Craig Clayton
Platinum Member
I read a post about a NH loader that has new style plastic fenders and the owner is worried about installing tire chains ( get the picture ). I have a vehicle that was backed into a low ditch at - 30 F; the plastic did not bend very well, lets say it cracked for 2 feet. At $700.00, I was not replacing it.
I back welded the plastic fender using a 250 watt soldering gun with the flat cutting tip. If you know how to weld with gas the process makes more sence, it is just with electric heat. When a blacksmith welds it is only hammering together almost plastic state iron,it sticks not too bad.
Now back to the fender take the cutting tip and plunge it into the crack at
a spot where things look good and putty the two sides together.
Move say 6 inches and putty the next spot together.
Move every 6 inches until the fender is spotted together.
You now start infilling between the spots.
Of course you need some welding rod; that is what those reinforcement
ribs are for, same base material.
You putty and plunge from the back side, it is not pretty but almost orginal
in strength.
If you want to practice break one of those plastic tool cases that a new drill comes in that you do not need. If you can fix that you can fix a fender.
After that you can move to thinner plastic with a smaller tip soldering iron, yesterday I fixed a new solar light that had the very thin plastic globe broken. It will last until I refind it with the snow blower.
Craig Clayton
I back welded the plastic fender using a 250 watt soldering gun with the flat cutting tip. If you know how to weld with gas the process makes more sence, it is just with electric heat. When a blacksmith welds it is only hammering together almost plastic state iron,it sticks not too bad.
Now back to the fender take the cutting tip and plunge it into the crack at
a spot where things look good and putty the two sides together.
Move say 6 inches and putty the next spot together.
Move every 6 inches until the fender is spotted together.
You now start infilling between the spots.
Of course you need some welding rod; that is what those reinforcement
ribs are for, same base material.
You putty and plunge from the back side, it is not pretty but almost orginal
in strength.
If you want to practice break one of those plastic tool cases that a new drill comes in that you do not need. If you can fix that you can fix a fender.
After that you can move to thinner plastic with a smaller tip soldering iron, yesterday I fixed a new solar light that had the very thin plastic globe broken. It will last until I refind it with the snow blower.
Craig Clayton