Is it possible to get a plastic tank welded...
Plastic welding fuel tanks
15 posts · Started by Linga · 26 Apr 2012
Post 2 by kenscottphoto,
#2I don't know... pity you are in OZ, who knows how much shipping will be.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-KTM-Superd ... 5961wt_898
Not mine by the way.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-KTM-Superd ... 5961wt_898
Not mine by the way.
Post 3 by CADScott,
#3Seller quotes $96US shipping to Australia, not a bad price considering how much shipping stuff from the US to us here in OZ can cost!
Post 4 by jmann,
#4Some plastic, polypropline for one, can be welded using welding rod of the same material. Look for extra plastic on your tank you can cut off and melt over your repair. You can use a soldering gun to melt the plastic together. I hope the area you need to repair is small. I really hope you can source another usable tank instead of making a repair. One less thing to think about while on the track.
Post 5 by Jermo,
#5I guess it goes without saying that welding fuel tanks can be dangerous but I'll say it anyway just in case you've never heard
of anyone getting killed welding an empty fuel tank. I know you are not talking about naked flame BUT it would be a shame ...
Good luck.
of anyone getting killed welding an empty fuel tank. I know you are not talking about naked flame BUT it would be a shame ...
Good luck.
Post 6 by SDNerd,
#6Depends on the kind of plastic used. If it's a thermo-softener (getting soft and sticky when heated) it should be possible when using the same material as the tank is.
If it's a very thin crack you might be able to fix it with just an soldering device.
You might want to use something like explosafe on the inside to get an extra layer of fuel-proof lining.
If it's a very thin crack you might be able to fix it with just an soldering device.
You might want to use something like explosafe on the inside to get an extra layer of fuel-proof lining.
Post 7 by Linga,
#7To be safe flow compressed air thru the tank when adding heat.
Here is a true story from my youth. I had a gas leak on my Ford car gas tank. Small pin leak. My cousin lived next door and he said he could braze the hole. Fine. I remove the tank. I know it's the fumes in the tank that will light the sky. We lived in the sticks and had a well and cistern for water, and not much of it. I started to fill the tank with water to void the fumes. My cranky dad came outside wanting to know why the pump is running non-stop and to make it stop....his house / rules. Fumes....so the next best thing is snow but it was slow going getting snow into the small opening....then here come cousin draging his tanks thru the snow in a hurry.....looks good e-nuf for him..not me. He lights the torch and gets busy, me standing behind him for protection watching with glasses. Almost done and he gets it a little too hot and breaks thru the skin....we have iIgnition. It shot water and snow out the inlet for about 20 feet. My tank looked like a huge hot dog. Changed shorts and went to a wrecking yard and bought a used tank for $15 USD.
Here is a true story from my youth. I had a gas leak on my Ford car gas tank. Small pin leak. My cousin lived next door and he said he could braze the hole. Fine. I remove the tank. I know it's the fumes in the tank that will light the sky. We lived in the sticks and had a well and cistern for water, and not much of it. I started to fill the tank with water to void the fumes. My cranky dad came outside wanting to know why the pump is running non-stop and to make it stop....his house / rules. Fumes....so the next best thing is snow but it was slow going getting snow into the small opening....then here come cousin draging his tanks thru the snow in a hurry.....looks good e-nuf for him..not me. He lights the torch and gets busy, me standing behind him for protection watching with glasses. Almost done and he gets it a little too hot and breaks thru the skin....we have iIgnition. It shot water and snow out the inlet for about 20 feet. My tank looked like a huge hot dog. Changed shorts and went to a wrecking yard and bought a used tank for $15 USD.
Post 8 by larryf8,
#8The tank is polyamide ("Nylon") - see other threads on this. To heat weld it, it generally requires much higher heat than most plastics (and greater temperature settings than most conventional plastic welders can achieve) to accomplish properly. It can also be vibration welded, which offers greater strength, but that's a bit more exotic.
I'm sure there are vendors in Oz who can do the work - finding them may be a challenge. Just be sure to tell them that its A) a fuel tank and B) that its a polyamide.
I'm sure there are vendors in Oz who can do the work - finding them may be a challenge. Just be sure to tell them that its A) a fuel tank and B) that its a polyamide.
Post 9 by Linga,
#9Post missing
This post could not be recovered from the original forum.
Post 10 by SDNerd,
#10Post missing
This post could not be recovered from the original forum.
Post 11 by Linga,
#11I was told that nylon will not be a problem so I'm sure you could find a guy near you and save the hassle...
Although I do hear that JB weld is like duct tape... It fixes anything
Although I do hear that JB weld is like duct tape... It fixes anything
Post 12 by SDNerd,
#12Post missing
This post could not be recovered from the original forum.
Post 13 by larryf8,
#13Well... I definitely won't try it then, I've never used it, just heard of its virtues extolled on the interweb.
I'm a diver and for fixing things we have the holy trinity.
Cable ties.
Duct tape (cloth).
Sikaflex.
If we can't fix a one off multimillion dollar installation with these, then it's unfixable
Perhaps you could use a soldering iron to melt cable ties into the crack, then Sikaflex some duct tape over the top to really seal it in?
I'm a diver and for fixing things we have the holy trinity.
Cable ties.
Duct tape (cloth).
Sikaflex.
If we can't fix a one off multimillion dollar installation with these, then it's unfixable
Perhaps you could use a soldering iron to melt cable ties into the crack, then Sikaflex some duct tape over the top to really seal it in?
Post 14 by Mr_Trecolareco,
#14Post missing
This post could not be recovered from the original forum.
Post 15 by Linga,
#15appreciate the input guys...a quick search results in options of either getting a plastic welder and nylon rod (which would be ridiculously expensive for just one repair) or a glue called plastic surgery. http://www.itwconsumer.com/devcon-produ ... %20Glue-41
will try to acquire the glue and do a test patch first...desperate times-desperate measures
will try to acquire the glue and do a test patch first...desperate times-desperate measures
End of archived topic · Posting is closedBack to top ↑
← Back to Technical - Dr F's Words of Wisdom