Easy Fix for Rubber and Plastic Cracks

[@rlando777]

I have 3 discarded 300 gallon tubs. Thanks for the video, this is my new project!!!! Excellent Idea !!!

[@216Numbskull]

Right On! I knew someone would be out there with common sense in their noggin by using heat the melting heat method for a fix. Good job Bud!

[@fka.climate]

Yeah, this definitely helped. I had a rain barrel that I left out in the winter and it left not just a crack, but a total split around the bottom that was 18 inches long. I ended up buying a soldering gun and just went for it, using some "spare" plastic in the lining to help patch some of the bigger gaps. So it went from a totally broken bucket to, at least for right now, about a drop of leakage per second, which I'll work through with more spare plastic in due time. Best part: not a single drop of epoxy or silicone spent. Just the existing plastic. Huge thanks.

[@eileens9848]

so big, so southern, and sounds like a real nice guy. thanks

[@tammyogkush474]

I think it's awesome that you take time out of your day to pass on knowledge and help other people out.. And that makes you awesome!

[@MrOldclunker]

I have done this before but I used a butter knife to fill it in as I went along to give it a bit more strenght. No reason to not plastic weld it back. BC is the man!

[@barrybegley5379]

Thanks John and also BCtruck for the tip. I have a rubber Heat Melt Snow Mat that has developed about a 4 inch slit in the top near the AC entrance tab. This concept looks like it might work to seal up the rubber crack and still keep the flexible integrity of the Mat. Appreciate the info. Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

[@TheMountainfarmer]

Your ranch/farm supply sells plastic welding rods used to repair large water storage tanks. Thanks for sharing! God Bless

[@tallisman57]

You can cut up laundry detergent bottles made from HDPE and use the sheet of it or in strips... It's cheaper... Hot air guns work wonders applying the sheets, heat the item first, then the sheet, pick it up with pliers flip it over And on then heat again.... Smooth it out with a large kitch spoon 🥄

[@joaquimrodriguez8961]

Had my doubts, about it working the way it did., but hey! you learn something new every day.

[@DreaminFreedom]

BRILLIANT!!! And in the words of Mrs.Volfie, "Who'd a thunk it!" Thanks so much for passing on the info!!

[@lomgshorts3]

Take a plastic coat hanger and use it like solder - works great! I use it to repair cracked plastic fuel tanks, cracked PVC pipes that carry up to 40lbs water pressure. On certain plastics, plastic modeling glue works quite well as it fuses the crack together by melting the edges chemically. I keep high temperature J B Weld for cracked radiator tanks, plastic or metal. Acid solder for old copper/brass radiator tanks and a 200 watt soldering iron to heat the surrounding metal. You could do the same on gas tanks (after you have flushed the tank out with water and dried the inside with exhaust gasses from another truck - do that at your own risk!), or you could just bondo the pinholes in a gas tank if you fear fire or explosion from a torch. Bondo would have worked on your water tub after scrubbing the area with steel wool. Its OK to be cheap, but do not be stupid. That new rubber tape you see on TV would have worked just fine on your cracked tub. Lots of ideas out there to fix things, you just have to sit and think. I used delron plastic to fix bullet holes in my 16' aluminum boat, just melted it in place and squashed it flat.

[@ginitremblay9660]

This worked! Thanks, My tank split in exactly the same place (Rubbermaid take note) but I used an empty hot melt glue gun.

[@sandiv6145]

Thanks, Gini. I didn't know if hubby has a soldering iron, but I have a few glue guns.

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Nice fix John, may I commend your friendly politeness as well, great tip thanks.

[@alfredabell4658]

Love this idea now I know what to do with these pots that I have ,they were cut by the gardener but they still can be used and there big, thank you so much.

[@fenixdesigns]

But first identify the type of plastic... not all plastics can be repaired by melting with heat... only thermoplastics (just as the name rightfully implies)... which are generally the softer types of plastics. Then harder, more brittle types of plastic are formed by extrusion, and cannot be repaired with heat to melt the material back together when cracked/damaged... in most cases those types of plastics need to be solvent welded in order to "melt" the material, which is a completely different method altogether! Point is: know what you're doing before you start doing it! And also protect yourself with adequate safety gear when messing with these things... plastic toxins are nasty business to be inhaling... and solvents too require care when using!... (trust me!... I had to learn the hard way to give more importance to the issue of safety when messing around with anything so highly toxic as plastics and chemicals!)

