Building With PVC Pipe Part 1
Click here for Part 2
If you’ve seen the interior structure of many airplanes, you’ll notice they use
aluminum pipes among other things.
You can build a similar structural framework for your flight simulator...but
with inexpensive plastic pipe instead of costly aircraft-grade aluminum….
aluminium.
Our Do It Yourself flight simulator projects often use plastic pipe because it’s
so easy and fun to build things with it.
This is 1” Schedule 40 PVC pipe. It’s inexpensive plumbing pipe and 1”
refers to the interior diameter. You can get it at any home improvement store
or DIY store.
Schedule 40 pipe is nice and sturdy. Don’t confuse Schedule 40 with its
cheaper cousin that is much more flimsy. The stores get them confused
also and sometimes the two types of pipe will be mixed up together, so
always check the label for “Schedule 40” or check the ends to make sure you’
re buying the pipe with the thicker, stronger walls.
The connectors are also inexpensive and easy to find.
One more thing…before you cut or build anything, you should clean the PVC
pipe. It tends to be very dusty because it’s usually transported to the store
on a flatbed truck. Glue and paint work better on a clean surface.
Cutting PVC pipe
When I’m measuring a pipe for cutting, I like to use a permanent marker,
and I label the length of the pipe also, so I don’t get different lengths mixed
up.
The marker isn’t really permanent, you can remove it with some rubbing
alcohol.
By the way, you can also remove the factory markings with steel wool.
There are a few different ways to cut PVC pipe. This is a PVC pipe cutter…it’
s got a crazy strong ratchet inside it that forces a thick steel blade to cut
through the pipe.
Be a good builder and wear your safety glasses.
Position the blade right on your mark, and squeeze and squeeze. It’s
actually kinda fun to cut through pipe like scissors.
Watch what it does to ½” PVC pipe.
This thing is pretty awesome. It’s only about $20, it’s small, portable and
quiet.
The power!!!
And look how cleanly it cuts.
You can also use a cheap miter box saw, but these saws are not really
made to cut pipe, so the blade gets hung up sometimes.
It’s just not as enjoyable to use a miter box saw…plus it makes a little mess.
If you have a chop saw…go for it! It’s loud and makes a bigger mess, but
you sure can cut a lot of pipe quickly.
You can also cut larger diameter pipes, like 2” or 3” pipe.
If you have mad kung-fu skills you can use that also.
Click here for Part 2
If you’ve seen the interior structure of many airplanes, you’ll notice they use
aluminum pipes among other things.
You can build a similar structural framework for your flight simulator...but
with inexpensive plastic pipe instead of costly aircraft-grade aluminum….
aluminium.
Our Do It Yourself flight simulator projects often use plastic pipe because it’s
so easy and fun to build things with it.
This is 1” Schedule 40 PVC pipe. It’s inexpensive plumbing pipe and 1”
refers to the interior diameter. You can get it at any home improvement store
or DIY store.
Schedule 40 pipe is nice and sturdy. Don’t confuse Schedule 40 with its
cheaper cousin that is much more flimsy. The stores get them confused
also and sometimes the two types of pipe will be mixed up together, so
always check the label for “Schedule 40” or check the ends to make sure you’
re buying the pipe with the thicker, stronger walls.
The connectors are also inexpensive and easy to find.
One more thing…before you cut or build anything, you should clean the PVC
pipe. It tends to be very dusty because it’s usually transported to the store
on a flatbed truck. Glue and paint work better on a clean surface.
Cutting PVC pipe
When I’m measuring a pipe for cutting, I like to use a permanent marker,
and I label the length of the pipe also, so I don’t get different lengths mixed
up.
The marker isn’t really permanent, you can remove it with some rubbing
alcohol.
By the way, you can also remove the factory markings with steel wool.
There are a few different ways to cut PVC pipe. This is a PVC pipe cutter…it’
s got a crazy strong ratchet inside it that forces a thick steel blade to cut
through the pipe.
Be a good builder and wear your safety glasses.
Position the blade right on your mark, and squeeze and squeeze. It’s
actually kinda fun to cut through pipe like scissors.
Watch what it does to ½” PVC pipe.
This thing is pretty awesome. It’s only about $20, it’s small, portable and
quiet.
The power!!!
And look how cleanly it cuts.
You can also use a cheap miter box saw, but these saws are not really
made to cut pipe, so the blade gets hung up sometimes.
It’s just not as enjoyable to use a miter box saw…plus it makes a little mess.
If you have a chop saw…go for it! It’s loud and makes a bigger mess, but
you sure can cut a lot of pipe quickly.
You can also cut larger diameter pipes, like 2” or 3” pipe.
If you have mad kung-fu skills you can use that also.
Copyright (c) 2004-2009 Roger Dodger Aviation, LLC All rights reserved Items sold by Roger Dodger Aviation, LLC are governed and protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America and international intellectual property agreements |
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