I
Inspired333
Here's a(nother) DIY on how to make cheap bulkheads. There is info around on how to make them but here's how to make big(ger) ones, and a tip on assembly.
If you simply need a drain on a bucket or something like that, you can use 1/2" or 3/4" with no problems.
Get a Male Pipe Thread (MPT) electrical (grey) conduit adapter, a garden hose o-ring - not washer (fits over MPTs), and Female Pipe Thread (FPT) PCV plumbing ball valve of the same size.
Drill a hole just big enough for the threads of the conduit adapter into the bucket (or whatever). Put the o-ring over the threads of the conduit adapter and insert on the inside of the hole. Then screw on the ball valve nice and snug so that the o-ring is pulled tight against the inside of the bucket.
You can now screw in a barbed adapter/elbow if your ball valve is FPT on both ends, or pvc pipe or other fitting if its "Slip" on outside end, or just leave it like I did on mom bucket.
(two conduit fittings will probably fit snug in these sizes too, if you're just gonna go PVC pipe from there on or some other configuration. If not, keep reading.)
Simple enough for that.
But if you want bigger sizes of bulkheads/through-hulls; say you wanna build a Undercurrent, you wanna join buckets for RDWC, you want bigger drains - whatever, you might find the adapters will not screw together all the way tight.
The threads on Plumbing and Electrical are different! You want to use only Electrical conduit for anything over 1" I'd say. The threads are straight all the way down and the don't taper like plumbing threads, which allows you to screw them all the way tight - theoretically*
I was reading over some information earlier about PVC; fittings, pipe, etc, when I came across some info I had read before - when something struck me.
It seems a lot of people misuse teflon tape and 'pipe-dope' compound, which is one reason why people over-tighten threaded PVC.
Teflon tape/pipe is generally(;/) meant for metal fittings (apparently) and it essentially acts as a lubricant for the threads to allow them to be more easily screwed together.
My idea bulb went off when I read that sentence. I thought if I used teflon tape, it would lube the threads so they could smoothly tighten together.
So I ran out to home depot and got PVC conduit in all three sizes in both MPT and FPT to test it all out.
I had bought bigger sizes of PCV conduit (male and female) in 1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2" and they would NOT screw together all the way tight - not even close! There was a gap as big as a 1/4" or more in the two 2" fittings.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041469
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041470
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041472
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041481
(the white t-tape is worn cause I assembled/disassemble a few times)
Teflon tape was the solution.
The two 1-1/4" conduit adapters screwed tight together against the o-ring without any teflon tape or lube. So if you think that size suits your needs, and 1-1/4" pipe is available to you, you're set.
The 1-1/2" adapters got one layer/wrap of teflon tape and then were able to screw down smooth as butter night and tight onto the o-ring.
The 2" adapters received one (at first), then 2 (worked better) layers of teflon tape and screwed down nice and tight as well. Though I'd prefer fatter/thicker o-ring if I was gonna use 2" size.
Google how to properly apply teflon tape if you're not sure. It goes on in the same direction as you're going to screw in said fitting (clockwise) so that it doesn't bunch up when you screw in it. usually, one layer is enough (cover the threads with one uniform layer). Make it tight on the threads.
It's only there for lube/slickness - it is NOT supposed to add width or anything like that.
COST:
If I wanted to use Uniseals, which LITERALLY just showed up at my door while writing this, I'd HAVE to order them online, from the states (one place in canada) and they'd be $9-13 each, not inluding shipping, depending on size. You need 2 per bucket/rez, so for four bucket+res UC you're looking at $100 easy.
None of the PVC fittings I've listed cost over $1.50.
Maybe:
-Male adapter $1.50
-Female adapter $1.50
-O-ring (bought in bulk years ago) $pennies. (bought a bulk variety pack)
-Teflon tape $fractions of pennies.
Basically, the main advantage is that you can find all of these things and you can make them all work together. And it should be half the cost of a uniseal, at least. I saw 2" bulkheads online for like 40+ dollars each!
