Very informative. I have a plastic welder with the stainless mesh but the addition of steel wool seems a pretty good idea. Seeing the weaker methods was the most helpful though. thanks for this really.
7:26 would it be advantageous to orient the reinforcing wavy staples in the other direction so the wires cross the break line several times with each wavy staple? It would be interesting to see how the strength of the various welds compare with each other.
Would this type of plastic welding repair method applicable to round wood plastic handles - my laundry basket handles broke from the main body of the basket. How do I apply this fix method with a Round surface?? Please reply on this request for help, thanks to all DIYers out there
I just did a major repair using my heat gun, with the smallest nozzle, combined with helping the softened plastic to bond by using a flat screw driver to mix the plastics together. I don't need the extra strength, but I planed to install some home made wire pieces, bent like those commercial heated wires. After watching the video, I am going to use steel wool instead, just because it will be easier. For the last 40 years, I also used a Weller 280 Watt soldering gun, that has a flat pad attachment for welding plastic. I enjoyed watching the testing. It just confirms my experience.
OP's whole post is ingenious, a new use for a super-cheap box of staples? Never woulda thought of it in a hundred years! And everybody's had to throw out at least one cracked and broken plastic item, that still cost triple digits for its replacement! use this thing once it pays for itself. (But even if this kit cost $20, which it doesn't, it's not the type of thing that i'd buy ahead of time, like you do with a replacement fridge water filter or something. I'd wait til I needed this to buy it i think)
I've been using metal window screen for years for this plastic fix, happy to see that it's the strongest of the 4. It works, it's easy, and it's strangely satisfying melting the screen into the plastic. Plus you fixed your shit you thought you would have to throw away. One important thing: if you are adding plastic you need to use the same type of plastic, often I've removed some from a spot that's hidden or doesn't matter. Don't be afraid to try this fix, it's easy and fun. I have never even added steel wool, the screen is so strong it will never rebreak where you put the screen
Spot on. Stainless window screen is best. It is stronger than regular screen. Also if the regular screen should happen to get moisture on it, it will rust.
@keithschmidt5700 I'm using two seperate layers of the pet type screens. My "LittleGirl" will shred anything else if you give her enough attempt. Why she don't bother much with poly stuff, I've no idea. Hey, great comment! Thank you!!!
lol "fix yo shit" ...yeah I guess for a lot of it that is exactly what it is, cheap material yet costs a fortune to replace, but still brittle and breaks all the time anyway
I saw titles like this on many videos before and never clicked them because I thought they were just click baits and would never work. Until today I saw it posted by you, the guy I trust, and checked it out. I am glad I watched it and learned something useful. 👍
plastic welding is pretty cool & helpful in todays world where everythings made in a plastic box & lots of stuff even using structure-critical plastics! Great vid since alot of kits come with the staples & your steel wool + mesh hack works WAY BETTER. Crazy how the steel wool melts into the plastic basically fiber-reinforcing it similar to how they make fiberglass-reinforced plastics which are very high performance.
@@MarkTrades__haven't finished this vid but maybe check project farm vid on plastic welders... The welding kits don't really work well at all. The steel wool maybe better I don't know.
Tip on using the staples - while it's still hot, after you've pushed down to depth... give it a slight twist (like you're turning a bolt) then release the trigger. This kind of buries it under the virgin plastic. I do that when repairing bumper covers. And always use flush cutters to snip the ends off, then a tiny hit with a grinder to make the cut tips be under the surface before finishing.
@DrFiero, I twist exactly the same as you, but then I also carefully use my thumb to quickly squash the soft plastic back into the groove left by the staple before it hardens again.
I've got a very good supply of tools for plastic soldering. I find that marrying method #1 and method #4 is best. Staples first for deep penetration. Next, FLUSH cutters - not wire cutters - to remove the staple ends. You need a decent pair of those though as many aren't rated for the thicker steel in some plastic staples. Next, melt with plastic welding rods to add material when adding either steel wool or wire mesh. Lastly, more welding rod deposits to smooth out the surface. Sand and/or polish as required. Acetone on wet/dry sand paper can work, but you must work quickly and rinse well.
Great video, Sir! But... You forgot one of my favorite plastic repair methods- Using stainless steel automotive band clamps. Simply open one up and flatten it out then use it as a suture on the broken area. The laser cut micro grooves work well to enmesh the plastic together, it is incredibly strong and also rust proof. Additionally, it is perfectly smooth and flat for a nice finish. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Jeffrey Z. in SC
I don't know because I have never tested it for that. But, I have never had a repair fail using this method. For instance, I drive a classic car where the slide lock mechanism on the drivers side door broke in half and no glue could ever repair it. The plastic is less than an eighth of an inch thick and only 3/8" wide. It goes through a lot of stress for such a small part. I repaired it over 9 years ago- this is my daily driver and it has held up perfectly. Hope this helps. Take care. @@ItsVideos
Method #4 with the hot staples will be stronger if you turn the staples approximately 90 degrees from where you had it, so there will be multiple places where a single steel staple crosses the crack. You want it to zig-zag across the crack, not zig-zag on either side with one little wire crossing.
Yes, the squiggles should have been going back and forth across the seam of the crack, I like that staple the most out of the various shapes they had with my electric plastic welder.
