Kevin Doucet Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I know there is alot of post about leaping arches but i read thru alot of them and didn't see anything about how you get them to bend, I bouthgt a piece of pvc pipe 10' sch 40 and when I tried to bend it, it snap in 2. I probably didn't do it right, any advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 In Louisiana it bends easy in 100 deg.fIn Canada you may have to warm it in the house first.Most people drive rebar into the ground about 6 ft apart for 10 ft sections at a 30 deg.angle towards each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulXmas Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I havn't made mine yet but I understand heat plays a major part in bending.I plan on buying and bending my 16' aches in the next few weeks.When I know it will be 30 or above (around 90 F) I will try bending them and use rope or wire to keep the shape.Gotta tell you that you have me a little worried... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 The electrical PVC that is gray is what I am using 3/4" and 10ft long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 The pvc bends very easy I use one inch sections for my lights there is seven of them then i use a 34 inch pvc at 10 feet in length insert your one inch sections on the 34 inch pvc drive two pieces of rebar into the ground about 7 feet apart if you want a higher arch then put your rebar closer together I don't recomend anything closer than 5 feet as the pvc pipe will break however I found at around seven feet apart you get a nice arch approximatly 3 feet in hieght next slide the 34 inch pvc over the rebar and voila you have a nice arch plug everything and watch the magic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Don wroteThe pvc bends very easy I use one inch sections for my lights there is seven of them then i use a 3 inch pvc at 10 feet in length insert your one inch sections on the 3 inch pvc drive two pieces of rebar into the ground about 7 feet apart if you want a higher arch then put your rebar closer together I don't recomend anything closer than 5 feet as the pvc pipe will break however I found at around seven feet apart you get a nice arch approximatly 3 feet in hieght next slide the 3 inch pvc over the rebar and voila you have a nice arch plug everything and watch the magicI am lost now !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Doucet Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 PaulXmas wrote: I havn't made mine yet but I understand heat plays a major part in bending.I plan on buying and bending my 16' aches in the next few weeks.When I know it will be 30 or above (around 90 F) I will try bending them and use rope or wire to keep the shape.Gotta tell you that you have me a little worried...I think I tried to bend it a bit too much, previous post says rebar at 6' apart, i didn't measure mine but pretty sure was closer then that, will just have to try again at 6' apart. I was also thinking of trying to cut a piece a ply wood in the shape of an arche and cut it at like 2" wide and then insert that into the type of pvc that is usually use for burial it comes in a roll instead. Just wondering if that would be better for the Cold winter here in canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I think you meant 3/4":shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mitchell Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Kevin,What size PVC did you use? Most of us use 3/4 inch for arches and have no problems with bending them. If you are drilling holes in them for any reason, it will weaken them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfing4Dough Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Kevin Doucet wrote: PaulXmas wrote: I havn't made mine yet but I understand heat plays a major part in bending.I plan on buying and bending my 16' aches in the next few weeks.When I know it will be 30 or above (around 90 F) I will try bending them and use rope or wire to keep the shape.Gotta tell you that you have me a little worried...I think I tried to bend it a bit too much, previous post says rebar at 6' apart, i didn't measure mine but pretty sure was closer then that, will just have to try again at 6' apart. I was also thinking of trying to cut a piece a ply wood in the shape of an arche and cut it at like 2" wide and then insert that into the type of pvc that is usually use for burial it comes in a roll instead. Just wondering if that would be better for the Cold winter here in canada.Never heard of anybody having this problem even in cold weather. Bent mine for the first time at the end of November at about freezing temperatures. Spaced probably about 5.5' - 6'. Used 10' white 1/2" PVC with 1" black poly sleeves over it ("Harbs Sleeves").Maybe we make our PVC here in the States with better quality materials than you Canadians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallleyes Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Get the grey electrical pvc as mentioned above.Its made for bending.The white pvc in cold weather can break pretty easily.I use 1 inch grey pvc and like how the light spacing came out on my arches with incadescent lights.Hope they come out as good when i change them over to led lights in a couple weeks.I also used a come-a-long to bend my arches.I then put a peice of wire about 6 inches up from each end and made the bend permanent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Ron Amedee wrote: I think you meant 3/4":shock:Ha Ha Ha Ron you are right a guy misses one hyphen and a 4 no wonder you were lost LOL yes I use 34 inch pvc for the main sleeve. hopefully that clears everything up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Amedee Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 cest' bon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Doucet Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 my problem was i was using pvc that was too big, i tried 2'', now that i all your comment i bought a 3/4" today and it bend no problem, thanks for your advice.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Surfing4Dough wrote: Maybe we make our PVC here in the States with better quality materials than you Canadians. Now thats funny, maybe you guys use more vinyl than plastic in the PVC, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightzilla Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Yo Paul you do not need 30c to bend grey electrical conduit pipe. I bend that stuff at CT almost each time I go in there, 1/2" or 3/4"My basement is like 16c and even though I am only bending 1/2 grey electrical conduit pipe, it bends easy.I am going 1/2 inch for my fans. I am making a PVC base for the two fans. Going with 10ft fans this time instead of 12ft like last year. Making the fans into two parts.By the way, why do you want 16 ft arches? You saw just how big my fans were at 12ftwide and 6ft tall.I can say 3 good things about using a trampoline for fans or arches, you get a perfect arch, and per installed marks. Those slots where the springs go make good guidelines when adding lights. Ever second slot. Disadvantage for arches is that you might not be able to use sleeves. The third thing is that they are strong.Two 10ft 3/4 grey electrical conduit pipe should do the trick for you, unless you can buy 2 12ft pipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgardner518 Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Surfing4Dough wroteNever heard of anybody having this problem even in cold weather. Bent mine for the first time at the end of November at about freezing temperatures. Spaced probably about 5.5' - 6'. Used 10' white 1/2" PVC with 1" black poly sleeves over it ("Harbs Sleeves"). Surfing4dough said it that SAME way I do it here in Upstate NY! As cold as it gets here, I had no issues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddmoon Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 I have three arch's and I am using 20 foot pieces and I have them at 10 feet wide each as an arch. I am using white 3/4 inch schedule 40 pvc. I have used them in the summer and winter both hot and cold. Never had an issue with bending them. My arches are three years old now with no issues or breaks.Take care and have fun with your arches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Automation Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 ok so new what do you put on it (lights) for chasing or what not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfing4Dough Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Miller Automation wrote: ok so new what do you put on it (lights) for chasing or what notSorry, but I am not sure I understand what you are asking. Can you clarify your question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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