OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Idle Chatter Does anyone know how to fix this

I am thinking of sanding with heavy grade sandpaper on the inside and fibreglass. Plastic welding I dont know anything about.
I would really like to fix it as I dont expect to be able to get another.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks

i use my soldering iron to plastic weld. i 1st run it down the cracks to melt it inside then fold the melted plastic into it. you can also add plastics from another item to fill bigger cracks . practice on an old bucket or something 1st till you get the feel for it.
if you are not confident . hot glue works pretty well only not a colour match
i am also after one of those catchers

Cheers mate

There are actually tools called plastic welders.Which like a mig welder have hot plastic come out of it and it's fairly similar to a mig welder but for plastic.That would be the best way,but to whom and where you would find one or someone that does it I don't know.

I thought the idea of fibreglassing from the inside would strengthen the whole thing as it is pretty old and the sun has gotten to it

Fiberglass will have a big issue with sticking to the plastic.Also with plastic is has a certain amount it can flex without causing cracks.Fiberglass has no flex and would just fall straight off.That's why plastic welding would be the best fix.

Mmmmm. I was going to score the plastic with coarse sandpaper. I may practice on a bucket.
Another note the lady that wanted me to fix her mower I got it working and charged her 35 but she gave me 70 she was that happy.
Thanks again man

OK it is entirely up to you how you want to fix it and what kind of look you want at the end.I mean if it's only so it can be used just get some galvanized steel and rivet it on.That would work sorry I was looking at it more from a restores point of view and I'm not sure if that's how or what you were asking.I should have asked first.Cause a plate of steel would certainly work it would block the holes.If's that the case don't go scoring it with a soldering iron it's not really all that effective as you are really only covering the outside and it doesn't really penetrate that well.
It depends on what your doing and how you want it to look.

Try a heat gun and go slow ....I use the smallest nozzle and cut 1/4 inch strips of an old catcher flap to use as glue / "solder"/ filler material. Heat the catcher in a small area at a time and heat until it just starts to get "shiny" then feed in 1/4 strip slowly . Takes a little practise but I've repaired fuel tanks successfully.

http://www.dewalt.com.au/powertools/productdetails/catno/D26414K/

I recon that sounds like the go dieselboy will probably practice on a bucket aswell. I really dont want to wreck it.

The trick is to use the same type of plastic as filler otherwise it doesn't bond properly. Forgot to mention that you need to smooth over the molten weld while still hot with a blunt knife, scraper - type implement. This improves the bond and appearance. Good luck and keep us updated.

Catchers are made from high density polythene [HDPE], which can only be repaired by plastic welding. No glue or resin will stick to it!
Edit: In the 1970's, before plastic welding was available, we used to repair Victa catchers with patches of galvanised iron; bashed to shape, and secured by pop rivets.

A Plastic Welder is basically a hot air gun with a small outlet, and a few different types of nozzles, all with provision for feeding in a filler rod.

As has been said, the filler rod has to be the same type of plastic as the item to be repaired. So polythene it is, for catchers.

Sometimes it can be quite difficult to determine the plastic type, but at least catchers are easy on that score.

There are commercial plastic welding firms about; they do a lot of business repairing plastic car bodywork, and motorcycle fairings.

the filler rod has to be the same type of plastic as the item to be repaired

What I have done there is cut up a total crap character into welding rods
Ian