Plastic Pipe Blog

A PVC gate valve is quite a complex valve compared to more simple valves, like a ball valve, but is fantastic for fine control of flow. The wheel at the top of the valve has about eight/eight-and-a-half turns from fully shut to fully open, which allows for very small movements in the internal workings of the valve. This gives you fine control of your flow.

We have recently added a new range of coloured Furniture/ Display Grade PVC pipe and fittings to our website.

This video demonstrates the difference between standard PVC and Furniture/ Display Grade PVC pipe and fittings.

We are regularly asked what is the best way to connect metal threads to plastic threads.

There are two main options. Firstly, using a standard threaded fitting and a metal thread, just to thread it straight on. The second option would be to use some special fittings, which are composite unions. With a composite union, there is metal on one side and a plastic socket on the other.

ABS plastic has several characteristics that makes it the material of choice for many specialist applications. ABS has a high ductility, which is the ability to deform and reform to the items original shape. The best known application of this is in the use of ABS for making LEGO bricks.

Spears PVC gate valves are, in our opinion, the best valve for fine control of flow rates.

The handle has to be turned many times between fully closed and fully open states which gives the ability to set very accurate flow rates.