Repairing cracks in plastic tubs?

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SHARK13

SHARK13

Aimara
MFK Member
Oct 29, 2012
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Anyone have any experience with repairing plastic totes or tubs? A friend of mine gave me a couple tubs that are app 4'x4'x2.5' but each of them has a relatively small crack. One in the side near the bottom, and one on the bottom. Both most likely caused from fork lift damage. A thought was to melt down some zip ties and use that to fill in the crack. After the cracks are filled I wanted to sand/prep them and coat them with pond shield.

Does anyone have a better suggestion for repairing cracks? Will pond shield bond to plastic?
 
You can "v" the cracks. Then drill a hole at the end of the cracks to keep them from getting bigger. Then either use epoxy or fiber glass resin with woven cloth and fill the "v" and surrounding area.
 
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Harbor Freight has a cheap plastic welder. You just need to find out what kind of plastic those tubs are made of.
 
reefman said:
You can "v" the cracks. Then drill a hole at the end of the cracks to keep them from getting bigger. Then either use epoxy or fiber glass resin with woven cloth and fill the "v" and surrounding area.
Click to expand...

Reefman is spot on, I own a body shop and this is how I fix bumper covers or anything plastic. You use the correct glue for your corresponding plastic. Or you get the solve all glue I use at the shop and for all my broken aquarium stuff. 3m 8115. Panel bond.

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This is what I have to work with. Do you think they are savable?
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matthewr262 said:
Reefman is spot on, I own a body shop and this is how I fix bumper covers or anything plastic. You use the correct glue for your corresponding plastic. Or you get the solve all glue I use at the shop and for all my broken aquarium stuff. 3m 8115. Panel bond.

View attachment 1185891
Click to expand...
I use to work at a bodyshop back in the day
 
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Ok so what do you mean by "v"? I have only done body work on steel before never plastic. I'm not familiar with the process. I get the point of drilling a hole at each end...
Will epoxy like pond shield stick to the plastic? Or better off coating it with the 3m stuff?
 
You want to grind out the crack so it looks like a v. 3m body panels adhesive is basicly weld in a can lol stuffs great
 
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