Plastic welder ? Suggestions ?

[WR250F]

Need to weld some plastic, so I need the right tool.

This will be used very infrequently.

I don't like buying junk tools, even if for limited home/hobby use, but I don't want to spend a buy once cry once amount.

Something that won't break the bank, that is enough quality to be used more than once or twice.

What are you guys using ? Any you can recommend or suggest staying away from ?

Links or a mfr and model number would be a big help as I don't have a clue about these things

 

[Danglerb]

Do you know the type of plastic you need to weld? Thats the best point to start a search from if you aren't doing much.

 

[diesel research]

Something that won't break the bank

How big is the bank?

I see some people nickle and diming for a $2 savings and others freely spending more than $1,000 for various tool related stuff.

 

[rsanter]

I have used the one from HF with decent results
I can tell you there is a learninf curve to get decent results though

what you will need to get decent/better results will be one of the router controls to adjust tempature and an airflow regulator
after that is kind of like tig welding

bob

 

[WR250F]

I'd like to keep the cost ~$200 max, less would be better. A kit would be nice, but if not in kit form, at least the option of getting additional tips/functionality out of it would be great

I'm going to be repairing various types of plastic from time to time, but most often I will be dealing with small parts fabrication for a resto on an old C10 Chevy and small parts and pieces for motorcycles.

Otherwise this might double as a soldering iron of sorts. The more I think about it the more things I could possibly use this on. None would be critical, just dicking around fabricating small parts or repairing something I couldn't (easily) find a replacement part for.

 

[Outlawmws]

For the kind of plastics you are talking about, you should be able to take filings/sawdust off of sacrificial parts and mix with acetone and make a glue paste and get good results. just be sure to have mating surfaces clean and soften them with acetone.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

The HF welder is a direct knock off of a Seelye welder. The important parts are interchangeable. The HF handle can't take the heat like a Seelye will, and it will melt or distort.

You can't weld PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene) with solvents. Heat welding is the only way to accomplish this.

If you are going to fabricate anything of size, you will want a speed tip. This allows you to heat the rod and fuse it into the plastic in a continuous motion.

Repairing an unknown plastic item is difficult. The plastic could be anything. My first go to fix is MEK. It will solvent weld ABS and PVC. Put a few drops in an out of the way place, and see if it wets into the plastic. If the plastic starts to dissolve, you can solvent weld it. Wick solvent into the crack and use masking tape to hold it tight.

I've been fabricating clean room equipment from HDPE, UHMW, PP, PE, and PVC for over 10 years, and I'm still a novice for a lot of the plastic practices.

 

[vv111y]

Anyone tried this technique?

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[Skin]

Urethane Supply 5700HT is what I have. I've used it 7 or 8 times now and it works great. Comes with a bunch of rod for all types of plastics. Quite a few youtube videos showing the thing in action.

Added bonus, its USA made.

 

[peterbilr98]

urethane supply mini 7 what I have none better unless you whant to go pro then the price goes up and up

 

[Monte]

Steinel
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[Professur]

The Weller soldering gun has flat tips for welding plastic.

 

[kelpaso1]

Urethane Supply 5700HT is what I have. I've used it 7 or 8 times now and it works great. Comes with a bunch of rod for all types of plastics. Quite a few youtube videos showing the thing in action.

Added bonus, its USA made.

urethane supply mini 7 what I have none better unless you whant to go pro then the price goes up and up

What they said. I have the 5600HT welder. Handy thing to have.