Chamfering ABS and PVC Pipe

Chamfering is an essential part of the construction process for any solvent cemented plastic pipe system (such as PVC and ABS). Chamfering the pipe involves filing, scraping or grinding away the outside 90 degree angle on the end of the PVC pipe and taking it down to  somewhere  in the region of 22.5 to 45 degrees. The angle is not absolutely critical. What is important, is to ensure that there are no sharp edges. Such edges, when pushed into the socket, will have the effect of acting like a blade, pushing any solvent cement ahead of it and the result will be a very poor join and potential for leakage.

There are several different tools that can be used for chamfering pipe. Our pipe engineers favour either a double cut metal file (half round files are preferred by some as they are easier to use on small pipe), a wood scraper of the type used by decorators or a small hand grinder with a zirconium flapper disc. Very often, especially when carrying out a repair in a pipeline, access to the cut pipe is difficult. It is for this reason that it is important to have all three options available in the toolbox.

A PVC or ABS pipe and socket should never be assembled without first chamfering the pipe otherwise there is a very high risk or leakage and possible mecahnical failure of the joint at higher pressures. If the location of the pipe means that it cannot be effectively chamfered, the decision must be made to replace a larger section, so that correct jointing  procedures  can be followed at all times. This can sometimes seem like a drastic solution which will lead to too much downtime, however a failed joint in the repair, will probably lead to much more downtime further on.