Plastic welding

[InfoRetrieval]

Checking over my "new" car I've found a substantial crack in the plastic wheel arch liner. (Looks like the mechanic who did it has tried to repair the damage by smoothing over with a soldering iron. Hasn't worked).

Has anyone here had experience of plastic welding? As its not going to be an externally visible repair I'm more concerned about making it strong than pretty.

I've already got a pair of hot air guns. I just need the correct nozzles and welding rods to get started. Can anyone recommend a supplier?

Thanks

[v46m4n]

weld it with a piece of plastic of the same material. i.e., find a piece you can trim from another part of the liner, or find another liner and cut a strip, just needs to be same type of plastic

[shogun001]

I normally use melted in zip ties with most of my repairs and they come up looking nice and strong. Have just done multiple cracks on a motorcycle fairing.

[Mr2Mike]

shogun001 said:

I normally use melted in zip ties with most of my repairs and they come up looking nice and strong. Have just done multiple cracks on a motorcycle fairing.

Looking strong and being strong is not the same thing! I have used zip ties for plastic welding, and if used with the wrong plastic the joint is very weak.

[Leathertech]

What about a soldering iron?

[peteO]

v46m4n said:

weld it with a piece of plastic of the same material. i.e., find a piece you can trim from another part of the liner, or find another liner and cut a strip, just needs to be same type of plastic

same as above.... can always stick a bit of metal gauze over the crack 1st too... just make sure you key the aready up 1st and try not to heat the arch up too much as it'll warp/bow