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Rag Dispenser
This handy rag dispenser is made with a length of 4"
PVC drainpipe and cap. Drill a 3" hole near the bottom, just above the cap using a hole saw or jig saw. (See
How
to Cut & Glue.) Idea: make yours with perforated drainpipe to see when the
rag supply is getting low. |
Garden Hose Guide
Materials 10-inch spike Make several to keep your hose from damaging garden plants. |
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PVC Clocks Enjoy these unique PVC Clocks anywhere in your home. They're really quick 'n easy to assemble. And they're sure to bring smiles. If you don't have the free Adobe PDF Reader, click here to install it. |
Make unique PVC items for your |
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Simple, Quick PVC Pipe Cutting Aid
Cut two V-notches in the top of a 5-gallon bucket. Place the pipe into the notches and... presto! You've got a steady pipe-cutting aid for pipe up to 3-inches in diameter. I first made a 3-1/2-inch cardboard triangle (photo #1, bottom), traced it on the inside of the bucket with a permanent marker, then cut it out with a hacksaw. The beauty of this "tool" is, you can also load it with fittings, pieces and tools to take with you. |
PVC Bird House
This fun PVC Birdhouse is easy to make in just a couple hours, or so. Assemble one or several… your fine feathered friends will love their new home! If you don't have the free Adobe PDF Reader, click here to install it. |
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Rake Extension Insert your rake into the appropriate-size PVC pipe to extend its reach. Now you can easily remove hard-to-get debris from rooftops and under decks with ease. Drill a couple of holes though the pipe and rake handle. Then fasten with nuts 'n bolts. |
Pruner Extension For those limbs that are just out of reach, slide your pruner handles into lengths of PVC pipe. Attach with a couple of nuts and bolts. Remove the pipe when you're done and set them aside for another day. |
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Shop Vac Floor Sweeper Photo #1
Photo #2
This lightweight Sweeper is a handy picker-upper for your shop, garage or wherever you accumulate debris. I use it for a quick removal of sawdust and PVC "dust" on my shop floor. It's dirt-cheap & quick to make, and works like a charm. In fact, I made mine with leftovers from other projects. Materials Five-foot length of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe Directions Cut two 12-inch lengths of pipe for the "working" end of the Sweeper. The upright length can vary according to your height. I cut mine 3-feet. Glue it together so it looks like the one in Photo #6. Next, I cut a slot the entire length of the bottom of the Sweeper (Photos #1, #2, #3) by making a couple of passes on my table saw. If you don't have a table saw, a Dremel tool will work, although it's much slower and less accurate. Before cutting the slot, be sure to set the Sweeper on the saw at an angle. (Photo #5.) You might want to hold it on the floor first to determine the most comfortable angle, then mark the angle. Lastly, I duct taped around the Coupler a few times so it would fit snugly into my shop vac hose (Photo #4). Note: For a better hose angle, you may want to attach a PVC Elbow rather than a Coupler. That's all there is to it. The sweeper isn't fancy, but it sure does get the job done! |
Shop-Vac Wand
The Wand really comes in handy when you need to get into tight spaces. In my shop, I use it to get under power tools. I made this one about 18-inches long because that's the length of a scrap piece I had laying around. A 24-inch Wand would be better. Materials Short length of 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe Directions Although the Wand appears to be simple to make, the tricky part is heating the pipe so it flattens like you see in Photo #1. I used the PVCbendit device, which made it easier. After heating thoroughly, quickly place the pipe between a couple of boards and compress tightly with two or three clamps. When cool, glue the elbow onto the round end. I cut the smashed end at a 45-degree angle for no particular reason. Wrap duct tape around the elbow so it'll fit into your shop-vac hose (Photo #2). If possible, it's better to use a thin-wall PVC pipe rather than schedule 40. It's easier and quicker to heat and flatten.
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PVC Walking Canes
The darker colored cane is made with 1-inch PVC pipe and the lighter one from 3/4-inch. First, cut the pipe about 6-inches longer than you need. Trim to length when you're finished. To wood-grain the pipe, see How to "Wood-Grain PVC Pipe in 3 Easy Steps. Prepare the pipe by sanding, then bend one end in any manner that pleases you. You can learn how to bend by reading How to Bend PVC Pipe. At each end of the cane, I inserted an internal cap rather than an external cap (the little white thing in the photo). You can find them in the Sources section of the PVC Workshop. As an alternative, attach a rubber tip at the bottom for better traction. The last step is to stain the cane. The dark cane in the photo was finished in Red Oak wood stain. The other, Fruitwood. |
PVC Toys
My two youngest grandsons love playing with leftover pieces of PVC pipe. I throw a bunch of extra fittings into the box from time to time and they can spend hours having "low tech" fun. Much better (to me, at least) than watching Sponge Bob or playing computer games. The pipe lengths range from 6-inches to 16-inches. So far, I've filled three boxes like the one in the photo. It's a great imagination and skill builder. I'm always amazed at what they come up with. |
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Simple Screwdriver Holder I made this screwdriver holder by drilling holes through a 2-foot length of leftover 1 1/4-inch pipe. The holes are spaced on 2-inch centers. (My handy Drilling Jig can be helpful here.) Now your screwdrivers can then be organized by type and size. Got a lot of screwdrivers? Make the organizer longer. Or make several. |
PVC Sanding File Here's another useful tool for your shop or around the house. Attach sandpaper to a 10-inch length of 1-inch diameter PVC pipe. I glue two grits on the pipe, 60 or 80-grit on one side, and 100 - 120-grit on the other. To fasten the sandpaper to the pipe, cut the sandpaper to size, then spray the paper and the pipe with adhesive. Let the surfaces set a few minutes before placing the paper onto the pipe. When the sandpaper is worn out, simply peal it off and apply a new one. Use various diameter pipe for different radii. |
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Useful Ideas Idea #1: Trash Bag Holder I made a couple of trash bag holders. One of them I wanted to attach to the door for the space under the kitchen sink. The door was too thin to put in screws to properly hold the PVC, without the points of the screws showing through the front of the door. My wife, suggested sticking industrial strength Velcro to the door and to the holder, then putting them together. Worked like a charm. I have used this idea for other PVC projects. George S., Texas Idea #2: Vacuum Hose Extender for Hard-to-Reach Locations Simply attach a length of PVC pipe to the end of your vacuum hose and, if necessary, wrap the connection with duct tape. Now you’re ready to clean the cobwebs from the ceiling and corners. If you want to get fancy, cut the "business end" of the pipe at an angle then heat it to form an long oval, which will make it easier to reach into corners. |
Rise Up Chaise Lounge! My wife wanted her chaise lounge raised.
So, here's what I came up with. If you don't have the free Adobe PDF Reader, click here to install it. |
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Electric Extension Cord
Holder Cut a 4-inch length of 1 1/2-inch pipe to make this convenient extension cord holder. No more tangles! Use 2-inch pipe for longer utility extension cords. |
SOLUTION... How to Remove Pipe
Ever have a hard time removing pipe from a "dry-fit?" Try this: First, insert the pipe into a fitting. Then trace around the pipe to mark where the cuts should end. Remove and saw down to the mark with a hacksaw, as seen in the above photos. Now the pipe will slide in and out with ease. Repeat at the ends of each pipe in your project. This works especially well for projects that get knocked-down and reassembled frequently, such as display units. The only problem I see with this solution is the pipe might become too loose over time. Anyway, give it a try. (Note: don't do this for plumbing!) |