@@username-mc7jwthe metal screening being on the surface of the original plastic is a big factor, as well. With the #0000 steel wool fused to both sides it's a laminated structure that places the metal layers in tension and compression when the weight is applied. The staples have no such advantage and need to resist bending loads, which the mesh never sees.
@@jadesluv Stainlees steel wool is widely available. It''s available in various corseness just like 'plain' steel wool. You can obviously find it online, but if you go to any HomeDepot et al., it's often sold in rolls for insulating and rodent deterrent. (Mice hate that stuff).
@@drizler Shrug. I can't think of a reason for this use-case. Tho, I suppose if one were to sand/polish the finish and it's something like a car body part, plain ol' ferror iron steel could be exposed and corrode/rust. Dunno.
Adding metal reminds me of fiberglass construction methods and certainly makes the most sense if strength is required. In saying that, depending on the application, the type of metal used might need to be taken into consideration if water ingress is a risk. Thanks for sharing. Cheers from OZ
I've never tried putting fiberglass in a plastic weld crack, but the better power tools are PA6, fiberglass reinforced nylon. I have added in some fiberglass to a epoxy patch.
Oh my gosh... what a coincidence that you posted this! It's snowy here in the Northeast, and my car fender cover got stuck on a chunk of ice and came loose. It was hanging by one screw as the plastic tabs broke. I'm getting the welding kit you recommended as I can think of many things to repair with it! Thanks for posting this very helpful video!
Thank you thank you thank you this is gold to me I do body work and been experimenting with the plastic welder but I never thought about adding steel wool it’s like fiberglass strands to body filler. It’s a game changer 💯💯💯
I started using steel wool a couple of months ago yours is the first video 2/2/24 that I seen someone else using it you did a great job in video thank you
I appreciate that you took the time to demonstrate and show …. The difference and possible best way to “weld” plastic together!! Good Job!!! I’m going to take the information you provided…. And repair my daughter’s headlight housing assembly!!! Thank you for helping dad look like the “bomb”!!!
Excellent video! Might also be a good idea to use stainless steel wool in case any fibers are not completely encapsulated in the plastic and rust won't work it's way into the patch. The included mesh in the kit is stainless. I bought one of welders in solution #4 for several repairs and didn't get a chance to use it yet. I'm bummed that it's past the return time limit, but at least I didn't waste my time with repairs that would fail. Thanks for the info.
Anybody that knows anything about body work knows that any form of expanded material like the combo steel wool and screen material always makes the strongest mating materials, just simple fillers like the plastic strips good idea for adding and smoothing to level but still not enough to create the ultimate bond between 2 broken or cracked pieces of materials,, but all in all kudoos to this gent for making the video editing is a pain in the backside, lol, good job on video and good job on the testing ! Very impressed and I'm not one to be easily impressed by shortcuts and wrong info, so good job keep it going and thanks
Love the steel wool technique. Avoid breathing those fumes. As other commenters said, it is important to use the same filler plastic for plastic welding. It is often possible to carve a small strip of plastic from a hidden edge of a broken piece to use for welding. A small block plane works well. I have found that using adhesives and solvent cements can be tricky if you can’t identify the exact plastic you’re working with. Keep up the good work!
I use a soldering /welding kit with the mesh. I haven't had one fail yet, but it was impressive to see how strong it can be. Hadn't thought of using steel wool for added reinforcement, so thanks for that tip. I've seen those wire welders you used for method 4, and I was wondering how strong they would be. I'll stick with the mesh.
The wire welder is so fast and easy to use in place. On the bench test with a flat surface you didn't see that advantage. It also works well to plunge into deeper materials. These tools and materials are cheap enough to have all available. Using the staples to quickly fix the material enough to easily use the stronger repairs would also work well.
Straight into the point 👍🏼 GREAT INFORMATION!!! 💯🔥 How many countless times have I wondered how to fix broken or snapped plastic... Now I know. Thank you so much 👍🏽☺️
Thank You For The Video! Good One. I Purchased 2 Of The 80 Watt Plastic Welder Kits Just Like The One You Have In The Video For Method Number 1 and 2 Last Month In June Along With 2 Extra Packages Of The 100 Plastic Welding Rod's. I Kept One For Myself and Gave The Other One To My Stepdad For Father's Day. I Have Yet To Use Mine Yet Due To My Health But I Have Several Piece's That Need To Be Welded. I Have Welded Plastic Before Using A Soldering Iron To Fix Things Like A Plastic Gas Tank On One Of My Riding Mowers. This Video Is Very Helpful and Demonstrative..
I've been dealing with constant plastic repairs of my center dash in my old International 9400i. More specifically, the 2 top pieces of the dash, against the windshield. The screw / bolt holes would constantly break apart and rattle. I've been using those "plastic cement" sticks, and so far they're holding. I'll try melting some steel wool instead next time one breaks. Thanks for the video.
Steel wool is a great idea. Wish i would have thought about it before. I have used pieces of a beer can that I drilled tiny holes into in place of the mesh before works great.
I definitely like method number one before I even knew the results. The method incorporates the most area coverage with reinforcement while not having to be prissy about it. Excellent video I learned a lot and glad you tested the various methods for us!
