Plastic hot stapler using soldering gun?

[signcrafter]

I've been looking at these for a while now but would probably only use it a few times in my life. The only reason I was looking at them is because a family member has a torn bumper cover I was going to fix and watching videos on the repair came across these. They look super nice for fixing bumpers. Figured that would be my payment for doing the repair and then if I ever needed it again I have it. That's usually how I charge for helping family out, just tell them I need a new tool for the repair and that's how I get a lot of my tools! There are a few different styles of these but here is one I was looking at.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096PGOOQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The other day there was a post about these and an idea popped into my head. I have an older(15 or so years old) weller soldering gun that I never use anymore. I have a nice hakko soldering station and a butane soldering iron that do everything I need them to. So I got to thinking if I could use this soldering gun and make something for the tips to accept the plastic staples the hot staplers use? Basically just need to change the spacing of the tips coming out of the soldering gun to fit the plastic staples. I'm not sure if the heat would be similar to the astro gun above but I would think for the little use I need it for it would be fine. Any reason this wouldn't work or is a bad idea? Here is the gun I have collecting dust in the drawer. If you look at how the tips come out of the gun it looks like it would be fairly easy to make some metal(steel or copper or whatever) adapters that can attach to the gun and then have a bend the same size as the staples and drill a hole in the end so the staples go in them. Or am I dreaming here!?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002N7S1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[metaleltr]

It made sense to me when you posted it in the other thread. From my experience in plastic repair I am not convinced that these plastic staplers are the way to go. There are adhesive based methods which have proved to be very effective.

I prefer the self adhesive patch for simple tears but larger cuts and jagged tears may condone the use of mesh and adhesive on the backside.

The other method that I find acceptable is plastic welding, I believe there are some lower end kits available for this as well but they need to be fairly powerful in order to get hot enough.

 

[countryroad82]

I prefer to use epoxy. I use a die grinder to cut a deep V on the back, a small V on the front, drill a hole at the end of the rip, fill with epoxy on the back, the front gets a flexible glaze, sand, feather, prime, n paint. Been doing it like this for about 10 years with no failures.

 

[Hammer1963]

This unit is a bit cumbersome due to its size. I use a Spitznagel unit that has a power source with a cord attached to the tool itself. Much more versatile and can get into areas this unit cannot.

 

[west wind]

It made sense to me when you posted it in the other thread. From my experience in plastic repair I am not convinced that these plastic staplers are the way to go. There are adhesive based methods which have proved to be very effective.

I prefer the self adhesive patch for simple tears but larger cuts and jagged tears may condone the use of mesh and adhesive on the backside.

The other method that I find acceptable is plastic welding, I believe there are some lower end kits available for this as well but they need to be fairly powerful in order to get hot enough.

I do quite a bit of plastic repair. The plastic staples work wanderfull in combination with the adhesive. Use the staples on the back side and the adhesive cosmetically on the front. The 3m adhesive backed patches ar great for holes and punctures but less ideal for tears as their peel strength is not very good. The staples will not work on urethane bumpers such as Mercedes-Benz or several Chrysler products.

 

[ADSR]

Cut a V and use a plastic welder.

 

[paulsomlo]

I used a soldering gun to melt in some bronze mesh and plastic rod on the backside, with some epoxy on the front. Cumbersome, but it worked. Here's some links to a pencil type soldering iron with a purpose made tip:
http://www.urethanesupply.com/Airless-Welders-1/

http://www.mytoolsforyou.com/automotive-tools/URE-6005HTP-p-URE21.html

Paul

 

[signcrafter]

This unit is a bit cumbersome due to its size. I use a Spitznagel unit that has a power source with a cord attached to the tool itself. Much more versatile and can get into areas this unit cannot.

Well this is something I won't use much at all. That's why I was thinking of trying to make my own out of a soldering gun. For the little bit I will be using it the cumbersome part should be fine. Especially if the bumper cover is off the car on a stand.

I do quite a bit of plastic repair. The plastic staples work wanderfull in combination with the adhesive. Use the staples on the back side and the adhesive cosmetically on the front. The 3m adhesive backed patches ar great for holes and punctures but less ideal for tears as their peel strength is not very good. The staples will not work on urethane bumpers such as Mercedes-Benz or several Chrysler products.

What is the reason the staples don't work on urethane? Don't melt in or don't hold?

Cut a V and use a plastic welder.

I used a soldering gun to melt in some bronze mesh and plastic rod on the backside, with some epoxy on the front. Cumbersome, but it worked. Here's some links to a pencil type soldering iron with a purpose made tip:

Paul

From what I've read the staples work pretty good. I don't have a plastic welder and was going to try and make my own staple gun out of a soldering gun. Not sure if it will work but I don't see why not.

So you guys think a plastic welder is better for this then the hot stapler?

 

[Lhorn]

I'd have to do a search , but I seem to recall a plastic stapler attachment that worked with a stud gun. Seems like it would work well.

 

[signcrafter]

I'd have to do a search , but I seem to recall a plastic stapler attachment that worked with a stud gun. Seems like it would work well.

Yes they make those also for just over 100 bucks if I remember right.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I made a plastic hot stapler from an old weller soldier gun. made my own copper staples that worked great. then I ordered some stainless staple made for the purpose and they did not work.

 

[beardog]

In a pinch you can make a tight C shape from paper clip rr copper wire and heat it with a soldering iron until it sinks into the plastic.

 

[Thumper68]

Hera rea some videos a member here did on exactly what you are looking to do.