Your epoxy and plastic

fkshiu · #1 01-08-2009, 11:32 PM

How well does your epoxy adhere to plastic?

It seems that I have a teeny tiny fissure/scratch where the volute of my skimmer pump meets the pump body that is preventing a seal. I need a filler more than a glue as the fissure doesn't go all the way through to the exterior of the pump. So I was considering whether using a bit of epoxy to fill the fissure would be the best method of repair. It's the regular hard black plastic of a Sedra pump.

Thanks.

Marlin65 · #2 01-09-2009, 01:07 AM

Epoxy does not like smooth services so make sure you rough it up a bit.
There is so many epoxies these days not sure what you have, but most epoxies have pretty good bond strength.
Or you could try to melt it back together with a solder iron that might work.

mike31154 · #3 01-09-2009, 01:08 AM

IME epoxy doesn't adhere all that well to plastic, although if you add a little sawdust or fine plastic filings to the epoxy when you mix it, it might hold better. Esp. since you seem to be looking for more of a 'filler'. Failing that, you might try something like weldon or another solvent type of adhesive. If it's black plastic, a little ABS solvent cement might do the trick.

Mrfish55 · #4 01-09-2009, 01:20 AM

Give Industrial Plastics and Paint a call, they have or can get just about any plastic glue/filler/solvent for most plastics. you may have to take the pump in with you as there is specific glues for different plastics.
e-mail is richmond@ippnet.com or give them a call at 604-278-4977 they are great to deal with.

justinl · #5 01-09-2009, 02:02 AM

have you thought about using a thick gel-like weldon #?

Mrfish55 · #6 01-09-2009, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinl

have you thought about using a thick gel-like weldon #?

I have weldon 16, works great on acrylic but wont stick to most plastics. I have some stuff called rez-n-bond, thin like water and works great on most plastics but has no filler capabilities unless you dissolve some plastic shavings in it and use it as a filler that way.

RuGlu6 · #7 01-09-2009, 07:02 AM

http://www.thistothat.com/cgi-bin/gl...c&that=Plastic
try this

muck · #8 01-09-2009, 03:25 PM

bubble gum...

heyfredyourhat · #9 01-10-2009, 07:06 AM

Check lordco or maybe other auto parts place for fusor products. We use fusor products for all our plastic repairs at work(bodyshop). Its like 50+ bucks per tube but it is very strong and it will seal anything you need. I used fusor 142 on my reeflo pump to stop a leak and so far so good.
http://www.lord.com/Home/ProductsSer...1/Default.aspx

wickedfrags · #10 01-16-2009, 11:31 AM

While it may work I would not recommend it for plastic. Best to find an adhesive specifically for material of your skimmer.

Epoxy has a few applications IME and include attaching corals, leveling low spots in live rock to better facilitate aquascaping, making bases for acans, zoas and other encrusting corals, among others.