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Plastic Glue
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Many moons ago my brother and I enjoyed building Revell airplane models
(remember those, not sure if they're still around) and used a type of glue
that literally fused the parts together by melting the plastic, with the
resulting joint so strong it would break before coming apart.
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Model kits are made of mold injected polystyrene. "Model glue" is a
solvent for styrene. And, in a way, it is NOT a glue -- glues are
substances which "soak into pores" of the substrates, and the entire
holding ability is from the mesh that formed in the pores. "Model glue"
is more often labeled as a "cement" (not quite accurate either)--
cements adhere to other substances, and the holding power is strictly
from the adherence. "Superglue" is a cement, it doesn't soak in -- it
just sticks.
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Dichloromethane or Methylene Chloride (CH2 Cl2).
Dissolves polystyrene (hard) plastics, won't touch polyethylene (waxy).
Styrenes are plexiglass, butyrates, Monogram/Revell plastic car and plane kits,
etc. - and ethylenes are things like Nalgene bottles, plastic kayaks and canoes,
MX motorcycle fenders...
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Now, is there a similar type of glue for motorcycle/scooter plastic body
parts? If not, what's the best glue available for that purpose?
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I'd expect scooter panels to be of some other type of plastic; more
acrylic based... Possibly acetone, though even that would be a stretch.
This presumes the panels aren't fiberglass/epoxy.
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On my Concours, ABS cement works quite well. The stuff used for
assembling ABS plumbing. The PVC cement, or the PVC/ABS cement does not
work well. Cements for plastics are fairly specific to the plastic that
they are adhering.
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If the parts can crack from flexing, they may be in the styrene family.
A test on some out of sight area would be prudent. If the surface plastic
softens/melts with a few drops (mush it around after a few seconds) it should
work (where there isn't paint).
Strength isn't inherent in an edge-to-edge bond. Some form of gusset or backing
plate at a crack is recommended. Smooth clean mating surfaces work best.
Pressure holding edges or surfaces together while bonding is important. 1-2 days
curing necessary.
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I am in the US and trying to fix a couple of odds and ends on a Honda CH80
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I think I went to school with a Methel Ethel Ketone.
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if it helps. Thanks in advance.
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I put my son's broken fairing back together on his sportbike using:
1. marine grade fiberglass mesh sheets (cut to fit the application,
obviously); they're pretty thin and unravel easily on the edges, but
man they're stringer than steel when the glue dries
2. marine grade glue (can't remebmer the name) that is clear - used
for the parts of the fairing that people see
3. pliobond - industrial cement available aat a fine hardware store
near you - to glue the fiberglass sheets to the back/inside of the
fairing that you don't see.
I used the clear marine grade glue to partly cement the parts back
together enough so I liberally apply the Pliobond to the back/inside
so I could over the entire inside with the fiberglass.
Then I glued the cracks on the outside with the clear glue, but it was
the pliobond/fiberglass that held it together... it stayed together
and didn't look too bad.
The Pliobond smells to high heaven and the smell will remain on the
item for a week or more and days in the room you did the work.
On your Elite scooter, the whole shell is plastic. You can sometimes
buy the parts on ebay cheaply and since the design hasn't changed muhc
in the 20+ years the thing has been on he market, it is more likley
that things will fit from year to year.
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web-search "plastic welding." I think you want to either plastic weld, or
have those parts plastic welded, together.
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What type of plastic is it? I used IPS Weld-on 3 to solvent bond a
snowmobile hood made of polycarbonate. It's available from Mcmaster.
http://www.ipscorp.com/industrial/acrylics.html
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Gorilla Glue maybe ?
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Gorilla Glue is pretty awesome, but I don't know if it would be the best
for this application. It does tend to do better when the surfaces are
porous or roughened up. It doesn't really melt the plastic together
either.
They still make the models and model glue. Just go to a hobby shop. You
will have to tell us if it works on this kind of plastic, though. I think
they kind of designed the model plastic to work with the glue to get the
best bond. Remember, that model plastic doesn't have to be strong so it
can be designed differently from regular plastic.
I once found an epoxy that was designed for plastic. I used it to fix
part of a baby carrier. (The little strap that holds the sun-shade up.
NOT the handle.) You know how that kind of plastic seems as if nothing
would stick to it. I was always afraid that would break and was
continuously after my wife (at the time) to be careful with it. Well the
thing never did break or even look as if it was cracking even a little
bit. I was really impressed.
The stuff is available at the regular hardware store. It dries white. I
can't remember the brand name. If I am near a hardware store in the next
week or so I will stop in and see if I can find it again and tell you the
name.
Keep in mind, when I repaired that baby carrier, I had the luxury of
plenty of overlapping area. I don't know how well it will do edge-to-
edge. Perhaps you could apply a splint to the inside to help support the
joint.
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try [Devcon plastic welder] sold at walmart and ace hardware people
over at scootdawg.com swear by it and its inexpensive.
Mike
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Methylene Chloride is a suspected carcinogen. Keep it off your skin and use in a
well-ventilated area.
Mike G.
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its ABS plastic, so regular glue isnt gonna work. ive had good luck with
fiberglass and resin on the underside, with a skimcoat of bondo on top.
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If it's ABS, you ought to be able to get some heavy duty ABS cement
in the sprinkler/garden department of any well stocked hardware store.
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ABS is one type of plastic used for plumbing. Any decent hardware store
should be able to provide adhesive specifically intended for use on ABS
pipe. How well it will work fixing the OP's Honda depends on the
details of the break and how much stress it will endure. Might need
reinforcement.
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What kind of wine you been drinking? ;^)
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