ABS cement and PVC comment are the two most useful materials for joint pipes. Especially if you have plumbing work or know a plumber, you must have ideas about this cement. However, you will find ABS and PVC as pipes as well.
ABS cement is for ABS pipes, and PVC cement is for PVC pipes. They both are different in nature and materials. You cannot interchange them and use one for another. They will not work that well.
In some cases, you can interchange them a little bit. Though it’s a professional idea, you can use it for emergency purposes or when you don’t find any suitable solutions instantly.
That’s what we will talk about whether you can use ABS cement on PVC pipes or vice versa. We got some excellent solutions regarding these cement and pipes. They will help you to sort out your issues.
Can I use ABS cement on PVC?
You can use ABS cement on PVC, but it’s not the ideal practice. In fact, your PVC pipes will not join firmly. If you run out of PVC cement and have an emergency task with PVC pipes, you can only use ABS cement for indoor use. If it is a major joining issue, avoid using ABS cement.
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ABS pipes are rigid; therefore, they need tough cement to join them properly. Accordingly, ABS cement is there to do the job. It is specially designed to work on ABS cement.
On the other hand, PVC pipes require an additional primer to let the cement adjust with the surface. In that case, PVC cement is for them. It is made for PVC pipes only.
Black ABS cement:
It is the original ABS cement color. That means you can identify the ABS cement and pipe through black since PVC is white cement. However, you should not apply the black ABS cement on PVC pipe.
If needed, you can slightly use black ABS cement. It will work excellently there is no serious concern about using ABS cement. But it is not advised. That’s why you should not use black ABS cement on PVC pipes.
Yellow ABS cement:
People use yellow ABS cement on the ABS pipes and fittings to make the setting fast. Moreover, if you have rigid ABS pipes and fittings and want to apply the cement fast, you should go for the yellow ABS cement.
But, it will not work on PVC pipes. It has ingredients that will not work on PVC pipes. That’s why you cannot use Yellow ABS cement on PVC pipes.
Medium black ABS cement:
When you have non-pressure ABS fittings, you can apply the medium-black ABS cement. It will make the settings fast and secure. Also, it will work for most of the ABS pipes.
However, you cannot apply medium black ABS cement to your PVC pipes. It will be a weak joint indeed. Since it is medium-type cement, you should not use medium black ABS cement on the PVC pipes.
What happens when you use ABS cement on PVC pipes?
When you use ABS cement on a PVC pipe, it will make a weak joint. However, you can use ABS cement if you have two different pipes. There will be no issues.
On the other hand, ABS cement is strong, and it works on pretty much every surface. You can use the cement on PVC pipes if you want to join two different pipes; let’s say one is PVC pipe another one is ABS pipe.
To connect the PVC to the PVC pipe, you should not use ABS cement. You need to go for the PVC cement. It will be the best choice for you.
How does ABS cement work on PVC pipes?
ABS cement works on PVC pipes without having any issues. They can join the pipes and fittings very smoothly. However, if you need to join the fittings, it will be better to use PVC cement.
On the other hand, ABS cement will make the fittings smooth. That means you cannot expect to find the chemical bonding on the PVC pipes.
Since PVC cement has chemical ingredients, it works magically on the plastic surface. So the perfect solution is to use PVC cement on PVC pipes. In fact, the oatey ABS cement will not work on PVC pipes.
Do you need a primer for PVC?
You must need a primer for PVC cement and PVC pipes. PVC pipes are plastic pipes; therefore, you cannot expect cement to work on them like other surfaces. That’s why you should apply the primer and then apple PVC cement.
You will find heavy body primer is the best option to apply on your plastic pipes. These primers will be durable and make the plastic surface perfect for PVC cement. You will also find some other primer that can also be used for PVC.
Without applying primer, you cannot apply the PVC cement and expect to have a robust joint that will last for years. So, it’s a must for you to use the primer first on plastic pipes, then go for the PVC cement.
Are PVC cement and ABS cement the same?
PVC cement and ABS cement are not the same. They are different from every perspective. PVC cement for PVC pipes, whereas ABS cement is for ABS pipes and fittings. You cannot expect them to interchange and use one for another.
However, you can apply ABS cement on pipe fittings to some extent. It will only work if the pipes are different. Otherwise, you should not use PVC cement on ABS fitting and vice versa.
On the other hand, PVC cement comes with a chemical that works better on plastic, but ABS cement doesn’t come with strong chemicals. That’s another reason why PVC cement and ABS cement are not the same.
What is the difference between PVC cement and ABS cement?
There are some major differences between PVC cement and ABS cement; from the making process to applying on the surface, you will find many differences. Here, we come with some crucial differences between these two.
These are the primary and practical differences between these two types of cement. If you search for more, you will get more reasons. But, they are enough to answer your question about why you should use ABS cement on ABS pipes.
Color:
The first difference is the color. ABS cement comes with black color ingredients. That’s the sign of ABS cement. On the other hand, if you look at PVC cement, you will find its white color.
Required coating:
ABS cement doesn’t need any extra coating, which means it is one step after applying strong cement. In contrast, PVC cement is a two-step cement. You need to use the primer and the paint with the PVC cement.
Strength:
PVC piping and cement both are flexible, whereas ABS cement is robust and will absorb high shock. That’s the critical difference between these two types of cement.
Purpose:
ABS cement is best for underground finishing. On the other hand, PVC cement is used for indoor piping joints and fittings. That’s the difference between these two.
Cost:
Since PVC requires an extra coating with primer, PVC cement is costly. On the other hand, ABS cement doesn’t need any primer; that’s why ABS cement is cost-effective.
What is stronger PVC or ABS?
ABS is stronger than PVC. The main reason is the build quality. PVC cement is for indoor piping fittings. Therefore, it requires flexible cement ingredients.
If you look at the uses of ABS cement, you will see that ABS cement and pipes are used underground to hold the pressure. We all know that ABS pipes can bear more pressure than PVC pipes.
That’s why ABS pipes are used underground, and PVC pipes are used in indoor uses. The same happens with the cement. ABS cement is robust and ensures shock-absorbing capability.
For these reasons, ABS cement is naturally stronger than PVC cement.
Does PVC cement work on ABS?
PVC cement doesn’t work properly on ABS pipes. Applying PVC glue or cement on ABS fittings is a risky task. One of the main reasons is the low resistance.
PVC cement is low resistance because it is applied to the primer. Therefore, it doesn’t need to be strongly resistant. On the other hand, ABS fittings and pipes don’t need any extra primer.
They need strong resistance cement, and ABS cement is made for them. That’s the reason why PVC cement doesn’t work better on ABS. Therefore, you should not try to apply PVC cement on ABS pipes.
Final thoughts
With some modifications and joining two different PVC pipes, you can use ABS cement on PVC pipes and fittings. There is nothing wrong with using ABS cement. However, you cannot use PVC cement on ABS fittings. It will be a big mistake. It is advised to use ABS cement for ABS pipes.