borrowing tools and plastic welding

[SSolderitch]

OK, I borrowed a plastic welder 5 times and when I get a spare $200 I will buy one from Eastwood.

1. fix - modify a plastic battery tray to fit a Kobota tractor. custom priceless.
2. fix - the wheel well flaps from junkyard because U-nut tore out the material. new flaps $13ea, junkyard $5 pair
3. fix - flange on full wheel well liners had a crack. new $ 140? pr, junkyard $50.
4. fix - water softner salt tank. Sprung a leak with 3" crack. New tank (w/pump) is $414, used one is $100 if avib.
5. fix - hole in washer bottle from junkyard. new $53, junkyard $5

It is a speciality tool that you don't use often, but when you need it....will pay for itself, by not having to buy high dollar replacements pieces. It is a special soldering gun with variable temp. control, which is marked with the type of plastic material you are welding. The tip is shaped like a flat shoe and a well for the filler rod to be added. To use, clean and rough up the surface. Heat base plastic and then add filler rod and move gun slowly and add filler plastic until you see spill out under the shoe. With some pratice, you can make some smooth good looking seams.

The next fix I will do is for the screw bosses that hold the chassis to the plastic steam engine boiler in American Flyer train made 1946-1966. I think It will be better than my current epoxy/superglue method....