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will this 2 1/2" pvc work?

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:12 pm
by zach12
Hey,
I found online that lowes sells 2 1/2" schudule 40.But it says 2 1/2" rigid schudule 40.heres a link. Will it work to shoot tennis balls?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:27 pm
by MrCrowley
It's conduit, so it probably has a different inside diameter to pressure rated SCH 40, so I don't think it will work. Though i'm not 100%.

Remember just because it says SCH 40, doesn't mean it's pressure rated. Read this: http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... _Rated_PVC

Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:09 pm
by starman
The ID of this conduit is too small for tennis balls...stick to 2.5" sched 40 for that. However, it makes a great sleeve for 1.5" SDR or sched 40 PVC.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:48 am
by potatoflinger
I would advise against using that pipe for tennis balls, I have a length of the same stuff and the tennis balls fit way too tight for my comfort. I had to cut a slit in the side of the tennis balls to let the air out of them before I felt safe enough to use them in the barrel.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:52 am
by th3p0p0
ummm coming from a guy who uses this pipe (me) it works fine. had for about a year now its held up fine and it fits them aaaaaawwwwwright. 8)

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:24 pm
by starman
th3p0p0 wrote:its held up fine and it fits them aaaaaawwwwwright. 8)
Held up fine? I would expect the sched 80 to "hold up fine" to just about anything you can throw at it.

A tennis ball is not a good fit in sched 80 2.5"...very very tight and only possible if the ball is grossly deformed to squeeze in. It's actually pretty snug in sched 40.

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:46 pm
by th3p0p0
sch 80? its sch 40 and it fits them FINE lol. how did you get sch80? i have the pipe its SCH40 21/2" PVC pipe. the same pipe he is asking about.

Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:50 pm
by VH_man
I have a hunk of this (friend snuk me.... stuff.... in it) and It fits tennis balls relatively well. Its a tight fit, but it works well enough for government work. Unless you have a pneumatic id say skip it tho.

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:00 am
by starman
th3p0p0 wrote:sch 80? its sch 40 and it fits them FINE lol. how did you get sch80? i have the pipe its SCH40 21/2" PVC pipe. the same pipe he is asking about.
Sorry, I use the sched 80 version of that conduit for sleeving golfball barrels...didn't notice the "sched 40" in your post...my bad :oops:

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:33 am
by Lego101
This stuff works great for tennis balls. We just got a new Lowe's and this was the only 2.5" they had, we got it, and it works great.

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:11 am
by starman
Lego101 wrote:This stuff works great for tennis balls. We just got a new Lowe's and this was the only 2.5" they had, we got it, and it works great.
Yeah sched 40 2.5" IS great for tennis balls...sched 80 IS NOT. I think we have the issue settled now.

Just be sure you pick up the right model. I haven't personally seen the sched 40 stuff at any of my stores.

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:32 pm
by Daltonultra
Hey guys, I don't know if any of you do construction or electric(not electronics) work, but this stuff isn't even rated for DWV. It's only meant to protect wiring, nothing more. It is very definitely NOT something I'd recommend for ANY portion of a cannon.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:04 am
by starman
Daltonultra wrote:Hey guys, I don't know if any of you do construction or electric(not electronics) work, but this stuff isn't even rated for DWV. It's only meant to protect wiring, nothing more. It is very definitely NOT something I'd recommend for ANY portion of a cannon.
I would! I've done construction and I do electrical (and electronics). The gray "rigid "PVC pipe used for electrical conduit is actually better than the plumbing stuff because it is rated at a higher temperature than the standard sched 40. It is otherwise equal or better in pressure rating as well.

However, you wouldn't want to use the PVC fittings designed for electrical work to couple and connect the pipe...way too thin and way too shallow sockets typically....the pipe itself is fine.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:21 pm
by zach12
since that is electrictal conduct pipe, is the OD the same as regular schudule 40 2 1/2"?

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:13 pm
by starman
zach12 wrote:since that is electrictal conduct pipe, is the OD the same as regular schudule 40 2 1/2"?
It is indeed...fits the plumbing fittings perfectly.