DIY : Harbor Freight plastic welder first test.

Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 1300 watt plastic welding kit. Item 96712
I got to use this plastic welder to fix a toy candy land game piece. The verdict? It worked! This is a quick test to get a feel for it. I used the middle heat setting and got rapid results on this small piece.
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[@Rev-D1963]

You said you hope to be able to use the welder for something more important. You did it for your daughter man, there isn't anything more important! Daddy has to take care of his little girl; I still do, and mine's 32! Nice vid, keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing.

[@robdude1969]

Thank you!

[@williamgilmore4937]

Thanks for your video. In line with having to fix something for your daughter, I needed to repair a broken plastic part on a small dolly used at my daughter's elementary school. Your video was a big help and I got it all welded back.

[@user-ti1gc4es4v]

Your welder must be turned down with the temperature dial and left to cool with the fan running, if you just switch the fan off the element inside will cook itself, it should be in your instruction manual, I've been plastic welding for 31 years, this will increase its lifespan.

[@optimumpcyt]

Ive been plastic welding for 31 seconds. i will definitely listen to your advice and anything you say. Ive learned experience is gold.

[@guymontana5338]

Wow! 31 years! What would you say is a reasonable plastic welding setup for the DIY? I am mostly interested in ABS and HDPE welding. I know the self feeding machines are probably out of my budget? I would like to spend maybe $100-$200 max. But I have no idea if such a setup at that price point will even provide a good weld? I see people doing it with just a soldering iron and then they cook the plastic too much and its black and doesn’t look like it will hold. I sure could use some expert tips!! Maybe you could start a YT channel of your own to teach us DIY’rs or wanna be’s?

[@Tairone1337]

@@guymontana5338 you scared him off

[@brucefinely5847]

​@guymontana5338 I've got 26 years in and my best advice is do some serious schooling because this is a skill set much more difficult than welding. If you buy this setup get the extended warranty and practice with it. 3 keys are heat speed and cleaned surfaces.

[@brianmann01]

I know you wanted to demo the plastic welder and all that. But here is something you can try. Take a 1\32 drill bit, (or you can use a small brad nail), and try to align the 2 pieces, drill from the bottom, up through the break and into the top piece. Take a toothpick (or 2) and work it up through the hole and hopefully you have a pretty straight joint. Now you can try to melt the 2 parts back together. You cannot heat just one part and push the cold part into the hot plastic. That will not work, you have to melt both parts work them together so they become one. Good Luck.

[@robdude1969]

brianmann01 that would totally work. As would a wire mesh when doing a crack in plastic panels. Thanks for sharing! I will post another plastic welder video soon. Too many projects!!

[@thecollisiontechnician9212]

I got the 850 watt one, it is pretty good and not as bulky.

[@chuckmcnab9959]

Love to watch such skilled masters at work.

[@robdude1969]

Thanks Chuck!

[@Chris-kb7vo]

lol

[@mortonfamily8609]

I'm dying lol

[@bowl1820]

I was totally wanting see him point that thing at that toy and seeing it just shrivel up into a little glob of plastic.

[@shaneashley8658]

gotta let it preheat for a few minutes but a bit over kill for that. the much smaller project sized kit is good for tedious items & comes with like 6 tips. great for automotive use. Both of mine get me extra money all the time when im doing mechanical work cause theyre perfect for repairing broken dash & console parts that everyone seems to have. which is how i found out about these tools in the first place. things like broken ashtray lids or dash vents that you cant aim anymore cause the fins behind em are broken. little things like that nag the crap outta me!

[@bobsweldingtutorials3523]

Good job pvc welding 👍💟

[@flashcraft]

Seems to me that a plastic glue would work better. In fact I had to do something similar when I broke a ceramic piece in an office on a jobsite. Worked great.

[@pmag3200]

Story has it that Candyland Mafia has a hit out on you for melting one of their people

[@robdude1969]

Those punks owe me! I saved that guy from the dumpster!

[@pmag3200]

@@robdude1969 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@RaymondLohengrin]

For a repair like that put a little baking soda on one of the parts (just very little) put parts together and add a drop of supper glue, it will bond instantly and the baking soda will be hard as stone.

[@flashcraft]

@ Raymond Lohengrin, Thanks for the baking soda tip. I'd never heard of that but next time I'll give it a try.

[@AquaTech225]

@@flashcraft definitely does turns to concrete instantly

[@MrPallingo]

I bought this model years ago. Welding small and thin plastics with this powerful unit is hard to do. Auto bumpers and thicker plastics are what this model is designed for. Search videos to learn technique.

[@robdude1969]

Great news - That's what I bought it for. Motorcycle plastics and bumper / body trims. So many projects, so little time.

[@neildaniel3001]

Oscar Medina. do you like to sell it .

[@neildaniel3001]

This is a pro tool. Not for beginners.

[@Tom-sc2vu]

I don't know about other plastic welders but that thing is loud AF.

[@robdude1969]

yup. like a hair dryer fine a fine tip that makes the power in the house surge.

[@drtb69]

There is nothing I can think of that is more intense than a plastic weld of a Candy Land game piece.....outside of working on the Mars lander or something... You have nerves of steel my friend... when my daughter watches over my back trying to repar her stuff its pressure.!!

