78 Invader Belly Pan Plastic

[whitley1983]

Anyone know what type of plastic the belly pan is made out of?

[mswyka]

I don't know the exact polymer.  Plastic pipe solvents will soften and bond the belly pan material quite handily. 

[whitley1983]

Ok thanks, I'm taking it in to a plastic welding shop tomorrow and the guy I talked to was curious if I knew what type of plastic it was, I think they have a way of testing it but he was just curious if I knew.

[Interceptor398]

If your guy can identify it that would be fun to now.

[gixxer6]

I work in the plastics industry, there are a series of tests that can be done to determine the type of plastic, but it is quite involved... 

[whitley1983]

So I went by there today with it, and he shaved off a small piece lit it on fire, looked at the color of the flame, smelled the smoke, and watched to see if it dripped when lit and he's about 99% positive it's ABS. They are a plastic fabrication shop that makes custom tanks and even custom plastic boats specific for shallow Alaskan rivers and he was extremely knowledgeable about plastics, check them out here www.lifewaterengineering.com and the boats here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zinv5E9OpkI. He said ABS is not a weldable plastic but did have the specific glue on hand that he said I should use that's designed for ABS. I found some places on line that sell sheets of ABS so I can order pieces and start repairing it, unfortunately I don't have access to a spare belly pan or I'd just use that. Now it's just gonna take time and patience.

[whitley1983]

I guess if I take a piece and put it in some paint thinner and if it dissolves it's most likely ABS, speaking of that has anyone ever used that to make a paste to repair the bellypan plastic with?

[mswyka]

If  you search around a bit there are a couple of threads on patching belly pans.  Our only experience has been using PVC pipe solvent.