made a few cuts to insert the blade.
Step 12: PVC HackSaw
And last, I put in the blade.
Just like with the foam cutter, the PVC will keep the blade tight.
Step 13: PVC Selfie Stick
I made a "swirl" pattern in a PVC pipe
Step 14: PVC Selfie Stick
I made 4 cuts in the pipe
Step 15: PVC Selfie Stick
I took a smaller pipe and drilled a hole in it.
Then I heated it up and made it flat-ish.
Step 16: PVC Selfie Stick
I squeezed a screw in the vice and put a small PVC ring on top of it.
After heating it up with a heat gun, I used 2 pliers to make a "T" grip/handle.
Step 17: PVC Selfie Stick
"T" grip screw will serve to hold the camera.
I decided to bend the pipe to make sure the camera is at the right angle.
Step 18: PVC Selfie Stick
I took a hose clamp and painted it black.
Then I put it on top of the big pipe to hold the smaller one.
Now you can adjust the length of the small pipe.
Step 19: PVC Selfie Stick
And last, I glued a white cap on the bottom of the stick.