Absolutely ingenious! I can already imagine the big plastic parts that you could save with this simple kit. Especially on a car where there are all sorts of large plastic surfaces, in the interior, the plastic covers in the engine compartment, and the older the car gets the more brittle they become. For cosmetic plastic bits this method is probably perfect much of the time. (Esp when you price its replacement, and the cheap plastic part will either cost triple digits, or else it's not even made anymore...)
Thanks! I had already ordered a plastic welder (not stapler) when I actually saw they made plastic staplers. After your video I saw that a plastic welder with mesh is the best way to go. And if I need to "tack" something together I can STILL use it for staples as you showed us. Thanks!
Great video! I don't say that lightly. Great idea using steel wool for reinforcement. I never thought if that before but u definitely will be using it. THANKS!
I've used staples & a solder iron with cable ties for the plastic. Worked a treat on bumpers & other bits of trim. That mesh looks great for stuff needing more rigidity though. Noted. Good vid.
One your fine point#3 you push your top back down,one side first,keep your tip one track,not across. Then come back down with other hill and smooth out. Have been doing this for years now. Good video
Excellent video. I hadn't previously heard of doing the repairs with steel wool, so it was good to see. Without seeing the results, I had guessed which repairs would be the stronest. I will certainly be putting those methods into practice. Many thanks for doing the test.
I've always liked the super glue and baking soda method, after learning about, and using it. It's strong, sandable, and can be layered to build up for strength and contour sanding. Then paint or permanent marker afterwards...
Thanks for making this video. I had learned some different tricks like these from an "Old Timer" years ago. He didn't show me the steel wool. It's pretty cool and very practical. Thanks, man. I'll be checking out more of your videos.
While in the Philippines 40 years ago I watched an old man weld a broken plastic bucket using a empty tuna can to heat up plastic bread bag over a small hot fire. He heated up a metal hanger and made holes in the bucket then with a flexible wirer he laced up the holes. Then use the melted plastic bread bag over the laced up wire. And he found all these things at the garbage site. I thought Wow neat idea. Since then I have welded broken winter shovels, children toys, etc... Using what I had on hand.
Thanks for the tip about steel wool! You should mention any filler must be same type of plastic, and, those kits do not mention what type of plastic their filler rods are made from. Also, over heating or over-working the base material degrades it, making it weaker than it was originally. Letting the soldering iron with the spade tip get too hot can work against you.
Good points. You can only truly weld thermoplastics and once you see smoke it means the plastic is burning rather than melting which as you mentioned, degrades it and makes it brittle. Thermoset plastics simply don't melt but burn when heated. I usually try to heat with a hot air gun rather than a soldering tip unless the work is super intricate.
Wow great video I was trying to figure out Howard fix the trim in my 1990 Silverado pick up so old and brittle and I know probably break so I’m gonna take it out. Thanks much.❤
The testing afterwards is brilliant. Well proven method. I will use it on my scooter's plastic seat. It is cracked and with missing pieces in some places. I think the mesh and plastic rods can fix that.
I have repaired a lot of sportbike fairings using similar methods. I find cutting the reinforcing material into a diamond shape results in a longer lasting repair.
I broke my neighbors wheelbarrow. It just cracked all the way in the middle! 🤦🏻♀️ I apply casts for a living for broken bones and she was like “Hey do you think I could cast it?” I wasn’t sure but that’s what made me look for videos of how to fix cracked plastic. I watched many videos, yours is the only one that shows which method is strongest. I was so surprised they had kits so I got one. Doing the fix today. I used a soldering iron at first. It was working but I don’t know if it was too hot but it didn’t feel like I would be able to fix it with that. I’m super excited to use my plastic welding kit! I got the same one as you. 😂. I liked and subscribed, I even sent this video to my dad, he was really impressed that there’s a way to fix broken or cracked plastic.
You can use fiberglass casting material. Apply it like normal but with even more water for more exothermic reaction (inanimate object doesn't scream when it's too hot). Apply plastic epoxy over the cast after curing and smooth it all out
@@kingofallworlds eh plastic welding was much easier and faster to do. I didn’t need to get epoxy or anything. Works perfect and stronger than it ever was.
Wow, you learnt that on your own? Really helped Me know what to do now . I always had problems trying to fix broken plastic items. Thank you very much and may the Lord Jesus bless you for sharing your outstanding knowledge.
This was another great video, no messing about! The steel wool great idea! I don’t know why I didn’t think about adding a fiber component. Very similar to repairing boats. Have a more complicated fix, the steel wool & staples might just be the answer! Volvos & sailboats, always some kind of crazy fixes needed. Thanks again!
@@joescheller6680 With the $20 plastic welder with staples it's easy to make a strong repair in place very quickly. A nice tool along with epoxies and and superglue with accelerator. The screen and wool will definitely make a very strong repair.
