Pixel Candy Cane Build Project

I forget if you covered this but when I made my pvc stars(which I no longer used), I heated up sand in my grill outside then poured the hot sand in the pvc(through a metal funnel of course). This both heated it and helped it keep its shape.
I'm not sure if this would work with pex or with a piece as large as a cane though. I'm still watching to see how this all unfolds.

I do think we need a catchy tune for the intro to each episode though.
 
If you add some plumbers cloth over the toaster oven holes you will retain heat longer, cut an X in the cloth and centre it over the holes, silver tape it in place.
 
I just came across a Facebook "Reel" that has some hints that may work for anyone trying to bend PVC pipe.
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In particular, watch how they heated the pipe to make the curves and again when they are spreading the ends.
 
Thanks for the link. I will say though, having now done both, that PVC and PEX are completly different beasts.
 
Agreed. PEX and PVC are different.
What I found amazing was they plugged one end of the pipe, filled it with sand, closed the other end and then placed it over their heating unit (as opposed to our method of heating the sand and then filling the pipe.)
After forcing it into the curved shape on the post, they immediately put it in water.

As soon as I can round up the necessary items (such as the heating unit), I'm going to give it a try. And yes, with PEX.
 
That's what I plan on trying for my next test actually. The bending spring works really well for the PEX, but my <yet to be revealed material> one is just a bit bigger (about 7/8 inner diameter). So I'll probably do the sand fill with it.

I was thinking of maybe trying that today but time got away from me.
 
algerdes said:
Agreed. PEX and PVC are different.
What I found amazing was they plugged one end of the pipe, filled it with sand, closed the other end and then placed it over their heating unit (as opposed to our method of heating the sand and then filling the pipe.)
After forcing it into the curved shape on the post, they immediately put it in water.

As soon as I can round up the necessary items (such as the heating unit), I'm going to give it a try. And yes, with PEX.
Click to expand...
This is how I did my PEX canes. I filled with sand to keep the pex from collapsing when I bent it to put in the form. I also let it cool while in the form. my process was 1 finished each night by straitening 1 piece ( I used a Roll), and bending the one I rolled the night before. straitening was done by heating the section that needed to be straight with a propane torch, being careful not to scorch it, the sliding it over a steel rod I think it was 5/8" and leaving it to cool on its own. the next day I'd cap an end and fill with sand packing it in and capping the other end. Heated the "U" end and put it in the form. Now when I heated I heated to the point that I call "wet noodle". Was thinking this stuff needs to be heated almost to its original manufacturing temps. So far they have stood up for several years with a few trying to straiten out. I do store them hanging on a piece of 2" pipe in the rafters with a large zip tie around the "U" just in case. during the summer we usually have 100 or more days above 100* here.
 
toy keeper said:
This is how I did my PEX canes. I filled with sand to keep the pex from collapsing when I bent it to put in the form. I also let it cool while in the form. my process was 1 finished each night by straitening 1 piece ( I used a Roll), and bending the one I rolled the night before. straitening was done by heating the section that needed to be straight with a propane torch, being careful not to scorch it, the sliding it over a steel rod I think it was 5/8" and leaving it to cool on its own. the next day I'd cap an end and fill with sand packing it in and capping the other end. Heated the "U" end and put it in the form. Now when I heated I heated to the point that I call "wet noodle". Was thinking this stuff needs to be heated almost to its original manufacturing temps. So far they have stood up for several years with a few trying to straiten out. I do store them hanging on a piece of 2" pipe in the rafters with a large zip tie around the "U" just in case. during the summer we usually have 100 or more days above 100* here.
Click to expand...
Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
 
I had made several update posts to this thread yesterday, but now they've vanished, possibly due to a database issue.

I'm not in the mood to recreate them now. Maybe I will be someday.

In the meantime, consider this thread closed.
 
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