How to open the PE pipe

PE pipe is widely used in water supply, gas, drainage and other scenarios due to its corrosion resistance and good flexibility. During installation or transformation, the opening (cutting) is an unavoidable link - the seemingly simple "cut a knife" actually hides many details that affect subsequent use. Improper operation may lead to interface leakage, pipe deformation and other problems. Today, let's take apart the complete process of PE pipe opening to help you avoid common pits.

First of all, you have to prepare all the tools: tape measure and marker are used to accurately mark the position; special cutting knife for PE pipe (small diameter pipe is manual, large diameter is electric) is the core tool. Ordinary hacksaw is easy to produce debris and the cutting surface is uneven; trimmer or fine sandpaper is used to deal with burrs; and cleaning cloth to wipe debris. These tools don't have to be expensive, but they have to be "right" - for example, the cutter wheel of the manual cutting knife is made of alloy steel, which is specially designed for the flexibility of PE pipe.

The first step is to mark the positioning. Use a tape measure to measure the position where the opening needs to be, and then use a marker to draw a straight line perpendicular to the axis of the pipe along the circumference of the pipe. Note here: the marking line must be clear and circumferential. If the cutting surface is inclined, the sealing rubber ring will not be fully fitted when the subsequent pipe fittings are connected, and there is a high probability of water leakage. If you are not sure about the straight line, you can use a square ruler to stick to the pipe body and circle along the edge of the ruler to ensure that the cutting surface is vertical.

The second step is to Put the PE pipe on a stable bracket or ground. It is best to fix the large diameter pipe with a pipe clamp - when cutting, the pipe slides will cause the cutting line to deviate, and even hurt yourself. For example, PE pipe above 160mm, it is easy to shake by pressing it by hand, and fix it on the worktable with a pipe clamp to be stable.

The third step is the cutting operation. The usage of the manual cutting knife is: align the cutter wheel with the marking line, gently press down the tool holder, and then rotate the tool wheel around the pipe. Every time you turn, tighten the screws on the tool holder a little bit, so that the tool wheel gradually deepens the cutting - do not press hard, otherwise the PE pipe will be deformed, especially the thin-walled pipe. Wait for the tool wheel to completely cut into the pipe, and then gently break it, and the pipe will be disconnected. If it is an electric cutting machine, start the machine first, let the blade reach the rated speed, and then advance the cutting at a constant speed. At the same time, keep your eyes on the marking line to avoid running. Remember to wear goggles to prevent plastic chips from splashing into your eyes.

Don't rush to the next step after cutting, be sure to deal with the burrs. The cutting surface of the PE pipe will have raised burrs and burrs. Insert the nozzle with a trimmer, rotate it a few times clockwise, and scrape off the burrs on the inner and outer sides. If there is no trimmer, wrap it in fine sandpaper on chopsticks and reach into the nozzle to polish. If the burrs are not dealt with, the sealing ring will be scratched when the pipe fitting is set, and it will definitely leak after a long time.

The last step is to clean the nozzle. Wipe the plastic debris and dust on the cutting surface with a cleaning cloth, especially the inside of the nozzle - if there is debris left inside, the filter will be blocked when the water is passed later, and the gas pipeline may also affect the flow rate.

After finishing the steps, remind a few more precautions: Do not rush to cut in a low temperature environment (below 0 ° C), the PE pipe will become brittle, slow down the cutting speed, or put the pipe in a warm place for a while; do not use ordinary steel to saw the PE pipe, the sawed surface is potholed, and the debris will fall into the pipe; be sure to check the cutting surface after cutting - if there are cracks or missing corners, quickly re-cut, this pipe will definitely have problems.

In fact, the core of the opening of the PE pipe is three words: "accurate, stable, and clean" - marked accurately, cut steadily, and the nozzle is clean. For the first time, you can find a waste pipe to practice, such as cutting a small 20mm pipe first, familiarizing yourself with the strength of the cutting knife, and then dealing with the formal pipe. Master these skills, the PE pipe and the pipe fittings after the opening are connected, and the sealing effect can be fully scored. Don't worry about it for ten or eight years.