One of the downfalls of using PVC pipe as a construction medium is that your joints are either permanent or they fall apart when pulled. If only there were a way to make a robust, temporary connection. Thanks to Bill Waters’ happy mistake, he discovered how to do just that by using ShapeLock (PCL.)

While trying to use a bit of PVC as a mold for PCL, I was quite displeased to discover that the PCL instantly bonded to the PVC like pine sap on glass. The PCL stayed pliable, and could be scraped off with great effort, but it really, really wanted to stay put on the PVC. And once cooled and hardened, the two couldn’t be separated at all, even with pliers, screwdriver or hammer.

My displeasure at the failed experiment was short lived when I realized the many implications of this happy accident, which I summarize with a simple photograph {above}.

This technique can be used as a kind of  “temporary cement” anywhere you would use regular PVC cement, or for making more unconventional connections. Check out Bill’s website for more info and project ideas. Just heed his advice and don’t use this method in or around hot water unless you want everything to come apart. You can pick up a bag of ShapeLock from the Maker Shed.

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The Many Uses of ShapeLock