Tool for installation of metalplastic pipes. Birch. Flexible. Installation.
The tool for installation of metalplastic pipes became widespread in connection with emergence of metalpolymeric products. Composite structures required special cutting equipment, bending and mounting - scissors, risks, pipe cutters and pipe benders, calibrators and chamfers, crimping pliers. Differences from a similar tool, used in working with metal, generated by the characteristics of the material, for work with which they are intended.
To create a reliable pipeline of metal-plastic pipes, you need to use special tools
Work with composite metal-plastic pipes: tool requirements
Durable, strong, resistant to aggressive environments metal-plastic pipes have found the widest application. They are used in plumbing and heating systems, for transportation of various chemical compounds and compressed air, for laying electrical cables. Popularity ensure a successful composite design. It consists of five layers:
- the inner and outer layers are made of cross-linked polyethylene;
- the center of the structure is occupied by an aluminum shell;
- adhesive joints connect the aluminum core with the outer and inner coating of cross-linked polyethylene.
Structural elements of metal-plastic pipe are designed to play the following roles:
- aluminum allows you to keep the added shape;
- polymers protect aluminum from the effects of aggressive environments, prevent the ingress of moisture and prevent the occurrence and development of corrosion.
The lightness of the design puts forward special conditions for the use of special tools, neat in work and eliminates the use of excessive force. Otherwise, the elegant structure will be immediately damaged and become unusable.
Metal-plastic pipe is a composite product and you need to work with it carefully, to prevent stratification of its components
Cutting of pipes from metalplastic: hacksaw or scissors?
Metal-plastic pipes are supplied in bays. They need to be measured before starting work, to be determined, how many products and what length will be needed for further installation. Then proceed to cut the segments to the desired length. This can be done with an ordinary hacksaw, but it will leave cracks and burrs, which can lead to loose fit. The use of a hacksaw threatens to deform the internal section of the product, which needs to be corrected with a calibrator.
At home, you should use special scissors for metal. Their design consists of:
- hardened knife made of hardened or stainless steel;
- clamp, which protects against uncontrolled disclosure of the tool;
- comfortable handles, ensuring the accuracy of the sections;
- auxiliary toothed knife-rail;
- buttons, which allows you to return the tool to its original position.
Cutter and pipe cutter for metal-plastic pipes
For products of small and medium diameter, a cutter for metal-plastic pipes is used. This tool, compared to scissors, more suitable for professional use, which does not preclude use in the home.
Even at home, special scissors or a cutter should be used to cut the pipes
It is equipped with convenient handles and a latch-latch of the closed position. Support and top brackets allow installation of the necessary girth of a pipe and the perpendicular direction of a removable knife. The use of a cutter makes it unnecessary to use a calibrator, it is equipped with built-in calibrators. The cutter can not only cut the structure, but also to restore its shape on the cut.
It is recommended to use a pipe cutter to cut large diameter metal-plastic pipes. The use of a pipe cutter requires attention to a number of details:
- whether it is suitable for cutting products of this diameter;
- recommended by the tool manufacturer regarding the frequency of knife sharpening;
- what material was used to make the knife.
Flexible manually when installing metal-plastic pipes
Metal-plastic structures often have to be bent during installation. If the bending angle is small, and the length is considerable, then this operation can be done manually. But, it is recommended to break it into several stages, approaches. This is done for the sole purpose: not allowed, so that haste results in a change in the cross section of the product or the formation of folds on its concave side, or hopeless deformation. The length of the bend should be seven times the diameter of the pipe.
Metal-plastic pipes can be wrapped by hand with a spring of appropriate diameter
If you do not have a special tool at hand, it can be used for flexibility:
- metal spring;
- sand;
- blowtorch or construction hair dryer.
Use of a spring of the corresponding diameter allows to avoid deformations at bending of a design. Will not deform and fall asleep at one end (as a kind of spring) sand, when the other end is closed. Uniform heating of the metal-plastic structure on all sides with a blowtorch or construction blow dryer can be used, combining with other flexible methods or as a stand-alone method. After warming up, the bend is set by a single impact of the hands.
At home, a spring mechanism can be used to bend plastic pipes. You will need to choose a spring of the desired cross-section and length with one extended end, for ease of use. The scheme of use is as follows:
- To the spring selected on section and length the steel wire joins.
- The pipe bender is inserted into the pipe (or vice versa).
