Repairing plastic bike parts by welding

A. Hi, Andreas.

I don't think it can be done with a soldering iron, Andreas, but there are airless plastic welders [affil links]. More traditionally, a hot air welder [affil links] is used, but we're talking about a specialized tool into which you feed the PP welding rod, not a hair dryer. The manufacturer of the hot air welder should include operating instructions, but if they are too brief, books like Plastics and Composites Welding Handbook ⇦[this on on Amazonaffil links] are available. Good luck with it!

A. Andreas,

What Ted says is true.

You won't, you can't make a repair with a soldering iron.

Welding guns, thermoplastic variety of course, are available with various tips ... the normal being a tip where you preheat the rod and the material and at the same time you are simultaneously forcing the rod into the material. Then there's the so-called speed tip where you normally use coil material and this preheats the rod. Not recommended in your case. Not as strong as hand welding, either. OK for long runs. Plastic welding, good plastic welding, is an ART!

In the USA there's a company called LARAMY which sell little how-to-do-it-booklets ... along with their welding guns. Get one if you can.

Lastly, maybe your PP is a natural colour, maybe it has been U.V. attacked in which case it will be brittle and easily stress crack. Hopefully not because then you sure ain't got a hope in Hades of fixing it.