Thread: help on fence toppers

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I just received my fence toppers from kings metal and i was wondering how i put them over the pvc? do i melt them so i can bend them in to shape? and if so what is the easiest way of melting them? thank you

I used a heat gun and heated up the ends of the pvc pipe and then forced the finials onto them, once they cooled, I took them off and used pvc cement to glue them on, so the neighbor kids weren't taking free samples.

You can hit the base of the topper with a gas torch, and then shove it on the pvc like I did.
Then once they are all on and straight. Drill through the base of the topper
into the pvc from the back side, and insert a screw to secure it. Or epoxy would work also, but you should secure them somehow.
Pete

Originally Posted by captpete

You can hit the base of the topper with a gas torch, and then shove it on the pvc like I did.
Then once they are all on and straight. Drill through the base of the topper
into the pvc from the back side, and insert a screw to secure it. Or epoxy would work also, but you should secure them somehow.
Pete

I agree with capt, you would do best to secure them if you have time. I just shoved mine on without securing them. While I was setting them up, I had two come off from just a little tug while putting them in place.

is there any other options of heating them without a blow torch or heat gun? i dont have those. but i guess i could go buy a cheap heat gun if there isnt another way

Originally Posted by travball5

is there any other options of heating them without a blow torch or heat gun? i dont have those. but i guess i could go buy a cheap heat gun if there isnt another way

Yep there is! You can do the low-rent version of this like I did - use a $3 lighter, the kind you'd use to light the bbq or the fireplace. Your hand may start to cramp before you're done but its cheap and it works!

It doesn't take that much heat. Have you tried to push them on?
You might try a warm oven to make the base more flexible. Put one on foil
for a couple minutes at 300 deg.

It doesn't take that much heat. Have you tried to push them on?
You might try a warm oven to make the base more flexible. Put one on foil
for a couple minutes at 300 deg.

What size finials did you buy. If you bought 1/2" like I did. I used round 1/2" dowel from lowes, it fit perfectly into the finial and slightly loose in the PVC. I hot glued a 2" piece of dowel into the finial let it cool and then glued the finial to my fence. I hung a 10lb weight off it just to make sure it would be strong enough. Be sure to put glue all over the dowel before you put it into the pvc. If you have any questions let me know.