Bonding HDPE

[Longshot270]

Is there anything cheap and easy on the market for bonding high density polyethylene? I've got a big project I'm planning and I just now remembered how much of a PITA HDPE is to work with...just as I'm filling out my proposal to get a place to do it.

I'm needing to connect gallon water jugs (like 40+ of them) and have water run fluidly between them. Just how screwed am I? I know I can fall back on a siphon system but they can sometimes be temperamental and very likely to get a siphon break.

Any other cheap materials that I can work with? I'm needing the equivalent of many small containers that I can pump a bunch of water through.

 

[mr_bots]

You can usually rent a fusion machine from local equipment rental place. It would work on piping to connect them all but don't know how you'd actually connect to water jugs as they're pretty thin and any type of fusing would just melt through.

 

[Longshot270]

Last night while I was testing stuff I left my high temp glue gun plugged in for too long and the first tack I made is held like concrete. The second tac, not anywhere near as strong.

Really all I'm needing is to make a seal.

 

[Zembonez]

If they are right next to each other and don't have to be moved, I think clear silicone would seal them together.

 

[NCSU_05_FX4]

Whatchu tryin to build?

 

[Longshot270]

Something like this, only bigger



I am circulating water through a bunch of small 1 gallon containers to generate a "current" for the plant that will be placed inside. I have a pump in a sump bucket that pushes water into the other buckeet

The only issue is what is drawn as the inside ring. The outer ring doesn't need any kind of glue because I'll be using flexible tubing to connect them and drilling a hole just slightly smaller will work just fine. The problem I am having is with joining the high flow containers because PVC pipe does not flex and I have my doubts about that large of nylon tubing.

 

[NCSU_05_FX4]

Ok, so you're trying to grow a plant in each 1 gallon jug, and the plants require a flow of water correct? And the system you're looking to build flows more water on the inside loop (thicker lines) and the outside loop flows less water (thinner lines)?

How big is the tubing you're thinking of using for the high-low loop?

 

[Nick The Great]

Delete your posts Colby. My freshman year neighbor in the dorms got booted after he posted pictures on the internet of the pot plants growing in his closet

 

[NCSU_05_FX4]

^

 

[Longshot270]

Ok, so you're trying to grow a plant in each 1 gallon jug, and the plants require a flow of water correct? And the system you're looking to build flows more water on the inside loop (thicker lines) and the outside loop flows less water (thinner lines)?

How big is the tubing you're thinking of using for the high-low loop?

Correct, the high-flow is probably going to be 3/4 inch PVC but after spending a few hours in Lowes for parts to build a giant trickle/sump filter for the aquarium I may just go completely to nylon tubing since it is stretchable and compressible.

The smaller line system will probably be 1/4" tubing. The only purpose is to maintain similar water chemistry, not provide current. This group I don't want any current if possible.

I'm also having a hard time deciding on pump requirements. I'm needing to have around 40 high flow and 40 low flow (possibly 50 of each). It is easy to guesstimate flow rates of small projects but I've never done anything this scale.

I was helping a friend of mine pack up to move today and he suggested using a sautering iron to melt them together, then fill the gap with silicone.

Delete your posts Colby. My freshman year neighbor in the dorms got booted after he posted pictures on the internet of the pot plants growing in his closet

Who's this Colby fella you speak of?