I recently learned / heard this tip on the 'woodworking' NG . . .after
cleaning the are {HDPE}, 'toast' it {LIGHTLY and CAREFULLY} with a torch,
scuff it, then use a good epoxy.

NOT having the chance to try this . . . YET . . . I can only pass it on.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"Bray Haven" wrote in message
...
hiya
Im a plastics engineer by trade and yes you are correct almost no glue
will
adhere to HDPE or PP (polypropolene) do you know which one it is ?

When I was an Old Town dealer they had a repair kit for their royalex
canoes
that adhered very well. Know of some that were patched 15 yrs ago & still
holding fine. They had color matched goo in there that stayed put after
you
prepped the area well with abrasive & solvent.
Greg Sefton

There is no reliable way to repair PE with glue, epoxy or otherwise.
The only way to repair it that will last is to melt it together. A
soldering iron may work on thin pieces but to get adequate penetration
in the kind of thickness I think we are talking here, you need more
heat. A heat gun with a funnel output or a plastic welding gun
(preferred) is needed.

Ron

I know that there is a such thing as poly welding. I believe it uses
ultra-sound, not heat. Not sure what kind of PE it can weld. Look in the
yellow pages for companies that make plastic tanks (welded, not molded) and
give'm a call. They may know just what to do...or not. Call.

Brian

"Ron Thornton" wrote in message
...
There is no reliable way to repair PE with glue, epoxy or otherwise.
The only way to repair it that will last is to melt it together. A
soldering iron may work on thin pieces but to get adequate penetration
in the kind of thickness I think we are talking here, you need more
heat. A heat gun with a funnel output or a plastic welding gun
(preferred) is needed.

Ron

Ultra sound is another way to heat the plastic. Not very practical for
the DIYer.

Ron

I know the poly welders at work are a special breed. I was suggesting
taking it to a shop to have fixed. Polyethylene is a bear to do anything
with because nothing glues to it very well. Can't speak about the 'torch
it' first technique, which means I can't say it works or not. Sounds
interesting if it needs to be a DYI job, or an adhesive caulk, maybe with a
patch? Either way, I was talking about having a shop do the welding...

Brian


"Ron Thornton" wrote in message
...
Ultra sound is another way to heat the plastic. Not very practical for
the DIYer.

Ron

"Brian D" wrote in message news:Igy5b.349237$uu5.69452@sccrnsc04...
I know the poly welders at work are a special breed. I was suggesting
taking it to a shop to have fixed. Polyethylene is a bear to do anything
with because nothing glues to it very well. Can't speak about the 'torch
it' first technique, which means I can't say it works or not. Sounds
interesting if it needs to be a DYI job, or an adhesive caulk, maybe with a
patch? Either way, I was talking about having a shop do the welding...

Brian


"Ron Thornton" wrote in message
...
Ultra sound is another way to heat the plastic. Not very practical for
the DIYer.

Ron


I think I'd give up on trying to weld the plastic yourself. PE needs
to be welded under inert gas.

-Kevin