[@MeanGuitarrr]

Damn , You need Your Own Show ! Awesome !

[@tifu678]

Nice tip. Another idea is to use thin zip ties to reinforce the plastic welds, especially when the container is thin or if you make a mistake and run the weld through, poking a bigger hole.

[@rickfontaine1588]

"Holy Crap". It works. I would have thrown that container out. Thanks for the vid JNull. And thanks for the tip BC.

[@jdavis7433]

What a great idea. Guess I am going to steal it to impress my hubby. Not gonna tell him until after I fix something that it came from you John!! He thinks you tube sucks, well now I'll have something to prove that it doesnt!! weeeeeeeeeee doggies!

[@bearzhere]

Great fix and save on that tub! Always something to learn!

[@pdan3676]

It looks like a stress crack and should be reinforced. Most people used some type of epoxy without melting the plastic. The liquid is heavy, therefore reinforcing the cracks by building up more material would help.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! I have GOT to get me asoldering iron!!! Thanks Lil'Bro!

[@slingshoter8783]

+OurHalfAcreHomestead a wood cutter is cheap too and has a flat tip.

[@SyberPrepper]

Jnull's motto. Just say no to Crack!

[@M_Darabi]

A very interesting idea BCTruck came up with. Thanks guys!

[@Mentorcase]

For compatible filler material just get a sharp knife and cut a thin long strip of an edge of the material, maybe around the rolled over top edge or of the base.

[@santinovihaan1258]

instablaster

[@dawesome4751]

A bit of jb weld over the Soldering iron weld, would really prevent from cracking again too. Great vid!!

[@MervsServiceSecrets]

Great tutorial! I wonder if this method will work on a pool pump housing that needs to hold pressure.

[@timjulian804]

Thank you for your video. Now i got to find my soldering iron.My wife never puts things backwhen shes done ,lol.

[@sugarNspice6869]

AWESOME!!!! Now we know how to fix my dads!!! Thanks John

[@johnnyd687]

I've heard of guys doing this. On more pliable rubber they'll heat a small piece of screen material and slowly immerse it into the rubber with a Solder Iron. Gonna try that now on my Duck Boots, which is what brought here. 👍🏼

[@sipthewater]

Mentorcase had the answer: Sliver from another part and weld it in good after heating the area with a flame first to help. Plastic welding is what I do. Polypropylene is tough but not to freezing ice. Super awesome!

[@dianebinns9905]

That is cool! Makes ya think. You can also repair the lint dryer mesh the same way. WOW They say you can learn something new every day. Good job! 😄

[@pucksterpete]

you the man, thanx, kids have a pool this summer

[@timgreen2426]

WORKED PERFECTLY !!! God Bless you!!!

[@HowtoSmartphone]

How long did it last

[@calebsmith2131]

I have fixed plastic boast with a soldering iron and metal mesh, using plastic rods. The soldering will work for a while but you really need to infuse the plastic with the wire mesh. If you do not, it will eventualy crack again. Just giving my personal experience, I hope it helps.

[@darryljohnson6030]

I'm about to give this a try on a cracked plastic fuel tank . Just as soon as I find my soldering gun . I haven't seen it for about three years , but I know it's here somewhere .

[@bhogan843]

lol

[@melaniec463]

Lol

[@rodneyhardee2527]

Black plastic zip tie works great for extra material.

[@sandiv6145]

Thanks for that tip! Our pond is a little larger than his and the crack is wider. I was wondering what I could use to fill it in. You and this video have saved my pond!!

[@rodneyhardee2527]

@@sandiv6145 amazing little trick. i have used it to fix a sneak boat of mine.

[@timgreen2426]

@@sandiv6145 did it work? Did you video tape your repair?

