Welding plastic

[Kelbor]

Hi Ya'll,
I have my battered plastics off for winter cleaning/projects and was wondering what any of you know about plastic welding/repair (Um..cough.....Tom). I have been doing a bit of internet research but do not have any of the cool plastic welding tools or know how. My plastics are scuffed and cracked for the most part although I do have one small piece missing. Any suggestions, techniques or product advice would be more then appreciated. Thanks!

[TOM-CAT]

...I have my battered plastics off for winter cleaning/projects and was wondering what any of you know about plastic welding/repair (Um..cough.....Tom)...http://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/lol.gifYeah, I should be a pro by now. (Except I still need to fix the 6, for the second time http://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif )


I too looked into the plastic welding. But for this type of job the overhead, in regard to tools and learning curve, seemed excessive. I have found a new plastic bonder that seems to work well. In the past I have used plumber's ABS cement to fix ABS fairings. The new stuff (will check the name when I get home) says that it works on everything. Haven't tested it extensively but it has worked well so far.

Will write more about all this later.

As for any missing sections of plastic, your best bet is probably fiberglass backing with a bondo top finish. I don't really like bondo. Haven't ever used the stuff, but slightly dissagree with the concept of filling in gaps with a dense heavy putty. http://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/idunno.gif But will probably give you the best looking finish to the surface.

http://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/2cents.gif

Might try to do a little writeup on the R6 rebuild. If I ever get around to it. http://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/redface.gif

[roadrunner]

my dad got into this kind of thing and bought all the miscellaneous stuff that goes along with it. lots of different rods for the different kinds of plastic or whatever, certianly the heat source for the thing and yada yada yada.. ill see what the scoop is on all that stuff. what got him interested in it was i knocked a hole in my hurricane side and he thought that itd be a neat thing to learn. i fixed the thing with some red duct tape and that was the end of that. anyways... ill ask

[Alex9101]

I was looking for the info to fix my plastics too... that's what I found: http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9510_hand/index.html
Might try it some time soon... If you find something better let me know!

[Matt]

All you need is a drill, drill bit, and some zipties :yes: . That's always worked well for me at least haha.

[Kelbor]

All you need is a drill, drill bit, and some zipties :yes: . That's always worked well for me at least haha.Hahah. considered that route but I don't have anything 'hangin'. I basically have some rash/chips and a mounting hole that could use a fix. Its actually nothing that affects performance and I usually dont care about such ish but all you people and your anal-osity (ok....aka reverance for your bikes) has rubbed off on me a bit. I also would like to start thinking of my bike as being actually somewhat decent (I still have a f-it attitude about the bike cause she came to me somewhat molested with the physical and emotional scars). So, its time to doll her up a bit. I may go with the fiber glass option - seems the most basic for the cheapest.

So, any ideas about rebuilding the little mouting tab? Its the little cup thingy with the rubber thingy insert that attaches that one sticker board thing to the other thing with the engine.:rolleyes:

[Wheels]

Still holding several thousand miles later.
You can also melt or soften ABS plastics with acetone or MEK. You can also use a pistol grip soldering iron with whatever foot you need to melt ABS back together then use ground up ABS pipe softened with acetone to fill in and make tabs or other parts.
I as well am not a fan of bondo on much of anything except exterior wood trim or siding.
Good luck!