Thank you for this I've been doing a few plastic welds myself and restoring the car and i have used method two method 3 not method four but I suggest that before you do it add a little bit of super glue to the seam of the break or crack. And mostly, use method one as YES it does hold up better, but be ready, the rest is soon to follow!😵 Old cars have brittle plastics so i tend to use epoxy and steel mesh to reinforce parts that do this including the first method! I thank you for the info as i was wondering if anyone else has done it like this too. Great video!👍
This is the best one of the half dozen at least vids I’ve watched on plastic welding. Well done. I have my older motorcycle (1984 Suzuki) stored in the basement and someone decided to put something very heavy up against the fairing on the bike. This snapped off the old style plastic turn signal stalk. I have found certain glue products that work okay on this non load bearing part but I want it to be as sturdy as I can get it. I have an old school soldering tool that pretty much resembles the first one you used but with just a small flat tip about half the size if the triangular tip you used. I like the steel wool and the mesh addition but for in your case on the first technique I would have probably used a slightly larger piece of the mesh to about 2 inches on either side of the crack as well as around the end of the crack to the other side as well. This is most likely overkill but I believe that would have given you even more strength. Mind you the smaller you can keep the repair the better if it’s a visible part so you’d spend double the time on the repair to also make it look good.
Thanks for this video, it is well done and very informative. I do think it is important to say that these methods will only work with thermoplastics. Fortunately, most of the plastics we encounter in daily life are of this kind. Perhaps it would be worth mentioning this and showing a simple test?
Good video thanks. The tests are a maximum bending strength (bending moment) test and I wonder which method would prove to be the best in a pulling (tensile) strength test.
I like how you laid everything out and then you tested it I didn't even know that you could fix stuff that way I'm going to go buy a bunch of the equipment and start fixing plastic that's not broke once I get all these tools they will be though just so I can fix them
I Love your choice of Content and recently subscribed to your Channel which I don’t do very often. RUclips is such and amazing Platform for Learning, sharing and growing and I am tremendously grateful to be alive during this Age of the Interwebs. Your Videos are Clear, Concise, thorough, innovative, and Provide really Helpful tips, tricks, and Ideas. I appreciate the Work you are doing and look forward to learning more from Your Channel. Keep up the Great work and take care of that cute little guard doggy. Lol Thank You
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Very informative. I have a plastic welder with the stainless mesh but the addition of steel wool seems a pretty good idea. Seeing the weaker methods was the most helpful though. thanks for this really.
7:26 would it be advantageous to orient the reinforcing wavy staples in the other direction so the wires cross the break line several times with each wavy staple?
It would be interesting to see how the strength of the various welds compare with each other.
Would this type of plastic welding repair method applicable to round wood plastic handles - my laundry basket handles broke from the main body of the basket. How do I apply this fix method with a Round surface?? Please reply on this request for help, thanks to all DIYers out there
Correction it’s not wood but plastic - typo my mistake thanks
@@fchuatantry the steel wool alone on the top and the bottom?
Right to the point. Clear instruction. No bull talk…straight to the fix. Much appreciate you sharing. Thank you.
Ditto, now subscribed 👍
Great Video, No clickbaiting, no BS, straight to the point, informative, evaluating, Top Class!
100% All too rare.
I just did a major repair using my heat gun, with the smallest nozzle, combined with helping the softened plastic to bond by using a flat screw driver to mix the plastics together. I don't need the extra strength, but I planed to install some home made wire pieces, bent like those commercial heated wires. After watching the video, I am going to use steel wool instead, just because it will be easier.
For the last 40 years, I also used a Weller 280 Watt soldering gun, that has a flat pad attachment for welding plastic. I enjoyed watching the testing. It just confirms my experience.
OP's whole post is ingenious, a new use for a super-cheap box of staples? Never woulda thought of it in a hundred years! And everybody's had to throw out at least one cracked and broken plastic item, that still cost triple digits for its replacement! use this thing once it pays for itself.
(But even if this kit cost $20, which it doesn't, it's not the type of thing that i'd buy ahead of time, like you do with a replacement fridge water filter or something. I'd wait til I needed this to buy it i think)
I've been using metal window screen for years for this plastic fix, happy to see that it's the strongest of the 4. It works, it's easy, and it's strangely satisfying melting the screen into the plastic. Plus you fixed your shit you thought you would have to throw away. One important thing: if you are adding plastic you need to use the same type of plastic, often I've removed some from a spot that's hidden or doesn't matter. Don't be afraid to try this fix, it's easy and fun. I have never even added steel wool, the screen is so strong it will never rebreak where you put the screen
Spot on.
Stainless window screen is best. It is stronger than regular screen. Also if the regular screen should happen to get moisture on it, it will rust.
Stainless steel window screen. Thanks for that tip 👍@@keithschmidt5700
@keithschmidt5700 I'm using two seperate layers of the pet type screens. My "LittleGirl" will shred anything else if you give her enough attempt. Why she don't bother much with poly stuff, I've no idea. Hey, great comment! Thank you!!!
You just gave me an idea. I'll just buy a 2 dollar stainless steel fine seive/strainer from the dollar store and cut it up... thanks!
lol "fix yo shit" ...yeah I guess for a lot of it that is exactly what it is, cheap material yet costs a fortune to replace, but still brittle and breaks all the time anyway
I appreciate your method of testing the strength of each method so we know what works best. Great video
I’m glad I could be of help! Thank you! 🙏🏽😊
I saw titles like this on many videos before and never clicked them because I thought they were just click baits and would never work. Until today I saw it posted by you, the guy I trust, and checked it out. I am glad I watched it and learned something useful. 👍
Thank you so much for the love and support my friend! It really means a lot! 🙏🏽😊🥰
plastic welding is pretty cool & helpful in todays world where everythings made in a plastic box & lots of stuff even using structure-critical plastics! Great vid since alot of kits come with the staples & your steel wool + mesh hack works WAY BETTER. Crazy how the steel wool melts into the plastic basically fiber-reinforcing it similar to how they make fiberglass-reinforced plastics which are very high performance.