- The spring is located as follows, so that its center coincides with the center of the planned bend.
- Bending is performed, perhaps, using an emphasis in the form of own knee.
- The spring is removed by pulling the steel wire attached to it.
Manual pipe benders will be able to bend the pipe with a diameter of not more 50 mm
use of pipe bender
Recommendation on that, how to avoid deformations, conducting bending, when working with any metal-plastic pipes, simple: you should use a special tool. Pipe benders for metal-plastic structures are divided according to the features of the device:
- Manual. Designed for bending products with a cross section up to 50 mm and at an angle, not exceeding 180 ?.
- Electromechanical. Management is carried out by means of the set programs, the unit is supplemented by special functions and corresponding design elements. Application at home, naturally, unprofitable.
- Hydraulic (stationary and manual). Manual pipe bender, equipped with a hydraulic pump, can be made in a home workshop. Hydraulic pipe bender (with open frame or closed) controlled by the gear lever. This allows you to control the flexible process, which can be interrupted at any time, set the required bending angle.
Advantages of the pipe bender:
- operational safety;
- deformations of designs are excluded;
- possibility of processing of pipes of any section.
Classification of pipe benders by other parameters
According to the method of bending pipe benders are:
- crossbows. Assume bending to 90 ?, conducted around the device. They are compact and low cost;
- spring. Can be used for bending and copper, and aluminum structures. Longer spring pipe benders allow you to work with longer sections. Some models are equipped with the ability to move the spring, that allows to apply them on separate sites of a pipe, and not to the whole structure as a whole;
- segmental.
Different types of pipe benders can be used to bend metal-plastic pipes
The pipe bender can work on:
- run in the method, when the structure is located between the stationary and run-in rollers of the device. Gradual impact on the pipe with the use of reciprocating movements virtually eliminates the possibility of deformation;
- wind the technique, when the clamps press the structure to the rotating bending roller. To avoid crumpled pipe should be inserted inside it Dorn - a metal rod of appropriate cross-section, having a rounded end. Dorn can be flexible, made of several interconnected sections.
Installation of metal-plastic pipes
There are two types of fittings when installing metal-plastic joints:
- compression;
- press (in this case, the use of sliding press fittings or crimp couplings is possible).
Installation of pipes, regardless of the type of fittings, will require use:
- measuring tape;
- wrenches;
- calibrator;
- pipe cutter;
- Bevel removers;
- expander (if a press fitting is used).
It is undesirable to use compression fittings in hard-to-reach places, as over time they need to be tightened, to keep the connection tight.
MP pipes are connected by different types of fittings, to install each type requires "your" tool
Press fittings are more practical, as they form integral connections. Therefore, they can be installed in hard to reach places. Special press pliers are required for the installation of press fittings:
- manual;
- with hydraulic drive;
- with electric drive.
Before, how to use press tongs, preparatory operations are required:
- The pipe is cut off perpendicularly.
- The chamfer is removed.
- The required diameter of a pipe is established by the calibrator.
- The sleeve is put on.
- The shaped part of a fitting is inserted to a stop in a pipe.
Regardless of the principle of operation, press pliers for metal-plastic products ensure their reliable connection by a single effort. The joint is compressed by bringing the tool handles to the stop.
Manual or automatic pliers will be required to crimp the fitting
Repair of metal-plastic pipes
Installation of metal-plastic pipes for heating often requires repair. If a leak is detected in one of the heating pipes or in any node of the pipeline, the nature of the damage should be determined.. And then decide how to work. If the leak occurred under a compression fitting, sometimes it is enough to tighten the nut. When the simplest event did not work, then the water is drained from the system and checked:
- sealing ring;
- gaskets;
- equality of a cut of a pipe.
Detected ??the problem is eliminated by application of FUM-tape and silicone.
Leakage from under press fittings is usually caused by deformation of the soft ring (olives) inside the press fitting. Replacement of an olive or installation instead of a fitting of densely planted coupling will help, or insert a copper shunt.
If detected ??crack in the pipe itself, then it is possible:
- close the fistula of small size by cold welding after draining the water (readiness for operation will come in a day);
- impose a bandage (preferably metal clamps), which protrudes beyond the edges of the damage by at least two centimeters, applying a thick rubber 2-5 mm.
The best way to repair will be to immediately replace the damaged metal-plastic structure.
Metal-plastic pipes will last long and reliably, if at their installation to use the qualitative special tool, without breaking the technology.
