PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a popular, readily-available plastic polymer material used in plumbing and other piping applications. It is relatively cheap, very easy to work with, chemically resistant, durable, and long-lasting. Besides plumbing, it can also be used as a Tinkertoy-like building system for creating all sorts of lightweight and durable framed structures. Here we have gathered several of our Skill Builder pieces to bring you up to speed on how to use this material and some of the best PVC projects we’ve featured over the years.
Skill Builder: Working with PVC
In Skill Builder: The Best Ways to Cut, Drill, and Glue PVC Pipe, Jordan Bunker shares some techniques for securing, drilling, cutting, and gluing PVC pipe and joints. Whether you’re building furniture, making art, or even just plumbing your sink, here are a few techniques that will ensure that your project is a success.
Skill Builder: Sizing PVC
Skill Builder: Introduction to PVC Pipe Sizing delves deeper into PVC, detailing how to size and spec PVC pipe for your building projects.
Build a Simple Lightbox
A DIY PVC Light Box/Light Tent can be a godsend when trying to produce well-lit close-up photographs of your projects.
Make a PVC Christmas Tree
This How-To: PVC Pipe Christmas Tree shows how easy it is to create this unique modern holiday wall hanging.
A Geodesic Dome Built from PVC
How to Build a 20-Foot Functional Geodesic Dome Out of PVC shows you how the Sketchup Team created an amazingly sturdy 20′ dome from PVC for the 2014 World Maker Faire.
Rock Out on a PVC Pipe Instrument
A PVC Pipe Instrument produces an amazing sound and this Make: Project shows you how to build and tune such a cool percussive instrument.
Make Spring Clamps for the Shop
In situations where you need lots of clamps for gluing a big job, emergency clamping, and/or dirt-cheap shop clamps, this little hack to Make Spring Clamps from Plastic Pipe can come in handy.
Build a Water Balloon Cannon
Build a PVC Water Balloon Cannon and you can claim military superiority in your next neighborhood water balloon battle.
Kid Furniture from PVC
This small PVC Kids’ Table and Stool fits young children perfectly, and they can scribble to their hearts’ content on the dry-erase tabletop.
Check Out These Floating Accent Lights
This PVC Floating Accent Light adds a romantic glow to any room. Designed to provide good airflow around the bulb, it also appears to float magically on a soft ring of light around its base.
Bonus Post: PVC Pipe Color Staining
You can Stain PVC Any Color You Like using this simple technique.
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