Plastic welding rods

[LSUTIGER1947]

Harbor Freight sell a "PCABS" plastic welding rod. Will these rods work on our boats or do we have to use the polyethylene rods.

[cagrove]

Originally Posted by LSUTIGER1947

Harbor Freight sell a "PCABS" plastic welding rod. Will these rods work on our boats or do we have to use the polyethylene rods.

LSUTIGER1947,

Dick at Merritt Marine can get you the correct rods to weld with. What I do is save all of those little shavings from drilling holes and use those instead. Unless you have a large area to fix, they should be sufficient.

[LSUTIGER1947]

Thanks Cagrove, I've got plenty shavings plus stereo speaker cut-outs but can you use these with the plastic welder? are do you need the rods?

[cagrove]

Originally Posted by LSUTIGER1947

Thanks Cagrove, I've got plenty shavings plus stereo speaker cut-outs but can you use these with the plastic welder? are do you need the rods?

With most of the plastic welders (I got mine from Harbor Frieght) you do not insert the rod in the welder, you hold the rod in one hand and the welder in the other. They come together at the point you are trying to fix. You can use the shavings by gripping them in a pair of needle nosed pliers if they are too little to grasp by hand. I hope this helps.

BTW...I would suggest practicing with your welder by trying to fix a hole in one of your speaker cut outs before you try it on your boat. It's not difficult, but takes a little coordination to manipulate both things at once. Just a thought.

[LSUTIGER1947]

Thanks Cagrove, I just ordered some rods from Dick at Merritt Marine and according to what you said I'll be able to use the shavings as well. Thanks Again. Geaux Tigers!

[cagrove]

Sounds good!