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Fri May 14, 2010 11:42 am

Has anybody bought this and if so how did it work out for you?
http://www.harborfreight.com/plastic-welding-kit-41592.html

Fri May 14, 2010 12:08 pm

I have not used the HF one, but have done plastic welding.
It is designed to join pieces of PVC, and that kind of stuff.
It is a large soldering iron with air blowing over it. All you get is some very hot air concentrated in a nozzle.
All it does is melt the plastic, and allows it to flow back together. You will also need filler rod, of the same material that you are trying to join.
PVC will need PVC rod. Plexiglass will need plexiglass rod, etc.

Fri May 14, 2010 5:01 pm

Been plastic welding on and off for 30+ years. The HF unit is cheap enough to try out and if it works, great! If not, oh well. I like and use a Leister portable unit, but there not cheap. What are you welding anyway?

Fri May 14, 2010 7:00 pm

Plastic can be welded!! Awesome!!!

Sat May 15, 2010 2:31 am

I have repaired many cracks in plastic tanks using a soldering iron and weed eater string. Just notch the cracks and melt the string into the notch using your soldering iron. Of course, soldering wire will become a PIA if you do not keep your iron clean.

Sat May 15, 2010 11:24 am

Good idea, I will remember that.

Mon May 17, 2010 12:38 pm

I noticed that the unit does not come with any tips and none came up when I searched. It's a lot harded to weld without the proper tips.

Mon May 17, 2010 1:45 pm

i work at a company named s&w plastics we sell a glue called weld on 16 that welds plastic together its like welding steel after it dries. thats what you should be using.

Mon May 17, 2010 1:47 pm

by the way we are in montclair, ca. [email protected] is my email if you have any questions.

Mon May 17, 2010 2:16 pm

Fish wrote: I noticed that the unit does not come with any tips and none came up when I searched. It's a lot harded to weld without the proper tips.

Looks like it comes with the one tip.

Mon May 17, 2010 5:27 pm

ovaldave50 wrote: i work at a company named s&w plastics we sell a glue called weld on 16 that welds plastic together its like welding steel after it dries. thats what you should be using.

Weld-on 16 is only for Acrylic and yes it's very strong when done properly. The bond is stronger than the material itself.
Plastic welding is for like polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC (which is very dangerous to breath the fumes when welding) and some rubbers. You can weld acrylic but it require a special welding rod and the weld is flexible afterwards.
Russ Wolfe wrote: Fish wrote: I noticed that the unit does not come with any tips and none came up when I searched. It's a lot harded to weld without the proper tips.

Looks like it comes with the one tip.

Some times called speed tips or speed welding. The tips are two tubes welded together. One side slides on the end of the gun. The tube on one side is where the welding rod goes and the tip allows the hot air to melt one side of the welding rod and the material being welded. The welding rod tube is sized and shaped for the rod being used. Plus there are tacking tips to use prior to welding.