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Thread: Drip Irrigation: The Spaghetti Line to Hard Pipe Connection

  1. #1
    Supporting Member rgsparber's Avatar
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    Drip Irrigation: The Spaghetti Line to Hard Pipe Connection

    Spaghetti line is 1/4-inch in diameter and soft. The hard pipe I use is 1/2-inch diameter schedule 40 PVC. Typically, the hard pipe was previously buried in the ground. How do I connect a spaghetti line to the hard pipe at minimal cost and minimal effort?

    If you are interested, please see

    https://rick.sparber.org/SpaghettiLineHardPipe.pdf


    Your comments are welcome. All of us are smarter than any one of us.


    Thanks,

    Rick

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    Rick

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to rgsparber For This Useful Post:

    Baddog (Jul 28, 2020), baja (Jul 29, 2020), Jon (Jul 30, 2020), willy13 (Jul 28, 2020)

  3. #2
    Baddog's Avatar
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    I wonder if the heat of the ground will soften it enough to pop out?

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    Supporting Member rgsparber's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Baddog View Post
    I wonder if the heat of the ground will soften it enough to pop out?
    Baddog,

    This type of connection is commercially available and has a proven track record. However, over time, the plasticizer will be driven out of the spaghetti line and it will become stiff. At that point, it will start to leak. However, I have a system that continuously monitors water use on a per zone basis. It will detect the when the flow increases by more than 30%. Then I will get an email. See https://rick.sparber.org/FMC.pdf for details.

    Rick
    Rick

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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Rick is there not a solvent based adhesive which will react with both the spaghetti line as well as the PVC hard line? I know that poly urethane and poly vinyl chloride are incompatible so far as normal cementing is concerned
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

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    Supporting Member rgsparber's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frank S View Post
    Rick is there not a solvent based adhesive which will react with both the spaghetti line as well as the PVC hard line? I know that poly urethane and poly vinyl chloride are incompatible so far as normal cementing is concerned
    The spaghetti line must be periodically replaced when it gets hard. Gluing or welding it to the hard pipe would cause problems. All couplers I have seen either have barbs on the inside or squeeze the outside.

    Rick
    Rick

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    Thanks rgsparber! We've added your Spaghetti Line to Hard Pipe Insertion Method to our Farm and Garden category,
    as well as to your builder page: rgsparber's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:


    Last edited by Jon; Aug 12, 2020 at 11:59 AM.

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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rgsparber View Post
    The spaghetti line must be periodically replaced when it gets hard. Gluing or welding it to the hard pipe would cause problems. All couplers I have seen either have barbs on the inside or squeeze the outside.

    Rick
    It seems then that your solution would be much better than going with the quite expensive branch couplers given that you are going to have to replace the spaghetti line after a time anyway just pull the old one out and install a new one
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
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    Thanks Rick. You are far more energetic than I am!

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    Supporting Member jdurand's Avatar
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    We've had more trouble from squirrels eating the line than age. The age shows up when we go to replace a piece and can't get it off the barb because it's hardened.



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