I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

wrote in message ...
I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

It is normally fused together in a butt fusion machine. A thickish plate of
metal is heated to, and maintained at a specific temperature, the two PE
components are held against this plate at a specific pressure for a specific
time. The plate is released and removed and the two components are forced
together at a specific pressure for a specific time. It's specific.
In your application I suspect you need to fuse on some repair patchs rather
than weld.



mark

mark wrote:

wrote in message ...
I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

It is normally fused together in a butt fusion machine. A thickish plate of
metal is heated to, and maintained at a specific temperature, the two PE
components are held against this plate at a specific pressure for a specific
time. The plate is released and removed and the two components are forced
together at a specific pressure for a specific time. It's specific.
In your application I suspect you need to fuse on some repair patchs rather
than weld.

I'm thinking of the sort of plastic welding that uses a heat gun and
welding rod. That was certainly what my father's factory used when
making PVC ducting and it's presumably possible with HDPE as one can
buy HDPE welding rod spcifically for the purpose.

--
Chris Green

On Feb 7, 10:34*am, wrote:

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? *

Piece of cake. Howewever you need the right sort of hot air gun -
quite a bit more oomph than the usual.

When I've needed this done, I've had a local car body specialist do it
for me. They have the tools for repairing bodykits & spoilers.

On Feb 7, 10:34*am, wrote:
I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. *That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? *I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? *Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

If you are talking pipes, there are welding connectors that have an
electric element in them. The pipes are slotted in and a certain
current passed for a certain time and the jobs done.

http://uk.ask.com/web?q=hdpe+sheet+w...2352&o=0&l=dir

http://uk.ask.com/web?qsrc=1&o=0&l=d...welding&dm=all

"harry" wrote in message
...
On Feb 7, 10:34 am, wrote:
I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

Try googling Plastic Kyak repair, there are loads of how too's out there.
Chris

In message
,
harry writes
On Feb 7, 10:34*am, wrote:
I was searching for ways to stick HDPE (in the knowledge that, being
polythene, it's pretty dificult) and got some hits on HDPE welding
rods. *That set me to wondering how easy it is to weld, my father used
to weld PVC to make ducting and I know when I played at doing that
(many, many, years ago) it wasn't too difficult.

So, how easy is it to weld HDPE? *I.e. if I get suitable welding rod
and a suitable heat gun will I be able to mend a couple of HDPE water
butts which have splits in them? *Further (and presumably more
difficult) is it realistic to think one might be able to weld a length
of HDPE pipe into the water butt and make the joint waterproof?

Any experience/comments most welcome.

--
Chris Green

If you are talking pipes, there are welding connectors that have an
electric element in them. The pipes are slotted in and a certain
current passed for a certain time and the jobs done.

http://uk.ask.com/web?q=hdpe+sheet+w...2352&o=0&l=dir

http://uk.ask.com/web?qsrc=1&o=0&l=d...welding&dm=all

I have some fusible couplers for 32mm and 63mm pipe. We were going to
lay in a gas supply for space heating a barn and then decided against. I
don't have details of current and time.

regards

--
Tim Lamb

Tim Lamb wrote:


I have some fusible couplers for 32mm and 63mm pipe. We were going to
lay in a gas supply for space heating a barn and then decided against. I
don't have details of current and time.

I cannot see this being what the op wants but I can get details from the
installers that just laid 250 metres of 63 and 32 yellow gas pipe at work.
They used a 3kVA petrol generator and a specialist transformer.

AJH

In message , andrew
writes
Tim Lamb wrote:


I have some fusible couplers for 32mm and 63mm pipe. We were going to
lay in a gas supply for space heating a barn and then decided against. I
don't have details of current and time.

I cannot see this being what the op wants but I can get details from the
installers that just laid 250 metres of 63 and 32 yellow gas pipe at work.
They used a 3kVA petrol generator and a specialist transformer.

I've sat on these things for about 20 years so it would be interesting
to know. However, only if finding out is easy.

I found the tips on thermal rod welding interesting.

regards

--
Tim Lamb

Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , andrew
writes
Tim Lamb wrote:


I have some fusible couplers for 32mm and 63mm pipe. We were going to
lay in a gas supply for space heating a barn and then decided against. I
don't have details of current and time.

I cannot see this being what the op wants but I can get details from the
installers that just laid 250 metres of 63 and 32 yellow gas pipe at work.
They used a 3kVA petrol generator and a specialist transformer.

I've sat on these things for about 20 years so it would be interesting
to know. However, only if finding out is easy.

I found the tips on thermal rod welding interesting.

...., no it isn't what the OP was thinking of! :-)

I have ordered the basics for plastic welding, a 2000 watt heat gun, a
nozzle and some welding rod (HDPE, ABS and PVC) so, when they arrive
I'll try my hand at it. I know it wasn't too difficult welding PVC
when I tried it thirty or forty years ago.

--
Chris Green