Source of Cheap HDPE Rods for Plastic Kayak Repair and Kayak Welding

If you need to do plastic kayak repair, then consider the cheapest place to get HDPE welding rods to repair a polyethylene kayak using kayak welding techniques. Repairing a plastic kayak is pretty quick and easy when you have the right material for plastic welding. I use my kc welder pro with generic HDPE welding sticks, and everything works just fine!
Get a pound of them here: amzn.to/3klERUm
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The Kayak Hacks Fishing channel covers kayak, wading, shoreline, spin and fly fishing. It features gear mods to make kayak fishing more comfortable, efficient and enjoyable. Also, I share many tips, tricks and "how to's" for spin and fly fishing regardless of whether you are fishing from a boat or on your feet. Please subscribe! Thanks!
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In short, you accept all risk of using any ideas presented in this video.
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It goes without saying that fishing is dangerous as a result of the fast water, slick rocks and other hazards that occur in random, unexpected places. You need to exercise caution, particularly in the spring when the water is high or during rapid changes in tide before you fish anywhere. You should always wear a life vest when fishing. Also, a wading staff will help you keep your balance as you walk on the shoreline or wade.
The bottom line is that you must make a judgment regarding acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on the opinions expressed here. The regulations governing legal access to fishing locations may change at any time, and it is your responsibility to understand the law. Nothing expressed should be construed as encouraging you to trespass on private property or violate a regulation.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

More quick kayak repair tips and tricks - kzbin.info/aero/PL8egn41J7Go9-1BgMNPF5FvNm0yqqqelS

[@KeyWestKayakFishing]

You know your a real kayaker when you have annual patch repair days. Great tip.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Key West Kayak Fishing the concrete ramps are killing me!

[@kevinkelly1529]

*you're

[@rockyrodriguez2351]

Nice video, you just teaches me how to weld plastic.

[@mmacionk2]

Thanks a lot for the tip, I just got a hole in my kayak's hull and it need some repair, really worth to watch this video Greetings from Brazil ✌

[@GreenmanWood]

Smart and helpful. Thanks!

[@eugenetswong]

Thanks for this! I have tried to come up with ideas for recycling HDPE. I can make welding rods!

[@MrZeddy100]

Subbed. Great mate!

[@georgiojansen7758]

ditto

[@mialily206]

Love your T-Shirt!!!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol! Just an old soldier remembering that recruiting campaign!

[@mialily206]

@@KayakhacksFishing ty for your service.!

[@donnybigboy]

Great video, can I just say that you can get different coloured HDPE 2 from asthma inhaler devices. I got purple, blue, white and brown. Liquid tomato feed containers give a deep red. I also found a lot of different coloured cat litter trays in my local pet store, cheap and a lot of repair plastic.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Wonderful tip! Maybe folks can find the right color to match! My kayak is kind of a mishmash right now.

[@LovingIdaho]

I used gallon oil jugs . Same material and free . Recycled hdpe . I also used a wood burner that cost me $5 about 3 years ago . My recycled hdpe jugs were dark blue .It looked so good on my ocean camo lure that I cut more jugs up and made a nice keel guard

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Good stuff

[@justincann0407]

I'd take 112 over the 31 we're having today. Lol. Great idea and tip. I'm getting ready to do final yak mods before spring fishing. Always watch your vids. Thanks!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Justin Cann thanks for the positive encouragement. More stuff coming!

[@roriepotter7681]

I got my welding rods for free, with perfect color match. I just posted on a kayaking Facebook group if anyone had a broken green Waka which I could have some plastic from (people often seem to total wakas).

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Great idea! Thanks

[@driver1246]

I am new at this, but I just used some of the string off my weedwack spool and it seemed to work.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Any HDPE will work fine. You may have stumbled onto something! I wonder if that is what the string is made of.

[@PNJWILLIS]

Great video, Steve - any chance we can see the finished (ie. sanded) product. I assume you sand it off to maintain hydro-dynamics (ie. reduce water resistance). Thanks!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

The very end of the video shows where I left it off as "good enough." It ended up being pretty smooth. But, I did another video on sanding for speed vs the whole issue of waxing you might be interested in - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5aTg5x9qpqsopY

[@lisakeen8817]

never too hot too fish !!

[@andrewwilson8317]

Can you get sacrificial stainless steel caps to protect the keel ends? Get some scrap, a sand bag and get beating. With a little practice ,it is easier than you may think. Drill a couple of holes in the metal on the sides and melt in some plastic plugs to secure?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I should probably try that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@livenfree]

Andrew again you need your own KZbin channel! You have some great ideas!

[@brotherbrovet1881]

Suggestion: To match color, buy sheets of HDPE in appropriate color. Then cut HDPE sheets to fit your welder.

[@glenmcarroll]

Looks great. I’ve got a bunch of hdpe sheets I’d like to put together. This could work for me. What brand of heating iron is that? Source???

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It is a KC Welder I got from Amazon - amzn.to/2qMo0OH

[@michaelgettles3424]

Back when I was into airboats we used 3/16 inch sheet steel wrapped around the front of the Jon boat and about halfway down the length of the boat bottom. Great for beaching, driving over levees and loading it on to its trailer. Why not do the same with your kayak nose?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I do not know how I would attach that... and... it sounds heavy.

