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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#2
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#3
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#4
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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. |
#5
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#6
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
"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 |
#7
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#8
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#9
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
#10
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Welding HDPE, how easy is it?
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 |
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