Thermoforming Bell Connections

For most field connections you will need a bell on each end of the tube. For smaller diameter tube a smaller piece (4-6”) is sufficent. For tubes 1” and above a 6-8” is needed. Place tube in heated oil. When soft, remove from oil. Immediately press heated tube against a tube of the same diameter. The heated tube should slide around the outside of the other tube.

Quench the end cap and tube that the end cap is connected to immediately. After a few seconds, remove both and pull the connection off the tube. Place connection back in water for at least 15 seconds. Clean with cloth. Note: The process above works for smaller tube. For tube larger than 1-1/2”, it will be hard to remove the two pieces after initial quenching. Therefore, it's better to quench the two pieces connected. After 15 seconds, the pieces can be removed by placing a piece of rebar in the tube and knocking the rebar against the lip of the smaller tube.