Primers, Cements, and Glue, oh my.

Doesn't really matter if the primer or glue is clear or not.
Paint the PVC with spray paint to protect the bare PVC from the sun. Many use a tan paint on their PVC. And a colored paint will hide the primer and glue color.

Look at the drying/set times of the glue available. Pick one that suits your needs and experience.

I found clear cleaner and cement at my local Lowes. Had to look hard as it isn't appropriate for code work where they want evidence you cleaned the joints, or even to keep yourself honest. Almost all the cleaner is purple.

Masking tape, carefully applied, will give you both a depth indication during assembly -- so you know when you've pushed the pipe far enough into the fitting -- and a clean mask line so the only visible primer/cement will be in a thin ring next to the fitting.

SoCalDIYWannabe said:

I've seen videos with pool-tite, and with 746 heavy gray, 744 medium gray, purple primer, clear primer, clear cement, etc.
I'd love to get clear primer and cement, but I can't seem to find any (unless I'm spending over $75, I guess.)

What's the recommended choice (for the equipment pad)? I prefer clear, but I imagine I can either be careful, or have too many drips showing, or clean it up afterward with sandpaper, or paint over it.

Also, I see a few videos where people are spraying their plumbing afterward. Is that some type of clearcoat protectant, or is that a basic paint with added UV protection stuff, to ... protect the plumbing from UV? Is that something that is done often?

Thanks. Psyching myself up for the big (or rather, compact) pad replumb.

Click to expand...

If you go with either of the grays, be sure to allow the joint to set overnight. The gray was originally designed for use by electricians on gray PVC conduit but people started using it on the pool industry because it is a slow-setting compound that allows a fitting to be taken apart quickly if things don't line up. I've seen them blow apart two days after a repair in pool use in the Winter.

Personally have never used them because I'm impatient and like to test a system as quickly as I can after a repair/re-plumb. A "Red Hot Blue" will allow that. Having to come back the next day is non-productive, especially if the job is a long distance.

From one suppliers website about the gray:
Product Description
This pipe cement is only for PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic pipe in pressurized DWV (drainage, waste, and vent) systems.