[@CoffeeCrayzee]

That was so clever!! Thank you for sharing this!

[@live4wild968]

Great tip, I use to fix my dirt bike fenders with a soldering iron.

[@dafrogtoad]

Right on!..Gotta love home fixes.

[@tallisman57]

Hey, nice video... FYI they make a flat top for your iron, it has a flat shoe about 0.5" * 0.75" It's designed for that sort of repair... Also if you do cut a groove like you just did, you can use CA glue aka superglue... You can do it either way if it's shallow pack it with baking soda then drip the CA into it... Or the glue first ... If it's really deep use the baking soda first but don't completely fill up the cavity... In other words do it in stages till it's full... It's also impervious to fuels... Ather that HDPE plastic with work with so will CA & Baking Soda

[@shawhit3462]

So happy for the fix.

[@twofinger74]

Nice way to fix it. Good job and thanks for showing it.

[@jackhammer44]

They make plastic welding machines. It just blows hot air and use little plastic sticks to fill the gap. Ive just always done what you did, or more primitive by heating a piece of metal and running it across the crack. My question is did hold a hundred gallons??

[@tangle70]

JB Weld will work for metal gas tanks. I would feel safe to say that it would work for plastic type containers as well.

[@LowBuck]

I would have never thought of that. Let us know if it holds under the pressure when full. BTW, ask Brad how to keep rain water out of a tent.. lol

[@bctruck]

the only way i know to keep rainwater ourt of a tent,is to pitch the tent inside a nice dry house. ,,,,,,,or sleep in a high dollar van safely tucked away from all the campground riff raff sleeping in cheap walmart tents.

[@ShalimarPerfume]

BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose How to keep water out of a tent. Get a cheap dollar store plastic painters tarp and through it over the tent. Keep in mind to angle the bottom of the plastic and secure down with rocks.If ya don't have any airflow around tent you will asphyxiate yourself whilst sleeping. Then dig a small trench around tent so water will run away. Oh and then there is seam sealer soft candle wax you can purchase a coleman stick of wax to seal the seams or small pin holes and make sure your tent fabric is taut by adjusting poles and lines. Or even a big campers tarp tied in the trees, put tent and table/gear under it. Well then there is the truckers way which is get yourself one of those trucker flatbed tarps. Never set up in a gully. Been a high and dry camper for many years and chuckle at campers who abandon campsite in middle of rainstorm or flee in morning with everything soaking wet. LOL. Nowadays we just take the 2 back rows of seating out of extended Voyager van and throw a queen size mattress in there. Still have a couple of tents though.

[@YaYaDesigns]

What works for me is clear spray paint. Spray the seams and keep the can moving. It fills the seams and makes them waterproof. I learned it from watching an awning company repair my employers awning. Been doing it for 15 years.

[@missbridjety]

YaYaDesigns hey there yaya... 😮you just taught me something. Thanks for the

[@yising4u2qt]

Bubba LowBuck has

[@gharrett2092]

How long did this repair work?

[@syby1112]

Also $ 5.00 loctite marine epoxy works for plastic gas tanks, gas caps and water tubs . Available at all box stores

[@melaniec463]

Wowww that's an awesome little trick!! Thanks for the tip!! Lol

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

YES!! This will certainly help! My friend has large tanks like yours and they both have cracks in them. She can not fill them because of the cracks. I will share this with her! The only thing I wonder about is if the melting will be enough to hold the crack closed or if some metal strapping should be screwed in for added support.

[@fenixdesigns]

