Burning holes in plastic feed tanks

[Kes]

I'm just curious. Whilst strolling through B&Q, as one does, I noticed that the instructions on plastic cold water feed tanks said Do not use a hot tube to cut a hole in the tank. When I fitted these things, many years ago, I used a heated copper offcut to 'cut' the holes, and a wonderful, circular, stress-free job it did as well. You had to peel off the melt around the rim of the hole, but I doubt whether I could ever get such a neat job from any mechanical means.

So why is it verboten? Fumes, or some other reason?

 

[stevehayes]

using a hoesaw is the proessional way. a heated copper ture can cause the plastic to degrade over time and cause a leak!!!!

 

[oilman]

I used a heated copper offcut to 'cut' the holes, and a wonderful, circular, stress-free job it did as well.

The point is it isn't stress free. Stress free way is holesaw. When you heat the plastic, then cool it, the stresses set up are unbelievable. To have a stress free plastic after heating takes many hours of precisely controlled cooling.

 

[Terrywookfit]

I used a heated copper offcut to 'cut' the holes, and a wonderful, circular, stress-free job it did as well.

The point is it isn't stress free. Stress free way is holesaw. When you heat the plastic, then cool it, the stresses set up are unbelievable. To have a stress free plastic after heating takes many hours of precisely controlled cooling.[/quote

In the days before cordless drills it was the only "on site "option!

I have fitted hundreds of tanks using "Hot pipe holes" without any problems!

Indeed many are still in use 30 years later !

 

[doitall]

I wouldn't say it was the only option, because you had breast drills.

I have also fitted hundreds of tank using the hot copper method without any problems

 

[Terrywookfit]

I wouldn't say it was the only option, because you had breast drills.

I have also fitted hundreds of tank using the hot copper method without any problems

I also had a brace and adjustable tank cutter for galv tanks!!

I could not afford a breast drill on my wages, £44 per week

 

[WDIK]

self deprication time




whats a breast drill?


or am i a tit for asking

 

[namsag]

Don`t know anyone who uses a drill and out of the hundreds i have took out have not seen evidence of any leaks or future leaks at all due to heat being used. And out of the tens of thousands of jobs i have done i have never seen a tank fail due to heat being used.

 

[ChrisR]

I don't know of any ill effect from using a hot pipe. That's slightly significant, because I did a degree covering this sort of thing and I've never come across it, which I think I would have done.
If heating the plastic caused it enormous grief, the melted bit would show it most. But it isn't springy or brittle, particularly. It sems to be much the same as the rest of the plastic.
I believe most of them are polythene = polyethylene, which is a thermoplastic, not a thermoset, so in theory wouldn't be affected.

Some plastics fail when additives like plasticisers evaporate, which could happen if you thrust a hot pipe through, and some fail when polymers unlink due to UV light , which is what happens if you leave a cheap bucket out in the sun. In both cases they go brittle.

I've seen manufacturers' instructions say don't use a hot pipe, but mfrs say all sorts of odd things sometimes.

I think holesaws are nasty to use on an existing cistern because the plastic bits spend the next 3 years blocking float operated valves. Flatbits are good if sharp.

 

[tonybhoy]

self deprication time




whats a breast drill?


or am i a tit for asking

We call them Wheel Brace drills.

Old fashioned joiners hand held drill ,looks like a ,ehr wheel brace

Big handle at one end chuck at the other sort of dog-legged in the middle.

Joiners use them mainly for locks.

 

[doitall]

self deprication time




whats a breast drill?


or am i a tit for asking

We call them Wheel Brace drills.

Old fashioned joiners hand held drill ,looks like a ,ehr wheel brace

Big handle at one end chuck at the other sort of dog-legged in the middle.

Joiners use them mainly for locks.

An wheel brace and an brest drill are different.

I will take a pic of the two types and post it for the young ens

 

[tonybhoy]

self deprication time




whats a breast drill?


or am i a tit for asking

We call them Wheel Brace drills.

Old fashioned joiners hand held drill ,looks like a ,ehr wheel brace

Big handle at one end chuck at the other sort of dog-legged in the middle.

Joiners use them mainly for locks.

An wheel brace and an brest drill are different.

I will take a pic of the two types and post it for the young ens

Shall look forward to them

Wish I was a young one

 

[doitall]

Hand drill must be in the garage somewhere along with the wheel brace drill

 

[cowboyplumber]

You got any star chisels in there dia?

 

[Mushybees]

So you brace it against the chest with the pad and lean forward to put pressure on the drill bit?