Water Pipe connectors

[almitch1]

Hi All,

Does anyone know or any connectors that can be used to use on blue water pipe? I am looking to construct a protection cover for my brasicas and to make a small poly tunnel for another bed.

I want to fix this to a wooden frame so its portable and reusable.

Thanks in advance.

Alan

[Guest]

philmac and/ or plasson fittings, but seeing what you want them for would just be a large waste of money. At the top of each hoop tie it to a cane or piece of wood to make it more sturdy then cover with plastic/ netting and peg or weight edges down. Hopefully someone can post some pics, if not I will get some on tomorrow to show what I mean. Hope that all makes sense

Edit: If you are combining it with a wooden frame work then drill and screw/bolt

[Jay-ell]

I agree with NG and just tie canes to the top if that's even necessary. What diameter pipe are you looking to use and how far apart will the hoops be? The pipe may be rigid enough to support the weight. If it's going to be used over winter then one or three canes around the top of the hoop helps stop snow weighing down the net.


How do you envisage the cloche/net working? A rectangular wooden frame with holes the same diameter as the pipe with the net stretched and stapled to the frame would be capable or being lifted and propped open.

The pipes could just be pushed into the bed and the net draped over amd pegged down is the least technical.

If you have wood sides to the beds then Pipe saddle clips could be fitted to the side of the bed (in twos, one above the other with a gap to add stability) to push the pipe into which would help hold the pipes firm and upright. The net could then have tapes added to tie around the pipe in the gap between these to secure it.

The last method is the way I'm looking to do mine

[Sharpy]

I have just finished making 5 cloche`s using blue water pipe. All are .9m wide by 1.8m in length, to fit to the inside of my raised beds.

The construction was a follows.

3 lengths of pipe
2 lengths(1.8m) of pallet wood which are 100mm wide.
Pre drilled a hole through the pipe and the timber, at either end then one in the middle. Then fixed these together with a 50mm coach bolt, nut and washer.
Then using some more pallet wood cut at 500mm(any length you like really), screwed 2 either side, these slip down inside the raised bed. Adjust to height required, then screw into existing timber.
Mine currently have debris netting stapled to one side, on the other side is a piece(1.8m) of 2x2 again stapled, so i can just roll this over to water, weed etc.
The good thing with the staples is i can change the covering with ease.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just to give you an idea of cost of MDPE fittings 20mm T £4.59 + VAT each Elbows £3-00 plus de Ver And de Tear.

Follow the others advice and save a shed load of dosh to spend on seeds.

[Jay-ell]

Alan thought id update you on the way I've just done mine - without using connectors.

My beds are 4' wide so I cut the blue pipe 10' long.

The ends of the pipe were pushed into the edges of the beds at 2' intervals.



This bed is 18' long, the net has just been draped over the hoops and then pushed in between the hoop and the edge (its a tight fit)



This is8' long. A cane has been tied to the hoops at the top and the net is held tight with home made clamps made from short bits of the same blue pipe.

These clamps can be pushed up the hoops to get access.

The bottom is held down with a cane pushed between the edge and the hoops.



This shows the clamp and cane at the bottom.

[cptncrackoff]

I added a cane because I only managed to get thin pipe for free! Just sturdied it up a bit!

[Bigmallly]

If it's portability you are after Alan, just screw the pipe to the boards & staple the netting to the boards. To gain access to the bed, just prop it up with a piece of timber.