[@Ponky2484]

how well are those repairs holding compared to the hobie rods?? also another tip i got from a friend was how to get rid of oyster rashes without sanding. one was getting pieces of old heavy duty tarps, a putty spatula and a torch and heating the spatula till it was hot enough to melt the tarp, lay the tarp over the rashes and brush the hot spatula over the tarp and it will stick and fill all the rashes under or anywhere in your yak.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Ponky Holding fine. no difference - They are all the same material. I saw the tarp thing on another vid and checked out that idea. I could not find any tarp made out of HDPE. I did not want to mix tarp with my kayak's HDPE. I have another vid I have not posted on using the same technique with real HDPE I have not posted yet. If you try the tarp trick, let us know how it works!

[@triumphmanful]

See what I made from HDPE #2 on my channel ! It is great stuff as long as you know how to melt and shape it. And you are helping keep it out of the landfill too !

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I will - thanks!

[@caryverhalen]

Question my friend. Did this reinforcement last a season maybe two? Because I just spent quite a bit of time using Kydex sheets, heat gun, Scotch 15lb double sided tape and silicone around the edges. This was a lot of work and what you just did was a whole lot simpler so did this last you pretty long?thanks for the money saving tip.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes, once melted into the existing hull, it is permanent.

[@iklink]

Still reccomend the Hobie welder nothing better cheaper besides the harbor freight?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes, it seems to be the only option

[@lukeklicka9702]

what did you use for the metal screen?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I had to buy it separately. Some kits come with mesh, mine did not. Here is what I got - amzn.to/2CjqbOs

[@dangcao8341]

Which welding tools would you recommend ?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

If you are only going to do it once or twice, the cheap harbor freight welder is fine. Otherwise get the hobbies one.

[@jonienglish3231]

where did you get the electric plastic soldering iron ?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I did a review of two choices ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJaQdXaLiNN4ma8 ) If you can afford it, I recommend spending the money on the Hobie version. Here are the links to each: KC Welder: amzn.to/2f3TpQE Harbor Freight Welder: amzn.to/2g0nq8C

[@rollandelliott]

for products used outside in UV sunlight a black or more uv resistant rod would be better to use.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for that point.

[@kayaktoursmaltaalanchetcut9852]

What is the benefit of the metal mesh?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

If the repair is in an area that frequently rubs on concrete, the metal mesh will protect the hull better than just plain HDPE>

[@MrRander7769]

Could you use something like Plumbers tape hammered in a V to protect the nose a little, HDPE welding it in place?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I am not familiar with plumbers tape other than what you use to wrap around threads. Can you share a link to it? I think the key is the HDPE would have to be thick enough around the edges to hold tight to the kayak and then cover the material if it does not stick to what you are referring to.

[@MrRander7769]

The stuff I am talking about is a roll of sheet metal about a inch wide with holes in it. The holes would glue it to the kayak like your screen, but stronger maybe. One screw at the top and bottom maybe.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I'll have to find some of that. It is only a matter of time this summer until I have to redo the fix. Thanks for the idea!

[@davidhuifang]

Can you provide a product name or link for plumbers tape?

[@MrRander7769]

They call it,,, Perforated Galvanized Steel Duct Strap

[@fredfable5655]

steve,(or anyone ) has any idea where to find only that "welding tip" ...suitable for any electirc welder? By the way...Great saving money advice Steve!!!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Fred Fable Yes, you can get it on Amazon. Search for plastic welding tip

[@elili8016]

Ok dude, you kinda sound like Hank Hill

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

My favourite American Hero. "I sell propane and propane accessories". (UK)

[@ericwaterfall1682]

“Bohbby”

[@JeepinBoon]

~~~Buy it in a 1lb-5lb roll.~~~ No more 2-3" stubbs of perfectly good rod going in the trash. And run a pick awl through the iron when done and still hot. Clean out and scrape plastic from bottom and sides. That'll make next repair as easy as first use.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Great idea! Thanks

[@robertneighbors4091]

They are double the price you posted now !

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Ouch.

[@kevinwelsh7490]

the link is expired and I can't find anything similar. please update, thanks

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for letting me know - amzn.to/3klERUm

[@stantilton2191]

Just look for some #2 scrap and it costs nothing. My oldtown kayak was melted in a shop fire. I will repair it just like this was done using scrap plastic.

[@goahead100]

Looks good but can you put subtitles on video like people like me who have heering problem can reed and understand you video many thanks:

[@KayakhacksFishing]

KZbin should generate those automatically if it can.

[@1pcfred]

You probably could have just put an old milk jug on the spot and melted it with a heat gun.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You bet. I discuss that option in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqOthZ6sidKmisU Thanks for bringing up this point!

[@1pcfred]

I melt HDPE garbage into blocks to machine. So I know molten goo is molten goo. It doesn't really matter what it looked like when it was solid. This was milk jugs i.imgur.com/boPwUiN.jpg

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Wow! Now that is what I call recycling!!

[@Big_Wheel_Trucker_Man]

Get to the point

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Really? 55 seconds in you have the answer.