Plastic welder from soldering iron - GIF

[nova_robotics]

I used to do something similar (20 years ago) when we'd smash up our ATVs and dirt bikes. Hold the plastics together, and melt a trench along the crack between the two pieces. Then use the side of the soldering iron to push the plastic you just melted back into the trench. No rings or metal reinforcements. It works really well.

[mlochala]

I used to do something similar (20 years ago) when we'd smash up our ATVs and dirt bikes. Hold the plastics together, and melt a trench along the crack between the two pieces. Then use the side of the soldering iron to push the plastic you just melted back into the trench. No rings or metal reinforcements. It works really well.

Yep! I've always kept a separate soldering iron just for welding and repairing plastic. I always make a variety of different shaped tips to fit in the end for different jobs. But, like you said, the trench and refill method is my favorite and works really well.

One mistake people often make is using a different type of plastic to fill in the damaged area. One age old myth is that plastic zip ties can be used as sort of a rod filler for all plastic welding. Zip ties are not compatible with all other types of plastic. If you use them like is shown in some popular YouTube videos, they will just peel right back off after they cool down and harden back up.

You have to use the same type of plastic at all times. With that said, HDPE is the easiest of all plastics to work with.

[Ralphxyz]

Most Zip ties are nylon