@@MarkTrades__haven't finished this vid but maybe check project farm vid on plastic welders... The welding kits don't really work well at all. The steel wool maybe better I don't know.
this will come in handy in my area with frozen plastic breaking (frustrating) but this will fix that. thanks for the video my friend 😊
It kinda is. It'd be nice to know what material he was gluing together.
Tip on using the staples - while it's still hot, after you've pushed down to depth... give it a slight twist (like you're turning a bolt) then release the trigger. This kind of buries it under the virgin plastic. I do that when repairing bumper covers.
And always use flush cutters to snip the ends off, then a tiny hit with a grinder to make the cut tips be under the surface before finishing.
Thank you so much for the advice! 👍🏽🙏🏽😊
@DrFiero, I twist exactly the same as you, but then I also carefully use my thumb to quickly squash the soft plastic back into the groove left by the staple before it hardens again.
@@Gambo916 - do you shout afterwards? It's always a good idea... to twist & shout. 🤣
@@DrFieroOnly if it's too hot and I burn myself...🤣
Yep. Works great with a twist at the end.
I've used Staples on my car's dash without the steel wool and it came out great. Love this video
That sounds like an amazingly cheap repair but - how do you make it look like new plastic again? If you even can?
I've got a very good supply of tools for plastic soldering. I find that marrying method #1 and method #4 is best. Staples first for deep penetration. Next, FLUSH cutters - not wire cutters - to remove the staple ends. You need a decent pair of those though as many aren't rated for the thicker steel in some plastic staples. Next, melt with plastic welding rods to add material when adding either steel wool or wire mesh. Lastly, more welding rod deposits to smooth out the surface. Sand and/or polish as required. Acetone on wet/dry sand paper can work, but you must work quickly and rinse well.
repair 100xstronger then original
Great video, Sir! But... You forgot one of my favorite plastic repair methods- Using stainless steel automotive band clamps.
Simply open one up and flatten it out then use it as a suture on the broken area. The laser cut micro grooves work well to enmesh the plastic together, it is incredibly strong and also rust proof. Additionally, it is perfectly smooth and flat for a nice finish. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Jeffrey Z. in SC
It is exactly what you see happening in this video. You just use stainless steel, flattened band clamps instead. @@ItsVideos
@@PulseCodeModulate But will it support 52.5 lbs or more?
I don't know because I have never tested it for that. But, I have never had a repair fail using this method. For instance, I drive a classic car where the slide lock mechanism on the drivers side door broke in half and no glue could ever repair it. The plastic is less than an eighth of an inch thick and only 3/8" wide. It goes through a lot of stress for such a small part. I repaired it over 9 years ago- this is my daily driver and it has held up perfectly. Hope this helps. Take care. @@ItsVideos
I'm gonna go out in my garage find something to break, just so I can try that! I already have the clamps and the welder. tons of fun! I can't wait! 😂
Do you melt plastic rods to cover the top side of the metal band?
Method #4 with the hot staples will be stronger if you turn the staples approximately 90 degrees from where you had it, so there will be multiple places where a single steel staple crosses the crack. You want it to zig-zag across the crack, not zig-zag on either side with one little wire crossing.
Exactly... This method has been used for a long time to repair plastic bumper guards and other body panels on cars.
Would be an interesting comparison.
Yes, the squiggles should have been going back and forth across the seam of the crack,
I like that staple the most out of the various shapes they had with my electric plastic welder.
I disagree! Metal screen is the equivalent of dozens, if not hundreds of staples! No way staples would be stronger!
@@username-mc7jwthe metal screening being on the surface of the original plastic is a big factor, as well. With the #0000 steel wool fused to both sides it's a laminated structure that places the metal layers in tension and compression when the weight is applied. The staples have no such advantage and need to resist bending loads, which the mesh never sees.
That's a brilliant trick using steel wool for plastic welding. Thank you !
Yes, steel wool method held very well, only must find a source for stainless steel wool.
@@jadesluvwhy would it have to be stainless? It’s buried so it’s not going to deteriorate if you used cheap steel wool
@@jadesluv Stainlees steel wool is widely available. It''s available in various corseness just like 'plain' steel wool.
You can obviously find it online, but if you go to any HomeDepot et al., it's often sold in rolls for insulating and rodent deterrent.
(Mice hate that stuff).
@@drizler Shrug. I can't think of a reason for this use-case. Tho, I suppose if one were to sand/polish the finish and it's something like a car body part, plain ol' ferror iron steel could be exposed and corrode/rust. Dunno.
zip ties melt nicely as fillers doing this
Adding metal reminds me of fiberglass construction methods and certainly makes the most sense if strength is required. In saying that, depending on the application, the type of metal used might need to be taken into consideration if water ingress is a risk. Thanks for sharing. Cheers from OZ
I've never tried putting fiberglass in a plastic weld crack, but the better power tools are PA6, fiberglass reinforced nylon. I have added in some fiberglass to a epoxy patch.
