Hi,

Does anyone konw how to use the Plastic Repair Stick to repair a plastic kayak?

I found the Plastic Repair Stick in the linke below

www.rutabaga.com/product.asp?pid=1007110

Thanks in advanced.
Tony

Those sticks are to be used with a plastic welder. To get a decent plastic welder it costs about 500 bucks

It is a bugger to do!!!

you need a heat gun (NOT A TORCH) and need to heat up the hull too... Remember this

DULL is good, once it starts to shine, STOP heating the plastic!!!

I might consider a prefessional job if you can

If I remember correctly, someone told me you can heat a spoon and use that to spread the existing plastic around for a small hole. With that in mind, I think I would place duct tape across the inside of the hole. Then heat up the end of the plastic stick and rub off the melted part in the hole. Then use a spoon to spread it out evenly and smooth it.

Hey Tony, here is an interesting site. http//oregonkayaking.net/how_to/boat_repair.html

I have used heat guns and soldering irons. I will be trying the above method next time just to see.

t

Terry, you missed colon oregonkayaking.net/how_to/boat_repair.html
Thanks for remainding, this is the best plastic welding tutorial.

Tony, check also this: totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2007/06/boat-welding-party.html

sorry

terryblissstick wrote:

I have used heat guns and soldering irons. I will be trying the above method next time just to see.

That's cool...I was going to recommend a soldering gun, but didn't want him to waste money on one and find out it wasn't hot enough to melt the stick.

thw owner of that specialized soldering iron in my blog post is the Massachusetts Bliss Stick rep. Jim Obrien, so you might be able to talk to him about his techniques.

I have done all the same repairs using a generic heat gun. I posted teh pictures of the iron and torch because they were newer to me. The heat gun works just as well (and better in some cases) but takes more practice.

If you can find a way to cut that repair stick into thinner slices you will have an easier time working with it. It's best to add many many thin layers so that you don't overheat your boat trying to melt your repair stick.

Here is another post I made (other than the one on TotalWhitewaterFun)

clarkeoutdoors.blogspot.com/2006/06/plas...-repair-welding.html

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask; either here or just send me an email. (although keeping this thread alive might benefit more people)

Thanks a lot for all of you.

I have sent my boat repaired by bumper repairman.
Just like you mentoned above. He used the heat gun to melt boat cleft and the repair stick. It looks perfect to me.

Please see the pictures
club222.com.tw/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=84&page=1

Thanks again.

Tony

Hi, I build kayaks for a living, needless to say I have had to repair many kayaks. I looked at all of the methods posted the only problem with these methods are they are not fully bonded with the plastic. What I mean is that they are simply applied on or stuck on the existing plastic. This is not stong, it will apear to be strong because it may be water proof but when a white water kayak absorbes another impact in that general area there is a high risk that the patch will break loose. They best and most effective repair for a crack on a kayak would be to purchase a heat gun (not a tourch) and heat the surface of the plastic until it turns shinney and slightly darker than its original color back the heat off then heat a welding rod (this is a plastic strip that is cut about 1/16\" thick) like you have done to the boat. Then reheat the boat, you will notice that the plastic absorbes heat. Then hold the welding rod under the heat gun at the same time you are applying heat to the boat. Then mix (not lay) the welding rod with the plastic on the boat. By mixing this will give the weld its strength. Thats about it! there are some other neat tricks and techniques to smooth out the weld and make it appear as it has never been welded. If you would like your kayak repaired and have it strong enough to tackle rocks I suggest that you find someone who builds kayaks or has repairs them because they will be able to give you the strong weld you need to keep you safe. If anyone needs someone to repair there kayaks email me at kayakrepairs@hotmail.com.....thanks hope I helped.

I must agree with you 100% The longest lasting, strongest repairs I have ever seen or made were using a heat gun and repair plastic. The \"mixing\" is an important component. And, difficult to do without buring the plastic (on the first try).

I have been distracted by other methods because of how many people in my local area who have been experimenting.

A top tip is to keep (part of) a terminally broken boat at home - then when you have a repair to make - do a few 'dry runs' before trying the real thing. Unless you are doing repairs often, it is difficult to judge the temperature just right.

However, if there is a professional plastic welder nearby get them to do it - it will be worth the cost. We have an old guy lives near us who makes customised plastic laboratory equipment - after seeing him weld I never tried it myself again.

In the wilderness I would tend to 'stick to' duct tape - less chance of doing even more damage than was there in the first place.

Does anyone have experience with this product?

3M Scotch-Weld DP8005 Acrylic Adhesive: The 3M Scotch-Weld DP8005 Acrylic Adhesive is a two-part structural formulation (10:1 mix ratio by volume) that bonds Low Surface Energy plastics (like polyethylene or polypropylene) together or with other materials without surface pretreatment.

www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal...005+Acrylic+Adhesive


Jerry

I have successfully repaired a Necky Gliss with Polymeric Systems QuikPlastik Putty Sticks, available from the Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada. I suspect it is not as good as the method described by Legbuilder.

I have also learnt recently about Mr Sticky's Polybonder. I am going to try this for outfitting my wife's polyethylene Prelude, I will post how it works, however it will not fill holes.

West systems has come out with a new epoxy system (g flex) that works on Polyethylene plastic boats. I am going to repair some cracks on my Mad river 16' this afternoon and re-post on the results. Sounds like the best thing out there. Can even make repairs underwater. Is made to be flexible, a good point for canoes and kyak' and works with many materials like aluminum, and woods (even ipe).

See my posting about outfitting a Prelude for information about Mr. Sticky's Polyboder

I got a warrantied boat to play with, so thought I'd document my welding process with a heat gun.

Note: I got aggressive with this boat because the customer was already taken care of, so I was aggressive with the heat, and a bit sloppy with technique. Essentially I wanted to see what I could get away with.

totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2008/10/...plastic-welding.html

Hi there, I'm from Argentina every time we have to repair a plastic kayak we send it to a guy who repairs car bumpers. So far, he has done a good job, tough, the kayak surface won't look good, but no water will get trough it.

hope that helps you,

Matias Laghezza

As some others have said, welding the plastic is the best way to repair a broken plastic boat.

Here is another useful website with information: www.kayak-repair-central.com/plastic-repair.html

Hope this is useful

www.orbi-tech.com/ i work with this and it works to good to be tru