I realize my reply comes 5 years later, but in case it helps anyone I'm addressing this question anyways: basically, no, you wouldn't want to screw anything into the plastic and compromise it in other areas by creating holes... (thus creating weak points or areas that could eventually allow leakage if stressed over time... or if, say, the screws start to pull away or "gouge"/bore out the holes, making them slightly bigger over time from excessive movement or weight... (mind you, that's not usually likely to happen in most cases... but without extreme wear and tear, then theoretically it could!). The logic being: why create holes at all when not necessary? Especially since there are better (and correct) methods to do such a thing)! So, yes, added support with metal as you suggest is best... but not the way you were thinking. Not as an external brace, but rather in the form of thin bits of metal... ideally something like thin wire.. or along the lines of staples... (in fact, using actual staples might not be a bad idea to try)... essentially using many little pieces of metal that bridge across the gap/crack all along the length of it, to help keep it more strongly held together... (think along the lines of stitches on a wound in terms of placement and objective). Then after placing the metal "braces" into the plastic along the crack... (with the metal bent a bit at each end if using wire to form staple-like braces, so they can penetrate the plastic to really "grab hold" for better strength)... then the repair is done with the plastic melted over TOP of the metal supports... incorporating them right into the material by encasing them into the newly formed plastic "seam"... ...(which, really... if done correctly, shouldn't even be considered a 'seam' afterwards! The crack after repair should consist COMPLETELY of plastic melted back together throughout ALL of it... (throughout the whole length AND the thickness). So that no gaps or cracked areas remain at all anywhere... not even sandwiched within the repair, surrounded by melted plastic on each side. Ideally the melted plastic material should have rebonded entirely to form one cohesive piece afterwards!). And it should also be done using additional plastic of the same type (or compatible)... again, so that any gaps are filled in for optimal strength (rather than taking from the surrounding plastic to form the melted weld,... as that results in a fairly thin mend if only using the existing plastic with nothing else. It'd seal the crack at least, but would continue to be a weak point that would then be prone to breaking again easily, when subjected to enough strain or stress.. Whereas filling in the crack with additional plastic of the same type, if done properly so that every last bit of the plastic along the crack is melted back together into one cohesive piece, and filled in so that no weak areas remain that are thinner than the plastic originally was, would result almost as strong as the plastic was before when new (or prior to the crack, at least). And if ALSO braced along the entire length with metal supports encased within the repair, together with filler material worked into the older plastic and melted all together... well, that would really produce the strongest weld... possibly even stronger than the original plastic itself if done correctly! Now just to go a step further, theoretically, I suppose that if one REALLY wanted to go for overkill, and aim for the strongest repair possible, then one could also patch it up over top afterwards by using JB Weld over it... like bandages in a sense (as mentioned in many comments as being a good, reliable reinforcement). It likely wouldn't be necessary to go to such lengths in most normal cases... but if needing a repair of ultimate strength... in the case of repairing an object that'd be subjected to extreme loads and major strain/stress, then I suppose "overkill" wouldn't hurt... just as extra insurance... lol!

[@TheMan-ue7ri]

I use a torch and a screw driver . Heat up the screw driver and pin the crack ...like Frankenstein so to speak. Kinda hard to explain. But I like your way too!

[@CheapskateGardener]

good tip on how to fix it ,, here were I am at in canada that happens all the time to my garden containers

[@almacasiano]

I'm going to try to fix a plastic pond that in the yard at our new place, it appears to have a hole in it about the size of a dollar bill, I've got to do this on the cheap ! do you think I should just use a new liner or try to repair it ? hoping It won't cost to much ! hope you can help me out with idea's thanks ( loved your video !) don't like it when people are all serious all the time ! you made it fun to watch !

[@bebebutterfield1]

This is good to know and TY for sharing J.

[@pamelafredrick2127]

Have had numerous Rubbermaid (100 gal) tanks, 6 that I can remember. They all have developed leaks, all in the same place. I returned them for an exchange (Rubbermaid has a one year warranty). No problem, until now when the merchant would not exchange the tank...so I'm in touch with Rubbermaid for a replacement. They are working with me. Current tank has two leaks. Ugh.

[@gator809]

Did this hold up over time?

[@jstsmegy]

Son of a ........! You are my favorite person of the day

[@KillerM1979]

That is one great tip!! Thanks for sharing. Cheers Mark.

[@Markam248]

another thing that works great. is the flat bladed wood burning tip. same concept just leaves a flat area where it melts it.

[@Docochoco39]

Very well done!

[@tKetcham1]

Afterwqrds, to give a bit bore strength and support, seal the scar on both sides with a layer of regular 24 hour JB Weld

[@chadchildress3276]

so this should work for small cracks at the top of a radiator?