[@TheDave6vi6]

I could have used a Bic lighter ending up with the same results. I have one these Harbor Fright specials It’s loud as hell and cumbersome to use. After a some practiceI I was able to fix my door panel for my K5 saved me $350 it isn’t pretty but it’s functional.

[@robdude1969]

The Bic would work - especially in my repair, but not on that door panel!

[@robdude1969]

​@@MrFredsDIY that's basically a soldering iron or a wood burning kit that mushes into the plastic... this is a bit different. here the hot air is localized and does not touch the plastics being melted.

[@paleogeology9554]

To weld it properly you first need to get your tacking nozzle and then the tip to allow you to run a bead, You'll get MUCH better results ;)

[@twistedtuned4273]

still good in 2021

[@GuadalupeRamirez-gc5nm]

Buenos días podrías aser un video donde reparas un garrafon para el agua

[@PackMom]

Superglue would have been cheaper, faster, and waaaaay less trouble

[@robdude1969]

Thanks for the comment Ruby, cyanoacrylate or super glue isn't a great choice with thermo plastics - a lot of glues won't stick to the oily surface and just fall apart later. If heat created the bond, then in most cases the heat can re-bond the broken bond. Yes this example was tiny and involved, but really the best solution. heating with a candle or match would have been easier and less expensive though, but I wanted to use the tool!

[@PackMom]

robdude1969 Oh, I get it know... It’s all about the TOOL!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Why didn’t you just say so in the first place? 😊 Carry on!!!!

[@robdude1969]

@@PackMom funny right? The tool has bigger fish to fry...

[@jeeprenegade1985]

Electric solder iron works good.

[@HeadsUP253]

What in the world are you doing? Lmao

[@carlosperla7233]

Good as new! Hehe

[@ArcticFlies56]

You need to speak into the microphone on your camera because I can't understand a word you're saying.

[@SilverShadow2LWB]

Nice video. But for a first time test, you should have given up the fan and temp settings. It looks like you are melting one side and cold welding it into the non-melted side. The shape and dimensions of the final result look much different than what you started with so I don't consider this a success. I would have put this together with a UV acrylic weld or poked a couple of heated brads up through the pedestal across the broken neck. I'm sure that there are many ways to solve this. I was curious to see another tool in the toolbox. Thanks.

[@chuchuchip]

In this case, a good plastic model glue would have worked neater.

[@avilez_chuy5197]

Is this good for roofing? Just wondering if if it compares good to the all mighty Liester brand.

[@zeod89]

That is exactly what I’m wondering bro trying to see if it is good for TPO

[@Zacc_01]

Not as good as a Leister. This one really only works well for extrusion welding.

[@user-ml2wu2kt7e]

What about super glue ?

[@robdude1969]

Joey Gamino thermo plastics bond to themselves better than CA glue. Heat melts the part and glues it better than any actual glue.

[@chardon3026]

Crazy glue better for small pieces

[@robdude1969]

not good on thermoplastics like this. same material bond is better.

[@elfpimp1]

Hmm. I always thought it was like a giant 3d printer pen. 🖨

[@robdude1969]

I was hoping too!

[@jesstheone231]

Can’t hear u

[@bobbybasas5855]

boss san po na bibiliyan pake send nman s inbox please

[@kuehnel16]

Hell with that noise

[@PaintHerWhite]

can't hear you

[@jimkozikis892]

Very loud unit.

[@Pakman0812]

You think this will work on my Jacuzzi tub

[@robdude1969]

you may need an appropriate filler rod to match material of the tub.

[@Pakman0812]

Oh ok I appreciate it

[@michaelsolis2674]

I think super glue would of worked better and faster...

[@robdude1969]

Michael Solis nope. CA and thermoplastic. Not so great. Kids are rough. CA is brittle.

[@hillbillybassfisherman8181]

i take the cheap iron plastic welder any day over this

[@jaked9191]

Can you use this on a cracked bumper on a car? Lol

[@robdude1969]

Absolutely. I will actually be making a video on that shortly.

[@eaterofclams]

"harbor freight electric 13000 watt plastic welding kit". 13 kW? really? No. 1,300 Watts. Only off by a zero. zero has no weight...like a photon. No harm done.

[@robdude1969]

that's funny. no wonder my lights went dim when I ran it. fixed the typo. good catch!

[@truckertech9272]

Can't hear a word you said. Consider recording a voice over with a good mic.

[@axa.axa.]

When you spend 75$ to fix a 75¢ toy...

[@robdude1969]

ok, so I didn't film a few projects....

[@rtgamer1187]

PRICE PLEASE

[@robdude1969]

Janak Chhetri $69 on their website. They have coupons and sales all the time so maybe better.

[@jeremydemary9710]

Talk about a waste of money all it is IS a high heat blow dryer

[@karapuma1752]

what are you smoking bro :)

[@gazakelly9266]

Very impressed " NOT !!!! 😭😝

[@mrl550]

We need plastic welding rods tard

[@robdude1969]

I linked some in the description. enjoy!

[@pentiuman]

Are you crazy? Only CHILDREN should be using hot, dangerous, heavy, electrical equipment to repair toy pieces, not adults - who lack the curiosity, determination, and imagination obviously required for such an important project! You could have melted the piece on backwards, duh!

[@robdude1969]

Don Fisher I know, right?!?

[@mattpierson7017]

I bough one 11-21-19.

[@mattpierson7017]

I bought one 11-22-19 no welding rods came with mine where may I purchase some