Plastic welding!!!!!

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welp, i now have the wonderful reputation of being able to weld plastic too as a plumber, im familiar with butt-fusion, socket fusion, electro-fusion, etc. but i have the unfortunate experience of being trained in hot-air welding also.keep in mind, this is best left for welding on the table, and if everything goes well, you may be lucky enough to not have a leak. not for use on pressure pipe, but works ok for fabbing drainage fittings. . . . .not so good for in-ground repairs, but i have successfully done a few so now i have a reputation to uphold.this used to go to a clean-out that was obliterated by one of our operatorsand this is the outlet section of the wye that was also damagedpipe serves low-strength cip waste and is pvdf, so pvdf 1/4" sheet and filler wire were used. the plug was supposed to be a cap but i couldn't dig enough to get around the outside so i cut it down with a sawzall and welded inside. the other repair was cut and fit in place with some heavy boots.just another aspect of welding not all get to see. harbor freight makes a hot air kit that you adjust airflow for temp control, i have used that with okay results but the one i use now has its own electric, and constant air supply and actually has a temp dial for adjustment. i cant remember/ spell/ repeat the name because its made in Germanybosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Nice! I also do a bunch of plastic welding mostly on automobiles. I'm currently repairing a missing section on the front panel of a Hobart mig welder. It's not the same as welding metal, but I like messing with it. I've never seen it done on plumbing before, but that is a nice repair.
Reply:I've been curious about plastic welding for quite some time now...figure it would be a great add on to my existing welding business. What's the best starting point with respect to learning, equpment choices, yadda, yadda? All good, sound advice from the forum members is welcome. Thanks, in advance.If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!
Reply:its not real hard, just have to get your feed rate correct and watch start/stops. and filler wire of course.it looks too cold as your doing it, i remember trying to melt it all together when i first started learning and thats a no no. cant burn itbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmanjust another aspect of welding not all get to see. harbor freight makes a hot air kit that you adjust airflow for temp control, i have used that with okay results but the one i use now has its own electric, and constant air supply and actually has a temp dial for adjustment. i cant remember/ spell/ repeat the name because its made in Germany
Reply:i have no idea! i cant find it via google. i will let you guys know monday if i dont get called out today to do another. we have a real mess going on, plumbing was done and backfilled a month or so ago, but the block-guys, cranes, forklifts, and trucks that have been in since reaked havoc on our new acid waste pipe.id rather repair the new stuff than the old stuff again though. yesterday was a nightmarebosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:If you see any links or videos, I've tried to weld HDPE with the name brand (Sealy) version of the harbor freight welder and have never had luck.  I posted a thread earlier on it.
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbartIf you see any links or videos, I've tried to weld HDPE with the name brand (Sealy) version of the harbor freight welder and have never had luck.  I posted a thread earlier on it.
Reply:Yeah, I agree,I have seen fire truck tanks fabricated with hot air welders and rod. Mine was always charred, or too cold.
Reply:I also am interested in this plastic welding. A buddy of mine got into the plastic welding and did some nice work then passed away, never got to find out what machine he used or anything.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbartYeah, I agree,I have seen fire truck tanks fabricated with hot air welders and rod. Mine was always charred, or too cold.
Reply:I got a 10mm thick plastic (polietilene) tank made to fit under the trunk of my van (where the stock spare tire goes in the 2WD versions). I use it for showers. Totally custome made, with threaded pieces so I could put barbed fittings for the different in/out hoses and such. These guys usually make tanks for acids and such. I brought a 3D model (google sketchup) and a wooden model (real size) and they just nailed it. It surely looks cold when they put it together... but 2 years after, it is still in one piece!
Reply:There are a lot of companies welding car bumpers back together. Polyurethane, HDPE, etc. I welded friends Polyurethane bumper cover back together after a slight mishap and when painted looked good as new. Best welds are with nitrogen as the hot air gas, not compressed air. Compressed air does work and many welds can be strengthened by melting stainless steel mesh into the plastic and topping over with more plastic.
Reply:Most of my newer fire engines have HDPE fabricated tanks.  The new tenders 100% HDPE and look like automotive finished steel.  I know it can be done with a bond stronger than the base, I just haven't figured it out.
Reply:Originally Posted by Sputter FizzleThere are a lot of companies welding car bumpers back together. Polyurethane, HDPE, etc. I welded friends Polyurethane bumper cover back together after a slight mishap and when painted looked good as new. Best welds are with nitrogen as the hot air gas, not compressed air. Compressed air does work and many welds can be strengthened by melting stainless steel mesh into the plastic and topping over with more plastic.
Reply:Urethane Supply Company has all kinds of plastic welders and rod. I have a Mni Weld 6 and a hot air welder. I also have a welder for the plastic fabric. It takes a little time to get the hang of it and some things like PVC take a specific temperature so you don't burn it. Just use some extra material and practice on before you do your repair. Before long you will find it is not that hard. The hardest part is figuring out what king of plastic it is.
Reply:Originally Posted by kts532Urethane Supply Company has all kinds of plastic welders and rod. I have a Mni Weld 6 and a hot air welder. I also have a welder for the plastic fabric. It takes a little time to get the hang of it and some things like PVC take a specific temperature so you don't burn it. Just use some extra material and practice on before you do your repair. Before long you will find it is not that hard. The hardest part is figuring out what king of plastic it is.
Reply:You can never stop learning with all the stuff out there now. I decided to start welding plastics when my sister hit a bird with her Freightliner and a new grill was $1100. It did not break any of the chrome covered plastic. I ordered the welder and went to work. It took me two times to get it to hold.
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmanno kidding! so many materials, its just crazy. metal to me is going to be ms a36, ss304, or ss316, with an occasional al 6061. copper is copper, but plastic is crazy!pvc, cpvc, chem-resistant cpvc, abs, pe, hdpe, pvdf, pvfd, pb, the list goes on!i learned last  week the difference between cpvc and chem cpvc. . . . . .one don't like the other's glue. . . . .stupid plastic
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmanno kidding! so many materials, its just crazy. metal to me is going to be ms a36, ss304, or ss316, with an occasional al 6061. copper is copper, but plastic is crazy!pvc, cpvc, chem-resistant cpvc, abs, pe, hdpe, pvdf, pvfd, pb, the list goes on!i learned last  week the difference between cpvc and chem cpvc. . . . . .one don't like the other's glue. . . . .stupid plastic
Reply:found my machine!i use it with the optional blower so im not looking for compressed air when 10' underground! told ya it was German!http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=18qQkrwNijUbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:here are a couple more. this was a good day as it wasn't an in-ground repair, it was a fabrication on stands, just the way i like it!45 wye 8" on 10"i had a lot of fun making this! it is not very often i get to hand fab saddles. you can see my sectioning lines on the branch as i started by the book and a pipe-wrap, but the boss came over real quick and put a stop to that! too many formulas he says. . . . .guessing is faster he says. . . . . .bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin