Author Topic: Plastic welding advice.  (Read 5775 times)

Offline LowlifeDubber

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Plastic welding advice.
« on: 03 February 2011, 21:04 »
Ayup.
Im just about to embark on my 1st stint at plastic welding.Cutting a MK4 Golf recess into a MK3 Golf rear bumper.
I was looking at different plastic welders on fleabay and then a mate said he had a basic one.


I think this will be alright for tacking it up but not for doing a proper job.
Ive seen these on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1080W-Plastic-Welding-Welder-Hot-Air-Gun-/170595883731?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item27b84e9ad3

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1500W-Plastic-Hot-Air-Welder-Fast-Welding-Kit-Sp-Heater-/190497850109?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2c5a8e82fd

Or am i better off getting a hot air gun and buying a speed welding nozzle seperate?


Also, is there anything i need to take into account before i start welding(like what type of rods i need?Do i need to clean the prepped area with a solvent 1st?

Any help would be great.
Thanks

Offline thai-wronghorse

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #1 on: 03 February 2011, 22:14 »
BUMP - Id like to know some more about plastic welding as well.

Offline MrAnderson93

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #2 on: 04 February 2011, 00:12 »
ive plastic welded my bumpers, i used a bog standard soldering iron  :drool:

i smoothed the front bumper, i used blanks cut from a spare rear bumper and i made my own rods from the rear bumper lol (hopefully you have a complete mk4 golf bumper to make your welding rods from)

its pretty simple, just make sure the reccess piece is about 3mm widert than the hole on the mk3 bumper,then you can use that excess plastic to weld and melt into the mk3 bumper, use the rods then to add strength and fill in places.

after that simply smooth the plastic welds, fill prime and paint  :smiley:

ive even had a crash, bumper bent and the filler cracked but my welds stayed strong :P so you got no worries with strength

hope this helps

Offline LowlifeDubber

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #3 on: 04 February 2011, 07:19 »
Great stuff.Thanks for that.Will be tackling it today :)

Offline badboybunty

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #4 on: 18 February 2011, 16:43 »
try wurth re-plast as plastic welding aint much good anymore u only achieve 60% of origanal strengh but with re plast 90% and is strong as anything u can hang of the bumper and it wont snap

but is mighty expensive tho  :cry:

http://www.wurth.co.uk/catalogue/pdfs/UK-CD_05_0685.pdf

Offline thai-wronghorse

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Offline Tazzy

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #6 on: 19 February 2011, 11:39 »
just make sure you weld all the way along, not just tacks, both sides as well if possible, its time consuming but you know itll stay strong

a mate and icut his rear puma bumper in half and extended it 6 inches, as well as shortened the number plate recess by 8 inches, looked mint!
If It Comes Off, Modify It!

Offline LowlifeDubber

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #7 on: 03 March 2011, 22:01 »
Here we go,welded both sides,sanded down,refilled,sanded down,rewelded(repeat to boredom) :evil:

Then plastic filler and plastic primer agogo.










Offline tweed

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #8 on: 19 March 2011, 13:11 »
Good effort dude!!
but I think smooth mk3 boots look  :sick:
I want to plastic weld us spec rear valance to my bumper

Untitled by tweedub, on Flickr

Offline shepgti

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Re: Plastic welding advice.
« Reply #9 on: 19 March 2011, 15:17 »
nice work on that mate, how easy did you find the process?