Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
Been trying to custom fabricate new systems with various PVC materials, like gluing the rims of PVC pipe caps\fittings onto a sheet, or a sheet to sheet, or fittings onto vinyl fence post sleeves, etc, and not getting the results I would like.. Using clear primer and regular medium/heavy cement, but the seams pop apart too easy. I have no problems with gluing up pipes and fittings of course, but that's because they are all interference tight fitting joints.
I need to weld butt joints and do fillet type welds and whatnot.
I don't really want to goop a bunch of epoxies or use anything that will leach into the solution. I know super glue is safe for aquariums, but its pretty hideous at filling gaps and leaks light through, as with most epoxies.
I'm also trying to fuse plexi glass looking clear rigid pvc panel windows onto white pvc fence rails (with window port cutouts), so they are water tight, and don't want to make a big mess about it, or have glues ooze out. Even sanding the sheets, using cement just isn't that strong enough to hold up i'm afraid.
I seen a hot air plastic welder at harbor freight for like 80$, and its way cheaper than the professional $4-500 ones.. Also a cheap solder gun type.. They have extra rod and it has grey PVC ones in the bundle.
I guess what i'm asking is.. has anyone used a gun like that to weld hydroponic system components together? Mainly PVC?
PVC sheet/fittings don't really melt like some plastics do (hdpe, etc), whenever i've burned or heated it, so not even sure it would work like I want.
Seems handy as heck to have around for repairs too(cracked containers, pump housings, net pots, you name it, etc), and for use with many different plastics..
I need to weld butt joints and do fillet type welds and whatnot.
I don't really want to goop a bunch of epoxies or use anything that will leach into the solution. I know super glue is safe for aquariums, but its pretty hideous at filling gaps and leaks light through, as with most epoxies.
I'm also trying to fuse plexi glass looking clear rigid pvc panel windows onto white pvc fence rails (with window port cutouts), so they are water tight, and don't want to make a big mess about it, or have glues ooze out. Even sanding the sheets, using cement just isn't that strong enough to hold up i'm afraid.
I seen a hot air plastic welder at harbor freight for like 80$, and its way cheaper than the professional $4-500 ones.. Also a cheap solder gun type.. They have extra rod and it has grey PVC ones in the bundle.
I guess what i'm asking is.. has anyone used a gun like that to weld hydroponic system components together? Mainly PVC?
PVC sheet/fittings don't really melt like some plastics do (hdpe, etc), whenever i've burned or heated it, so not even sure it would work like I want.
Seems handy as heck to have around for repairs too(cracked containers, pump housings, net pots, you name it, etc), and for use with many different plastics..