In short
The following are basic guidelines and may require adjustment according to application or installation conditions. Certain specialty cements, such as Flame Guard® FS-5, may have different instructions for specific application conditions. Consult appropriate installation instructions for details.
Initial set schedule
The initial set schedule is the necessary waiting period before handling newly assembled joints. After initial set, the joint will with-stand the stress of a normal installation. In damp or humid weather allow 50% more set time.
- Average initial set schedule for Spears ® PVC/CPVC solvent cements
| Temperature Range | Pipe Sizes 1/2″ to 1-1/4″ | Pipe Sizes 1-1/2″ to 2″ | Pipe Sizes 2-1/2″ to 8″ | Pipe Sizes 10″ to 15″ | Pipe Sizes 15″+ |
| 60°-100°F/16º-38ºC | 2 minutes | 5 minutes | 30 minutes | 2 hours | 4 hours |
| 40°-60°F/5º-16ºC | 5 minutes | 10 minutes | 2 hours | 8 hours | 16 hours |
| 0°-40°F/-18º-5ºC | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 12 hours | 24 hours | 48 hours |
Joint cure schedule
The joint cure schedule is the necessary waiting period before pressurizing newly assembled joints. Follow the schedule carefully. In damp or humid weather or chemical applications & where large reducer bushes are used, allow a minimum of 50% more cure time.
- Average joint cure schedule for Spears ® PVC/CPVC solvent cements
- Average number of joints per quart of Spears ® cement
| Relative Humidity 60% or Less | Cure Time Pipe Sizes 1/2″ to 1-1/4″ | Cure Time Pipe Sizes 1-1/2″ to 2″ | Cure Time Pipe Sizes 2-1/2″ to 8″ | Cure Time Pipe Sizes 10″ to 15″ | Cure Time Pipe Sizes 15″+ | |||
| Temperature range during assembly and cure periods | Up to 160 psi | Above 160 to 370 psi | Up to 160 psi | Above 160 to 315 psi | Up to 160 psi | Above 160 to 315 psi | Up to 100 psi | Up to 100 psi |
| 60°-100°F/16º-38ºC | 15 min | 6 hrs | 30 min | 12 hrs | 1-1/2 hrs | 24 hrs | 48 hrs | 72 hrs |
| 40°-60°F/5º-16ºC | 20 min | 12 hrs | 45 min | 24 hrs | 4 hrs | 48 hrs | 96 hrs | 6 days |
| 0°-40°F/-18º-5ºC | 30 min | 48 hrs | 1 hour | 96 hrs | 72 hrs | 8 days | 8 days | 14 days |
| Pipe Diameter | 1/2″ | 3/4″ | 1″ | 1-1/2″ | 2″ | 3″ | 4″ | 6″ | 8″ | 10″ | 12″ | 15″ | 18″ |
| Number of Joints | 300 | 200 | 125 | 90 | 60 | 40 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 3/4 | 1/2 |
| Spears® applicator selection guide For proper solvent cement welding of pipe and fittings, the cement applicator must be no less than half the size of the pipe | |||||||
| Daubers | Pipe Diameters | ||||||
| 1/4″ | 1/2″ | 3/4″ | 1″ | 1-1/4″ | 1-1/2″ | 2″ | 3″ |
| 3/8″ Dauber | |||||||
| 1/2″ Dauber | |||||||
| 5/8” Dauber | |||||||
| 3/4″ Dauber | |||||||
| 1-1/4″ Dauber | |||||||
| ROLLERS & SWABS | SIZE | For pipe diameters | |||||
| 3020 | 3″ Roller | 3″ – 6″ | |||||
| 6020 | 4″ Roller | 3″ – 8″ | |||||
| 7020 | 7″ Roller | 6″ + | |||||
| 5520 | 4″ Roller | 6″ + | |||||
| 6520 | 6″ Roller | 6″ + | |||||
| 4020 | 4″ Swab | 6″ + | |||||
| 5020 | 4″ Swab | 3″ – 8” | |||||
| 4520 | 4″ Swab | 6″ + |
| Product shelf life | |||
| Spears® Products | Shelf Life | Spears® Products | Shelf Life |
| Primers / Cleaners | 3 years | CPVC Solvent Cement | 2 years |
| PVC Solvent Cement | 3 years | ABS Solvent Cement | 3 years |