Oh my gosh... what a coincidence that you posted this! It's snowy here in the Northeast, and my car fender cover got stuck on a chunk of ice and came loose. It was hanging by one screw as the plastic tabs broke. I'm getting the welding kit you recommended as I can think of many things to repair with it! Thanks for posting this very helpful video!
I'm going to start plastic welding today. And i'm definitely gonna go with method number one thank you for the video
Thank you thank you thank you this is gold to me I do body work and been experimenting with the plastic welder but I never thought about adding steel wool it’s like fiberglass strands to body filler. It’s a game changer 💯💯💯
I started using steel wool a couple of months ago yours is the first video 2/2/24 that I seen someone else using it you did a great job in video thank you
Best plastic welding instruction video I've seen!
OP sure does make it look easy I must admit, heck it almost makes you want to break stuff on purpose just so you can repair it lol
Ive used the staples method and the just melting together method and the filler method. Never even thought about using steel wool, great idea thanks.
I appreciate that you took the time to demonstrate and show …. The difference and possible best way to “weld” plastic together!!
Good Job!!!
I’m going to take the information you provided…. And repair my daughter’s headlight housing assembly!!!
Thank you for helping dad look like the “bomb”!!!
This is valuable info and I appreciate your sharing your different results.
I’m glad I could be of help! 🙏🏽😊
Best video on plastic welding because you explain well, try different types and then weight test them! Thank you
Excellent video! Might also be a good idea to use stainless steel wool in case any fibers are not completely encapsulated in the plastic and rust won't work it's way into the patch. The included mesh in the kit is stainless. I bought one of welders in solution #4 for several repairs and didn't get a chance to use it yet. I'm bummed that it's past the return time limit, but at least I didn't waste my time with repairs that would fail. Thanks for the info.
Well lots of times you just need the plastic to go back together. Every plastic repair you will do doesn’t need to hold 50 lbs 😆
Anybody that knows anything about body work knows that any form of expanded material like the combo steel wool and screen material always makes the strongest mating materials, just simple fillers like the plastic strips good idea for adding and smoothing to level but still not enough to create the ultimate bond between 2 broken or cracked pieces of materials,, but all in all kudoos to this gent for making the video editing is a pain in the backside, lol, good job on video and good job on the testing ! Very impressed and I'm not one to be easily impressed by shortcuts and wrong info, so good job keep it going and thanks
Love the steel wool technique. Avoid breathing those fumes. As other commenters said, it is important to use the same filler plastic for plastic welding. It is often possible to carve a small strip of plastic from a hidden edge of a broken piece to use for welding. A small block plane works well. I have found that using adhesives and solvent cements can be tricky if you can’t identify the exact plastic you’re working with. Keep up the good work!
I use a soldering /welding kit with the mesh. I haven't had one fail yet, but it was impressive to see how strong it can be. Hadn't thought of using steel wool for added reinforcement, so thanks for that tip.
I've seen those wire welders you used for method 4, and I was wondering how strong they would be. I'll stick with the mesh.
Which kit did you use?
@@chriscadman5715 The Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight. Pretty sure any from Amazon would work too, as they're pretty much all the same.
The wire welder is so fast and easy to use in place. On the bench test with a flat surface you didn't see that advantage. It also works well to plunge into deeper materials. These tools and materials are cheap enough to have all available. Using the staples to quickly fix the material enough to easily use the stronger repairs would also work well.
Repaired a broken round plastic table with your last plastic repair kit and has worked great so far ! But I do like your 1st & 2nd repair method.
Straight into the point 👍🏼
GREAT INFORMATION!!! 💯🔥
How many countless times have I wondered how to fix broken or snapped plastic... Now I know. Thank you so much 👍🏽☺️
Great video. I suggest doing this in a well ventilated area and avoid breathing in the fumes from the melting plastic.
That's what I came here to say. Melting plastic is very carcinogenic! Do it outside with a fan blowing on you.
You want to live forever?!
Most plastics begin to break down around 400F. The fumes are very nasty. You definitely want a fan blowing.
I have a busted 700l water tank i want to use as a filter for my large fish ponds. Going for the steel wool and mesh. ❤
Thank You For The Video!
Good One.
I Purchased 2 Of The 80 Watt Plastic Welder Kits Just Like The One You Have In The Video For Method Number 1 and 2 Last Month In June Along With 2 Extra Packages Of The 100 Plastic Welding Rod's. I Kept One For Myself and Gave The Other One To My Stepdad For Father's Day. I Have Yet To Use Mine Yet Due To My Health But I Have Several Piece's That Need To Be Welded. I Have Welded Plastic Before Using A Soldering Iron To Fix Things Like A Plastic Gas Tank On One Of My Riding Mowers. This Video Is Very Helpful and Demonstrative..
dumbbell test was insane! love the video!
I was able to bond a plastic part just with the steel wool, thanks!!!!
I've been dealing with constant plastic repairs of my center dash in my old International 9400i. More specifically, the 2 top pieces of the dash, against the windshield. The screw / bolt holes would constantly break apart and rattle. I've been using those "plastic cement" sticks, and so far they're holding. I'll try melting some steel wool instead next time one breaks. Thanks for the video.
Steel wool is a great idea. Wish i would have thought about it before. I have used pieces of a beer can that I drilled tiny holes into in place of the mesh before works great.
