Patching Plastic question.Can it be done?

I have a black polyethylene fuel cell that has a two inch round jagged hole in from a rock piercing through it.Is there a patching material out there that will fix this and hold up for any period of time...Upfront thanks

 

Local welder has a PLASTIC WELDER, serious. It is soldering iron on steroids, he has patched many poly tanks and cells.

 

they make plastic welders, dunno how well they work, as I have never used one
http://www.google.com/products/cata...mNHKeO2QTUqsnhDw&sa=***le&ved=0CAsQ8wIwATgA#p

 

I just checked it out....More than what a new tank would cost.Hoping there is some sort of epoxy patch type kit out there

 

I've welded a few plastic bits 'n bobs, it's not that hard. Just make sure you have the right tools.
You need a soldering iron, preferably a digital one, with a special nozzle. You feed the plastic (same type as the part you're repairing) thru this nozzle.

 

Maybe call around to some body shops and see if they have a plastic welder. I used to have one, and they were used for repairing fan shrouds damaged in collisions, as well as some bumper/reinforcement components. They worked pretty well, if you had practice. Kind of a hot air/soldering iron thing with platic rods to fill...good luck!

Eric

PS: Can't glue Polyethylene!

 

Check with the Mobile airbrush or paintless dent repair outfits. The airbrush guy that comes to the dealership I work at has one and it works great. Cheaper to pay someone than buying the welder yourself.

 

Right On. PolyEthylene off g***es as it breaks down due to UV and Oxygen exposure. This will cause any glue that you manage to make stick to it, eventually lift and peel off. Good Luck.

 

Buddy of mine used windshield urethane to patch his. ? Lippy