[@sheps4hershomestead]

awesome! Never would have thought about doing that. Great minds come up with great ideas! Thanks for the tip!

[@bluehen9078]

You are brilliant!!

[@pnyarrow]

Hi There. Thank you for sharing that great tip. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel

[@floridadanrvman6528]

Hey John thank you cool little trick take care my friend

[@newbeginnings8566]

I don't reckon you'll fit in that tub.. 🤣... Seriously - thanks for the video.. I repared my hiking boots (the rand was perished with small splits). I added some extra rubber, melted that it in and sanded it smooth..

[@las6560]

That was a very cleaver fix!

[@billyblackmon4796]

Flex Seal worked instantly for me on two tanks. Very quick just spray around the leak area. almost instant

[@MrChip123472]

Nice fix! You can also do the same with a small plumbers welding torch and it's maybe more fun. :)

[@dennisarlan3564]

Great job thanks for passing this on.

[@blindsoup]

Your channel is Awesomeness....

[@davegoodridge8352]

Darn, that's a smart idea!! Hope I remember it.

[@rroulette2660]

Great vid bro..I have a rubbermaid water tank just like that ..it cracked ..I used JB weld and it's good to go

[@halfwayuphill]

Add a little JB Weld to it for strength, I just JB Welded my pool pump and sand tank back together after forgetting to drain it last winter - DUH ! - it's holding under pressure.

[@BrianMelancon]

I've found this works for a while, but it will eventually crack again. Those Rubber Made troughs are complete crap. Everyone has the same problem with them cracking in the same place. It helps some to cut some strips from around the rim to melt into the cracks to use as filler.

[@cattlewiz7219]

You must be a heavy sweater like me lol Great fix Jnull!

[@roiad876]

Is it safe to inhale that smoke? Didn't use a mask?

[@horsemomof5]

Awesomeness!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@kathleenkochwoodsyknitter9323]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing this.

[@swanyut]

might stop the leaking but not so sure this fix will stand the pressure/weight...maybe slop a layer of fiberglass and hardener resin on the outside to prevent it from breaking outward

[@DogMan077]

Cool fix man

[@MikeyDunksMusic]

Awesome vid. Thanks buddy.

[@cheekysaver]

LOL ok this is something i am likely to dig out my soldering gun for. Thanks it did help and I am sure it will in the future as well.

[@BDisbrow3680]

nice vid guys. just subbed.

[@momzilla9491]

I just say where you can use a Plastic Bag as a filler to add to the crack. Awesome!

[@BohistaNordica]

How much would that tub cost new, just curious??? ~ jenny

[@michaelprice6763]

+BohistaNordica Usually about $65

[@zazarays]

not sure this is going to work on a pair of fireman boots lol. But, I do this with plastics. I actually need to plastic wield two 55 gallon juice drums together and bury them in my mother's backyard to deal with the water

[@Xscrap0042X]

Good stuff man. buzz buzz the end. haha

[@brycepeters6163]

That works but jb weld works pretty good to it just takes a while to dry

[@lorettasegura4091]

OMG, I need to try this cuz I have been using silicone and it just doesn’t seal my leak!

[@SuperFlo8888]

I had that problem too! I found out everyone‘s tank crack at the same spot!

[@honeybear8485]

Yea nice job man I also found another trick you can use a heat gun.. any thermoplastic. Just get yourself a putty knife smooth it out why it's melted.and I fix plastic stuff cracked all the way through if it's not cracked all the way through. If it's not. Take yourself a knif or a Dremel tool Nv it out..

[@phuckugoofleplus7542]

bondic...new product...youtube it...amazingly easy and works on everything.

[@pjnoslot]

Thanks for sharing!

[@timgreen2426]

If you dont have one of those soldering guns???

[@rhondainnc7255]

Great idea!!

[@Zarthalad]

Your my hero! Just a Dude!

[@meh2b2]

Joella likes your "buzz buzz the end"

[@halfazzhomesteader]

I used a micro torch and a putty knife to fix my horses water container,still good after 2 years