Post #388123 by MadDogMike on Thu, Jun 19, 2008 10:24 AM

The technique works with smaller PVC also. I tried it with some 1/2 inch thinwall PVC to make a spitting tiki. You just have to be a little more careful when heating the pipe with the torch. I capped one end of my pipe and blew into it after I heated it so the pressure made the softened part of the pipe swell a little. The tiki isn't anything to brag about, especially here in the midst of real artists. It's carved in the "Neolithic Polynesian" style (kind of 2 demensional and flat) with primitive tools (a straight chisel and a claw hammer), but it matches my other 2 tikis.

Next, I may try a PVC bamboo water wheel. I think you could use regular PVC fittings for the joints, then just wrap them with jute twine to cover the fittings. Maybe varnish the twine to protect it and to keep it from loosening and exposing your PVC fittings