4 ms·

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

by hoseja 4y ago

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.
- Configure0251 4y ago
  As a handy person, I'm curious about the idea of being able to repair plastics. Could you provide some more info? Are there different kinds of fiberglass cloth? Is it safe to handle? Where might I shop for such a product? Thank you.
  - nkurz 4y ago
    I'm dubious about the GP's suggestion to use epoxy and fiberglass on this. Epoxy usually doesn't bond well to polyethylene or polypropylene, especially if it's flexing: https://support.jamestowndistributors.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017713434-Can-I-use-epoxy-to-glue-polyethylene-and-polypropylene- https://support.jamestowndistributors.com/hc/en-us/articles/.... Are these laundry hampers made from something else? Answering your actual question, if you are on the US West Coast, TAP Plastics might be a good source if they are near you: https://www.tapplastics.com/departments/fiberglass https://www.tapplastics.com/departments/fiberglass. If you are elsewhere in the US, either TAP or https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/fiberglass-and-building-materials https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/fiberglass-and... online would be good places to start. If you are non-US, you'll need to provide more info and hopefully someone else can advise.
    - tyingq 4y ago
      Nothing sticks really well to polypropylene, unfortunately. But the fiberglass cloth lets you spread the adhesive out across a wider area. You can use whatever epoxy might work (somewhat) better with polypropylene with the same cloth.
    - jaclaz 4y ago
      Yes, fiberglass won't stick well to polypropilene. It is however possible to do this kind of repair with fiberglass if you drill a few holes just over and under the crack. The resin will get into the holes and keep the inner and outer fiberglass layers together, besides acting as a sort of nails transmitting the forces applied to the basket to the outer fiberglass layers. But unless you are familiar with fiberglass and have the materials from another project, it makes little sense, you can have the same result (with the same technique of drilling a few holes) using metal epoxy putty, the kind that you cut a piece from a stick and knead/mix in your hands.

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

by hoseja 4y ago

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

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.

Configure0251 4y ago
As a handy person, I'm curious about the idea of being able to repair plastics. Could you provide some more info? Are there different kinds of fiberglass cloth? Is it safe to handle? Where might I shop for such a product? Thank you.
- nkurz 4y ago
  I'm dubious about the GP's suggestion to use epoxy and fiberglass on this. Epoxy usually doesn't bond well to polyethylene or polypropylene, especially if it's flexing: https://support.jamestowndistributors.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017713434-Can-I-use-epoxy-to-glue-polyethylene-and-polypropylene- https://support.jamestowndistributors.com/hc/en-us/articles/.... Are these laundry hampers made from something else? Answering your actual question, if you are on the US West Coast, TAP Plastics might be a good source if they are near you: https://www.tapplastics.com/departments/fiberglass https://www.tapplastics.com/departments/fiberglass. If you are elsewhere in the US, either TAP or https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/fiberglass-and-building-materials https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/fiberglass-and... online would be good places to start. If you are non-US, you'll need to provide more info and hopefully someone else can advise.
  - tyingq 4y ago
    Nothing sticks really well to polypropylene, unfortunately. But the fiberglass cloth lets you spread the adhesive out across a wider area. You can use whatever epoxy might work (somewhat) better with polypropylene with the same cloth.
  - jaclaz 4y ago
    Yes, fiberglass won't stick well to polypropilene. It is however possible to do this kind of repair with fiberglass if you drill a few holes just over and under the crack. The resin will get into the holes and keep the inner and outer fiberglass layers together, besides acting as a sort of nails transmitting the forces applied to the basket to the outer fiberglass layers. But unless you are familiar with fiberglass and have the materials from another project, it makes little sense, you can have the same result (with the same technique of drilling a few holes) using metal epoxy putty, the kind that you cut a piece from a stick and knead/mix in your hands.