3 ms·

If you want to prevent the crack from spreading, you can drill a larger hole at the end of the crack, like this: http://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploa

If you want to prevent the crack from spreading, you can drill a larger hole at the end of the crack, like this: http://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/7-93.jpg http://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/7-... Also, if you want to hold the crack together, you can drill holes either side and "stitch" it together with cable ties, like this: https://i2.wp.com/handycrowd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/trim-off-cable-ties-640x297.jpg?resize=640%2C297&ssl=1 https://i2.wp.com/handycrowd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/... May your inexpensive laundry basket continue to serve you for a long time!

pvillano 4y ago
"reduce, repair, reuse, recycle" Plastics are some of the most long-lasting materials. It's kind of insane that we treat them as disposable.
- dopidopHN 4y ago
  My mantra exactly. Plastic is such an exceptionally resistant material. And we decided to use it for the worst use case possible of “single, short use” I lived in places where plastic bag have been banned. You know what happened ? Nothing. Society did not crumble. People still carry things in bags. Be it paper bag and re-usable fabric bag. ( or even still plastic, but the strong-strong kind )
- Abishek_Muthian 4y ago
  Captain Planet thought me that when I was a kid and I had no idea about the environmental disaster we were heading into. Perhaps there should have been shows like that 60 years ago to make some impression on the people in power today around the world.
hoseja 4y ago
Couldn't he weld the, presumable, thermoplastic too?
- jaclaz 4y ago
  Usually it won't last much unless you weld it with some added material (that needs to be the same thermoplastic or it likely won't stick). What I found exceptional for this kind of small plastic repair is one of those welding guns that can hot-staple, originally a professional tool to repair plastic elements like bumpers in car body shops, they are now available cheap (from China, quality may vary), still makes no sense for just one repair, but it is an useful tool to have if you happen to do repairs often.
  - convolvatron 4y ago
    sometimes you can heat up some wire and push a couple pieces through the break. another approach I've had success with is using a little aluminum sheet over the break and pop rivets on both sides
  - moloch-hai 4y ago
    Adding material seems entirely permissible. A hot glue gun does nothing but, with usually admirable result.
    - _carbyau_ 4y ago
      Admirable result in function. Not necessarily in form. At least, not for me. I always make a mess with those things...
  - MisterBastahrd 4y ago
    There are tools specifically made to staple plastics together. The end user has to decide whether spending $20 on a tool to repair a $4 bin that costs $12 to replace is worth it or not.
- mhb 4y ago
  Maybe the old superglue and baking soda trick?
- tyingq 4y ago
  I've done quite a bit of plastic repair. For that particular crack, fiberglass cloth and epoxy, on both the inside and outside, would probably work best. It would flex better than other methods, and that spot probably sees a lot of flex when the basket is loaded.
bufordtwain 4y ago
Useful suggestions. I think that the crack allows the weight to go onto the corner of the basket instead of being concentrated on the little bump/foot. So it might be a self-limiting problem where no action is needed (for a long time anyway). It would be interesting if the OP would take no action and then report back in 10 years to see what happened.

pvillano 4y ago

"reduce, repair, reuse, recycle" Plastics are some of the most long-lasting materials. It's kind of insane that we treat them as disposable.

dopidopHN 4y ago
My mantra exactly. Plastic is such an exceptionally resistant material. And we decided to use it for the worst use case possible of “single, short use” I lived in places where plastic bag have been banned. You know what happened ? Nothing. Society did not crumble. People still carry things in bags. Be it paper bag and re-usable fabric bag. ( or even still plastic, but the strong-strong kind )
Abishek_Muthian 4y ago
Captain Planet thought me that when I was a kid and I had no idea about the environmental disaster we were heading into. Perhaps there should have been shows like that 60 years ago to make some impression on the people in power today around the world.

hoseja 4y ago

Couldn't he weld the, presumable, thermoplastic too?

jaclaz 4y ago
Usually it won't last much unless you weld it with some added material (that needs to be the same thermoplastic or it likely won't stick). What I found exceptional for this kind of small plastic repair is one of those welding guns that can hot-staple, originally a professional tool to repair plastic elements like bumpers in car body shops, they are now available cheap (from China, quality may vary), still makes no sense for just one repair, but it is an useful tool to have if you happen to do repairs often.
- convolvatron 4y ago
  sometimes you can heat up some wire and push a couple pieces through the break. another approach I've had success with is using a little aluminum sheet over the break and pop rivets on both sides
- moloch-hai 4y ago
  Adding material seems entirely permissible. A hot glue gun does nothing but, with usually admirable result.
  - _carbyau_ 4y ago
    Admirable result in function. Not necessarily in form. At least, not for me. I always make a mess with those things...
- MisterBastahrd 4y ago
  There are tools specifically made to staple plastics together. The end user has to decide whether spending $20 on a tool to repair a $4 bin that costs $12 to replace is worth it or not.
mhb 4y ago
Maybe the old superglue and baking soda trick?
tyingq 4y ago
I've done quite a bit of plastic repair. For that particular crack, fiberglass cloth and epoxy, on both the inside and outside, would probably work best. It would flex better than other methods, and that spot probably sees a lot of flex when the basket is loaded.

bufordtwain 4y ago

Useful suggestions. I think that the crack allows the weight to go onto the corner of the basket instead of being concentrated on the little bump/foot. So it might be a self-limiting problem where no action is needed (for a long time anyway). It would be interesting if the OP would take no action and then report back in 10 years to see what happened.