Welding Tips and Tricks

Last year, I bought a used 'PortaBote' that had a 10" crack in the plastic hull.
http://www.porta-bote.com/index.php

I purchased an inexpensive 'Hot Air Welder' from eBay to make the repair.
http://www.amonstar.com/eshop/plastic-w ... p-993.html
http://www.urethanesupply.com/_pdf/thebook.pdf

Here are a couple of videos that explain, how to use a plastic welder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVLBD-uHRgE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bos4lfOA3k

The hot air welder also works great for electronic surface mount component replacement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6ACO7iR0A

Now, that's a flash-back for me!

One of my jobs while in college was in a plastics plant--Mid-chain stuff. Vacuum forming and such. I've welded a lot of plastic, joining two-component moldings and the like.

Ever wonder how those acrylic bug-guards on truck hoods get that perfectly polished round edge? Done with a torch.... Hydrogen-oxygen, so there's no deposit of flame by-product. Only takes seconds to go all the way around, and you can't even see the damn flame!

Steve S

Never knew that about the bug guards but it makes sense. Whenever we make shelves out of acrylic, they always get their edges flamed to smooth them out and hide the saw tracks. It works really well.

For a quick repair, this idea seems to work. Not pretty, but it makes the part functional again.
http://www.superstreetonline.com/projec ... c_welding/