Do Not Make a PVC Pipe Bow Until You Watch This

Hey everyone! Here's the hammer test, a great way to avoid using brittle PVC pipe when making bows. Remember, if a PVC bow fails, brittle pipe cracks and shatters while impact resistant pipe folds and can be repaired.

Thanks for watching and enjoy!

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Here are a couple of links to the AGM A8, the phone I used to take all the photos.

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Nicholas Tomihama
P.O. Box 354
Camas, WA 98607

[keyosuke]

As much as I've grown far away from any kind of PVC for anything, I can't say enough how much I respect telling people to test materials before doing a DIY. Thanks for this message of caution.

[sergeantbigmac]

I just can not believe the people criticizing you because your video is longer than THEY think it needs to be... Content that is FREE to them btw. I hate people sometimes.

[GurtGobain]

I just tried this but the staff at Home Depot got really mad at me.

[TheDIYMaster]

It's too late backyard Bowyer and everyone watching I used bad pvc and made a bow. The bow snapped and the string whipped me in the eye. Now I have a scar on my eye lid. Tbh looks sick af

[melcrose]

and if you wrapped the finished bow in tape, chances of a "kill your eye" explosion are reduced drastically

[Nighthawkinlight]

Yikes. I've always trusted the Charlotte pipe myself for pressure use, I may have to retest. Certainly you wouldn't want to trust a pipe that brittle after it's taken a hit. I haven't seen it brittle to that point except after years of hot and cold storage

[Keyboardbeatz]

I took a hammer to my hardware store and started smashing PVC pics. Now I'm banned. Thanks Nic

[hopefilledsinner]

WOW! thankyou, I've made several PVC bows and never had a problem it just shows you the subtle differences in plastic. Sunlight can effect most plastics over time.

[Christos]

I think the brittleness of the pipe is due to the storage condition of the material depending on the distributor that stores buy their supply from.

[johnkeck]

I agree with you, i think the pvc manufacturers DO need to make a pipe that is specifically suited for the craft industry. Your input on that would be most valuable. Thanks for a great video!

[AnimeEcstasy]

Hey, can you link this at the beginning of your bow tutorial? I never would've thought to check this first but it showed up later on my feed. Thanks!

[anderwmarcell]

thank you for the instruction. Yes some PVC has changed. I used some to frame a greenhouse, some cracked

[jllaine]

Awesome Videos Nick! a few thoughts about brittle pipe. Recommended long term exposure for PVC heat is only 110° F,  it might have spent a lot of time in a container on the back parking lot at the shipper or the store in the summer sun accelerating the off-gassing of the plasticizers (that smell when you heat form it).  If it's bad for a dog or a baby in a car, it's probably bad for low temperature thermoplastic in a shipping container.  Second, definitely try to get in touch with the manufacture.  The plastic (flex and shock absorbing) property of PVC pipe is what allows it to be used in direct bury applications like waste water lines, sump pump discharge, and irrigation systems.  Pipe that shatters like that probably no longer meets code requirements and would shatter with the first frost heave.

[coriander]

Thank you Nick! You even have followers in Germany, i just made a PVC bow following your instructions! That tip from the video is great. Unfortunately we don't have schedule 40 PVC here, i was testing differents brands and ended up ordering from the US..
Looking forward to your next videos!

[silentpaw]

Thanks for this. I don't make bows, but this info is also good for those who make Boffer weapons for LARP use.

[andrewgoldstein]

Thanks for the info. I have to test the pvc pipe I have in storage. I can ask my brother who works with some plastic manufactures and see what they come up with. Take care

[Scottishblacksmith]

Duncan here, Thank You So MUCH !!! I was going out today or tomorrow to start a bow for the first time and WOW what an eye opener !!!

[speeds]

Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge and experiences with your projects, brotha...grateful to have found your YT Channel.

[Blakehx]

Great info thanks! I'd like to see a video comparing / testing different kinds of pvc!

[AMarshmallowPie]

Very helpful content. I didn't have a hammer at the time of making mine, but it is Charlotte piping, but has black letters, and was made in 2017, according to the date on the pipe. I swung it as hard as I could and hit concrete with it, and I did so for about 6 minutes, and it didn't even smoosh or crack. It just wobbled in my hand, and so I made the bow. I then got a smaller piece that I had cut off of it to make the bow, and hammered it, and it had the same result. Maybe the lettering is indicative of the quality difference/functionality? I don't know. Anyhoo, thanks for the heads up and info.