New Toy - Hot Air Plastic Welder

[ksanders]

I just tried out a very cool new toy, a Hot air Plastic welder.

As a practice I welded two pieces of 1/4" starboard together.

I Cannot break them apart. Not a chance.

Besides welding Starboard, I can repair tanks, or anything made of thermoplastic.

What would you make or repair with a cool tool like this???

 

[bnoft]

Mayberepair seams on a fake teak deck (PVC)

 

[ksanders]

I have already thought battery box for my new Lithium batteries?

 

[Marco Flamingo]

You can also use it to weld Vinyl Coated Polyester (think DIY inflatable boat). Tricky but doable. That's how I fabricated my anti-roll bag (the seams of which failed after hundreds of hours under stress*). But for "normal projects" it works fine.

* The topic of a future post.

 

[SIBERNUT]

NOT cool
Where did you get it & price?

 

[slowgoesit]

Sibernut, I'm not sure where Kevin got his, but this is the cheapest on I was able to find on-line:

Master Proheat® Plastic Welding Kit

Find everything you need to fabricate and repair thermoplastics by choosing the Master Proheat plastic welding kit with tips, welding rods, welding shoe and much more today.

www.masterappliance.com

At $455.00 plus tax and shipping, I'll not be buying it anytime soon.
It definitely looks like a neat tool, but for me, at least until I have a specific need for one, it is a solution looking for a problem!

 

[SIBERNUT]

Yeah, found it online too. I have one use. But not for that price

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Type in "hot air welder" on Amazon. Mine was $80.

 

[ksanders]

Sibernut, I'm not sure where Kevin got his, but this is the cheapest on I was able to find on-line:

Master Proheat® Plastic Welding Kit

Find everything you need to fabricate and repair thermoplastics by choosing the Master Proheat plastic welding kit with tips, welding rods, welding shoe and much more today.

www.masterappliance.com

At $455.00 plus tax and shipping, I'll not be buying it anytime soon.
It definitely looks like a neat tool, but for me, at least until I have a specific need for one, it is a solution looking for a problem!

I bought mine from Mcmaster Carr for about that price, along with a roll of HDPE welding rod.

For me, it is a tool that is needed to finish out my hard top. After that I'll figure out uses for it.

 

[Bmarler]

I don’t do much automotive collision work any more, and the classic cars I restore don’t have them, but modern car bumper covers are repaired using this method. Most every auto body shop has a system like this.

 

[Larry M]

Very cool! With a leaking water or holding tank, this would sure beat the replacement cost particularly if you have access to the repair area.

 

[Mac2]

I bought mine from Mcmaster Carr for about that price, along with a roll of HDPE welding rod.

For me, it is a tool that is needed to finish out my hard top. After that I'll figure out uses for it.

Why black welding rod and not white for your hardtop?

 

[tiltrider1]

I have already thought battery box for my new Lithium batteries?

Your LFP batteries do not require a box, just a positive post guard.

 

[C lectric]

I have not used one in about 35 to 45 years but I built battery boxes, repaired this and that. However, like all welding projects, metal or plastic it takes some practice which I am sure all of us are aware.
They have come down in price from the 35 to 45 yr ago price of pushing over $1,000.
I used Nitrogen gas to get the best results. Air can be used successfully but not with the same results.

Protect your hands with GOOD heat resistant gloves. TH\he gas is heated to several hundreds of degrees and can burn in an instant if you are not protected.

Have fun, and I hope NOT lots of it to the point of annoying but enough to be interesting.

 

[ksanders]

Why black welding rod and not white for your hardtop?

I have white on the way, to be delivered on Monday. The black was a test, it came in the kit, so I thought why not give it a try?