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General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: Steve_in_Florida on January 01, 2018, 05:35:32 PM

Title: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: Steve_in_Florida on January 01, 2018, 05:35:32 PM
So, I treated myself to a nice Dremel tool and accessories kit for Christmas, and am now looking at ways to attack my list of projects.

First on the list is fixing the broken plastic housing on the regulator of my (cheaply built) plastic welding tool.

In the past, we have had discussions on the forum regarding the use of the plastic repair products Plasti-Fix and PLASTEX. The results look promising, but the kits are a bit pricey.

In researching the topic of plastic repair, I came across the notion of using cyanoacrylate super-glue with common baking soda as an "instant activator".

Has anyone tried this method for repairing their ABS plastic parts? The videos I've seen are VERY interesting, to say the least.




Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: ally on January 01, 2018, 06:07:39 PM
saw this a while back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBS7LCXocxY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBS7LCXocxY)

use coloured lego as filler

you can also melt the lego in acetone to a paste and spread like a fibreglass repair

:)
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 01, 2018, 06:19:59 PM
The PlastiFix is worth every penny. Fantastic stuff.
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: Cass on January 06, 2018, 05:20:55 AM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 01, 2018, 06:19:59 PM
The PlastiFix is worth every penny. Fantastic stuff.
I have just watched this you tube clip and think its superb method of repair although a little late for my rebuild which is now complete but who was holding the video camera. Not being sexist but was it his bored wife. Worse bit of camera work I have seen on a very interesting and informative subject.
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 06, 2018, 06:24:18 PM
What I really like about the stuff is that the result is a lot like welding metal, where the repair is usually stronger than the original metal. The stuff sets up and you have a robust, strong repair that can be sanded, and ground back down to perfection. I managed to create new tabs behind the windshield wings that had never held before. It is very easy to use, and you can just keep building the stuff on top of itself as much as you need.
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: bigbore2 on January 18, 2018, 11:36:20 AM
Thanx ZOA NOM for the info and detail.  Now for a dremel or maybe I can talk my dentist into drillin my fairing out.  Lol
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 18, 2018, 12:19:03 PM
Quote from: bigbore2 on January 18, 2018, 11:36:20 AM
Thanx ZOA NOM for the info and detail.  Now for a dremel or maybe I can talk my dentist into drillin my fairing out.  Lol

No problem.

Here's the Dremel tip you want:

(https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.homedepot-static.com%2FproductImages%2Fa6ad3fee-cd92-4c70-9b2e-2a8cfe8d2ca4%2Fsvn%2Fdremel-rotary-tool-accessories-9911-64_1000.jpg&f=1)
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: Steve_in_Florida on February 02, 2018, 06:53:03 AM
Thank you all, as I have been using the advice posted on the site to fix a bunch of plastic parts. Still happening.

I found a place nearby that supplies molding and plastic/rubber stuff to the special effects industry. They offer classes, and everything! https://www.reynoldsam.com/orlando/ (https://www.reynoldsam.com/orlando/)
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: FJ1200W on February 18, 2018, 05:52:20 PM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 01, 2018, 06:19:59 PM
The PlastiFix is worth every penny. Fantastic stuff.

Ordered, I'll give it a shot.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: ZOA NOM on February 18, 2018, 07:09:33 PM
Quote from: FJ1200W on February 18, 2018, 05:52:20 PM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 01, 2018, 06:19:59 PM
The PlastiFix is worth every penny. Fantastic stuff.

Ordered, I'll give it a shot.

Thank you!

You'll love it. I just used some to rebuild a tab on the front fender. Strong as new.
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: Triumph GT6 on February 27, 2018, 04:34:22 PM
Check out Windy Urtnowski frame repair on Utube. Using fibreglass plus CA
Cyanoacrylate with great results.
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: yaman on February 27, 2018, 10:46:01 PM
here's a link to some work i did to my fj with some pictures of how i was able to use the "plastifix" product
these repairs are still holding up a year later, about 2000 miles of use
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=16767.msg169327#msg169327 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=16767.msg169327#msg169327)
Title: Re: Fairing & plastic repair
Post by: Steve_in_Florida on February 28, 2018, 05:12:38 AM
I'm having very good results with both the PLASTEX and the Plasti-Fix.

Case in point: My girlfriend's driver-side mirror housing sustained some damage a while back. This culminated in a ~6-inch crack with a 1/4-inch hole, right in the center.

With my trusty Dremel and Plasti-Fix, I trod where angels fear.

The repair had to be done from the outside, and will be visible.

I Dremel-ed the length of the crack, and filled the hole and the crack with Plasti-Fix. After a short curing time, I again used the Dremel to mill off the high spots. Then I used a 3-M headlight restoration kit to sand down the repair, and polish it up.

She's happy with the result, which is all that matters!

Steve