I can edit this post to make it nicer later. I just wanted to share, now. And will add pictures after work.
Thanks
If you simply need a drain on a bucket or something like that, you can use 1/2" or 3/4" with no problems.
Get a Male Pipe Thread (MPT) electrical (grey) conduit adapter, a garden hose o-ring - not washer (fits over MPTs), and Female Pipe Thread (FPT) PCV plumbing ball valve of the same size.
Drill a hole just big enough for the threads of the conduit adapter into the bucket (or whatever). Put the o-ring over the threads of the conduit adapter and insert on the inside of the hole. Then screw on the ball valve nice and snug so that the o-ring is pulled tight against the inside of the bucket.
You can now screw in a barbed adapter/elbow if your ball valve is FPT on both ends, or pvc pipe or other fitting if its "Slip" on outside end, or just leave it like I did on mom bucket.
(two conduit fittings will probably fit snug in these sizes too, if you're just gonna go PVC pipe from there on or some other configuration. If not, keep reading.)
Simple enough for that.
But if you want bigger sizes of bulkheads/through-hulls; say you wanna build a Undercurrent, you wanna join buckets for RDWC, you want bigger drains - whatever, you might find the adapters will not screw together all the way tight.
The threads on Plumbing and Electrical are different! You want to use only Electrical conduit for anything over 1" I'd say. The threads are straight all the way down and the don't taper like plumbing threads, which allows you to screw them all the way tight - theoretically*
I was reading over some information earlier about PVC; fittings, pipe, etc, when I came across some info I had read before - when something struck me.
It seems a lot of people misuse teflon tape and 'pipe-dope' compound, which is one reason why people over-tighten threaded PVC.
Teflon tape/pipe is generally(;/) meant for metal fittings (apparently) and it essentially acts as a lubricant for the threads to allow them to be more easily screwed together.
My idea bulb went off when I read that sentence. I thought if I used teflon tape, it would lube the threads so they could smoothly tighten together.
So I ran out to home depot and got PVC conduit in all three sizes in both MPT and FPT to test it all out.
I had bought bigger sizes of PCV conduit (male and female) in 1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2" and they would NOT screw together all the way tight - not even close! There was a gap as big as a 1/4" or more in the two 2" fittings.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041469
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041470
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041472
https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=44444&pictureid=1041481
(the white t-tape is worn cause I assembled/disassemble a few times)
Teflon tape was the solution.
The two 1-1/4" conduit adapters screwed tight together against the o-ring without any teflon tape or lube. So if you think that size suits your needs, and 1-1/4" pipe is available to you, you're set.
The 1-1/2" adapters got one layer/wrap of teflon tape and then were able to screw down smooth as butter night and tight onto the o-ring.
The 2" adapters received one (at first), then 2 (worked better) layers of teflon tape and screwed down nice and tight as well. Though I'd prefer fatter/thicker o-ring if I was gonna use 2" size.
Google how to properly apply teflon tape if you're not sure. It goes on in the same direction as you're going to screw in said fitting (clockwise) so that it doesn't bunch up when you screw in it. usually, one layer is enough (cover the threads with one uniform layer). Make it tight on the threads.
It's only there for lube/slickness - it is NOT supposed to add width or anything like that.
COST:
If I wanted to use Uniseals, which LITERALLY just showed up at my door while writing this, I'd HAVE to order them online, from the states (one place in canada) and they'd be $9-13 each, not inluding shipping, depending on size. You need 2 per bucket/rez, so for four bucket+res UC you're looking at $100 easy.
None of the PVC fittings I've listed cost over $1.50.
Maybe:
-Male adapter $1.50
-Female adapter $1.50
-O-ring (bought in bulk years ago) $pennies. (bought a bulk variety pack)
-Teflon tape $fractions of pennies.
Basically, the main advantage is that you can find all of these things and you can make them all work together. And it should be half the cost of a uniseal, at least. I saw 2" bulkheads online for like 40+ dollars each!
I can edit this post to make it nicer later. I just wanted to share, now. And will add pictures after work.
Thanks
Last edited:
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