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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Metalman on January 01, 2014, 12:00:56 PM

Title: Plastic Welding
Post by: Metalman on January 01, 2014, 12:00:56 PM

My wife got me a plastic welder for Christmas and I have been messing around on old seat bases with it.
 I have been trying a few different techniques. Does anyone know what type of plastic  Kawasaki used to make those bases?  I am thinking something like a polypropylene or TPO but I really can't be sure.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Plastic Welding
Post by: mswyka on January 01, 2014, 02:38:07 PM

I do not know for sure what the material is.  However since it is affected by some solvents I might guess something like a plasticized ABS.  We can rule out polyethylene and fiberglass. I also think that PVC is unlikely because of its combination of strength and flexibility.

Title: Re: Plastic Welding
Post by: ddub on January 04, 2014, 11:13:24 AM

Here is a good chart for identifying plastics.

http://www.urethanesupply.com/identify.php (http://www.urethanesupply.com/identify.php)

I have been doing a lot of work with plastic welding, so feel free to ask questions. 

Really polypropylene or TPO seems to work best with the polypropylene rod.  At least that has been my experience.

I have seen some plastics from that area though that seem to be best to use the uni-weld fiberflex rod.  If you grind it and it "smears" this may be the case.

Sorry I don't have first hand knowledge of the part you are asking about though.

Here is some playing around that I have been doing.

http://vintagesledpaint.com/polycarbonate_hot_airnitrogen_w.html (http://vintagesledpaint.com/polycarbonate_hot_airnitrogen_w.html)