The Homemade Heat Pump Manifesto

[AC_Hacker]

Originally Posted by spcander

I was refering to the post about how you welded the plastic well pipe for the geothermal project.

OK, I think I have it now...

Your idea would work well for the alignment jig. I even considered such a device as you described, then I was able to reduce it to the angle iron jig you probably saw in the photo.

(I now have a small metal lathe and mill, so I'm able to make more sophisticated tools)

As far as heating the whole thing, HDPE is pretty rigid at non-elevated temperatures, but at the point where welding becomes possible (325 to 450 F) it all gets fairly mushy. That's why localized heating works well. The face of the HDPE pipe is heated to fusion temperature, and the rest of the pipe is still able to act as a support during the fusion process.

You should try out your idea, I think you'll see what I mean.

Thanks for the good words, I'll get this project going again...

Regards,

-AC_Hacker