I definitely like method number one before I even knew the results.
The method incorporates the most area coverage with reinforcement while not having to be prissy about it.
Excellent video I learned a lot and glad you tested the various methods for us!
Good advice! I never thought of the steel wool. Thanks again and Have A great Day Today my friend!
After many failed repairs, found your video and it was perfect! Thank you!
Absolutely ingenious! I can already imagine the big plastic parts that you could save with this simple kit. Especially on a car where there are all sorts of large plastic surfaces, in the interior, the plastic covers in the engine compartment, and the older the car gets the more brittle they become. For cosmetic plastic bits this method is probably perfect much of the time. (Esp when you price its replacement, and the cheap plastic part will either cost triple digits, or else it's not even made anymore...)
Thanks! I had already ordered a plastic welder (not stapler) when I actually saw they made plastic staplers. After your video I saw that a plastic welder with mesh is the best way to go. And if I need to "tack" something together I can STILL use it for staples as you showed us. Thanks!
That’s crazy smart, the steel wool is super clever.
Seriously! Its like DIY fiberglass-reinforced nylon haha
Great video! I don't say that lightly. Great idea using steel wool for reinforcement. I never thought if that before but u definitely will be using it. THANKS!
I've used staples & a solder iron with cable ties for the plastic. Worked a treat on bumpers & other bits of trim. That mesh looks great for stuff needing more rigidity though. Noted. Good vid.
Good Stuff!! Steel wool is a very interesting idea!! My wheelbarrow is gonna get method one!!
One your fine point#3 you push your top back down,one side first,keep your tip one track,not across. Then come back down with other hill and smooth out. Have been doing this for years now. Good video
Excellent video. I hadn't previously heard of doing the repairs with steel wool, so it was good to see. Without seeing the results, I had guessed which repairs would be the stronest. I will certainly be putting those methods into practice. Many thanks for doing the test.
You did a legitimately outstanding job on this video dude, thank you!
You, by far, put out some of the most interesting and informative vids on YT!!
Good job Family, thank you for sharing. PEACE and God bless.
Excellent video. Thank you for showing us what is the strongest weld. Now, we can just duplicate what we saw and fix our cracked or broken plastic! ❤
Awesome breakdown of the processes and results, thanks a lot!
Very helpful! Thank you! I'll be using the steel wool for sure now which i didn't know until now.
I've always liked the super glue and baking soda method, after learning about, and using it. It's strong, sandable, and can be layered to build up for strength and contour sanding. Then paint or permanent marker afterwards...
Glad you did the TEST!!!! Man, that shows how well that method works!!!!!!!!!!! MANY THANKS!!!!
Thanks for making this video. I had learned some different tricks like these from an "Old Timer" years ago. He didn't show me the steel wool. It's pretty cool and very practical. Thanks, man. I'll be checking out more of your videos.
Nice job showing various methods and their results. Thanks.
While in the Philippines 40 years ago I watched an old man weld a broken plastic bucket using a empty tuna can to heat up plastic bread bag over a small hot fire. He heated up a metal hanger and made holes in the bucket then with a flexible wirer he laced up the holes. Then use the melted plastic bread bag over the laced up wire. And he found all these things at the garbage site. I thought Wow neat idea. Since then I have welded broken winter shovels, children toys, etc... Using what I had on hand.
First time here after watching a few videos dealing with this topic. This one's the best! Thanks!
Thank you sir. I would use the first two methods.
Great finishing video to give me the best method for my cracked bumper repair, going the mesh + steel wool method; thanks!
Thanks for the tip about steel wool!
You should mention any filler must be same type of plastic, and, those kits do not mention what type of plastic their filler rods are made from.
Also, over heating or over-working the base material degrades it, making it weaker than it was originally. Letting the soldering iron with the spade tip get too hot can work against you.
Good points. You can only truly weld thermoplastics and once you see smoke it means the plastic is burning rather than melting which as you mentioned, degrades it and makes it brittle. Thermoset plastics simply don't melt but burn when heated.
I usually try to heat with a hot air gun rather than a soldering tip unless the work is super intricate.
Im here to weld cracks on an RV a/c cover. Great video, thanks!
Thank you soo much! Happy welding!
Wow great video I was trying to figure out Howard fix the trim in my 1990 Silverado pick up so old and brittle and I know probably break so I’m gonna take it out. Thanks much.❤
The testing afterwards is brilliant. Well proven method.
I will use it on my scooter's plastic seat. It is cracked and with missing pieces in some places. I think the mesh and plastic rods can fix that.
I have repaired a lot of sportbike fairings using similar methods. I find cutting the reinforcing material into a diamond shape results in a longer lasting repair.
I broke my neighbors wheelbarrow. It just cracked all the way in the middle! 🤦🏻♀️ I apply casts for a living for broken bones and she was like “Hey do you think I could cast it?” I wasn’t sure but that’s what made me look for videos of how to fix cracked plastic. I watched many videos, yours is the only one that shows which method is strongest. I was so surprised they had kits so I got one. Doing the fix today. I used a soldering iron at first. It was working but I don’t know if it was too hot but it didn’t feel like I would be able to fix it with that. I’m super excited to use my plastic welding kit! I got the same one as you. 😂. I liked and subscribed, I even sent this video to my dad, he was really impressed that there’s a way to fix broken or cracked plastic.
You can use fiberglass casting material. Apply it like normal but with even more water for more exothermic reaction (inanimate object doesn't scream when it's too hot). Apply plastic epoxy over the cast after curing and smooth it all out
@@kingofallworlds eh plastic welding was much easier and faster to do. I didn’t need to get epoxy or anything. Works perfect and stronger than it ever was.
Wow, you learnt that on your own? Really helped Me know what to do now . I always had problems trying to fix broken plastic items.
Thank you very much and may the Lord Jesus bless you for sharing your outstanding knowledge.
Awesome video and great delivery of information. Many thanks from Lismore NSW Australia
This was another great video, no messing about! The steel wool great idea! I don’t know why I didn’t think about adding a fiber component. Very similar to repairing boats. Have a more complicated fix, the steel wool & staples might just be the answer! Volvos & sailboats, always some kind of crazy fixes needed. Thanks again!
great job, the clear winner surprised me! thanks for taking the time & effort to produce this video!
I’ve always used JB weld to fix important plastic jobs but these methods offer some really good alternatives! Thank you 🙏🏼
JB weld is great it's one hundred percent when your done. Last forever
@@joescheller6680 With the $20 plastic welder with staples it's easy to make a strong repair in place very quickly. A nice tool along with epoxies and and superglue with accelerator. The screen and wool will definitely make a very strong repair.
Fantastic lesson. So useful with links. Thank you.
Thanks for making this short and sweet video, gonna order a kit and try the mesh method on a plastic luggage!
Thank you for this I've been doing a few plastic welds myself and restoring the car and i have used method two method 3 not method four but I suggest that before you do it add a little bit of super glue to the seam of the break or crack. And mostly, use method one as YES it does hold up better, but be ready, the rest is soon to follow!😵 Old cars have brittle plastics so i tend to use epoxy and steel mesh to reinforce parts that do this including the first method!
I thank you for the info as i was wondering if anyone else has done it like this too. Great video!👍
This is the best one of the half dozen at least vids I’ve watched on plastic welding. Well done. I have my older motorcycle (1984 Suzuki) stored in the basement and someone decided to put something very heavy up against the fairing on the bike. This snapped off the old style plastic turn signal stalk. I have found certain glue products that work okay on this non load bearing part but I want it to be as sturdy as I can get it. I have an old school soldering tool that pretty much resembles the first one you used but with just a small flat tip about half the size if the triangular tip you used. I like the steel wool and the mesh addition but for in your case on the first technique I would have probably used a slightly larger piece of the mesh to about 2 inches on either side of the crack as well as around the end of the crack to the other side as well. This is most likely overkill but I believe that would have given you even more strength. Mind you the smaller you can keep the repair the better if it’s a visible part so you’d spend double the time on the repair to also make it look good.
Great vid...I am restoring an old car and this will fit the bill for repairing plastic that has cracked...thanks!
Thank you so much! I’m glad I could be of help in restoring your car! 🙏🏽😊
Good video. It is better than several
others I have seen on this topic! Good job!
Wow, great method. That looks really strong.
Very good demo! I guessed from the beginning the 1st demo would win! Nice job! Keep up the good work!!
Thanks for posting this, well presented test and clear results.
I have used the steel wool and it works very well. Good comparison video👍
Good info, thanks for sharing. I need to repair some broken plastic on my car, so now I know which method to use.
Great demonstration to eye views on sight. Thanks a lot and do more....
Thanks for this video, it is well done and very informative. I do think it is important to say that these methods will only work with thermoplastics. Fortunately, most of the plastics we encounter in daily life are of this kind. Perhaps it would be worth mentioning this and showing a simple test?
That’s a good idea! I might test it out myself.👍
fantastic info. I've always been curious on how to fix plastics
Good video thanks.
The tests are a maximum bending strength (bending moment) test and I wonder which method would prove to be the best in a pulling (tensile) strength test.
Bravo & Thanks for these Cost & Time saving Tips
That is cool to know. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.
I like how you laid everything out and then you tested it I didn't even know that you could fix stuff that way I'm going to go buy a bunch of the equipment and start fixing plastic that's not broke once I get all these tools they will be though just so I can fix them
i’m going to get it to fix my Dyson vacuum that broke changing the belts. Thanks for your tips and advice 😊
Wow! Merci from Montreal Canada
Nice! I was gonna buy a weld kit and now I think a hot fired flat poker will work just as well with the mesh and steel wool. Thanks for the vid!
if you're doing it to a flat surface, a clothes iron with baking paper between the iron and wool would probably also work.
@@Fanta.... Cotton setting is approximately 400 degrees and what is used to adhere plastic edging to melamine boards.
Excellent comparison! Great video! Thank you
Great job, you just saved me money because I was considdering buying the Plastic Welder kit. Thanks
Very educational. Many thanks for taking the time to post this.
Thank you for the lesson man!
Steel wool and a solder pencil worked perfectly on the pulley cover of my snowblower.
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Your Videos are Clear, Concise, thorough, innovative, and Provide really Helpful tips, tricks, and Ideas.
I appreciate the Work you are doing and look forward to learning more from Your Channel. Keep up the Great work and take care of that cute little guard doggy. Lol
Thank You