Best adhesive?

[Big T]

Anyone glued the plastic headlight bucket?

I have one with a crack that I'd like to fix

What's a good adhesive for this plastic?

 

[jpaul]

My preference for this type of repair is an epoxy. Cut a piece of screen to bridge the area around the crack. Drill a small hole at the end(s) of the crack. Lay down a layer of adhesive, then work some into the screen. Place the screen over the area, and put some more adhesive over top of it.

 

[Eli69]

i used devcon to repair a side cover that fell off and got run over. it's still holding up fine after about a year. devcon is a two part adhesive that mixes in the applicator's tip while you squeeze it out. i've also used it to repair gas tank holes. and broken coffee cups handles. lotsa other stuff too.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

The other option is to plastic weld it. You can do it yourself with a decent size soldering iron.

 

[Billy Ricks]

There are some good two part epoxies specifically for plastic.

 

[1978GS1000custom]

i have used jb-weld for plastic in the past and had outstanding results on side covers and fairings and even a busa front fender. heres a link to the stuff http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/jbw/jbw8212-s.htm?source=froogle if you dont want to ruin the plastic surface, mask off the bucket as close to the crack as possible. this stuff is thin so it coats quick (kinda like a 2 part super glue) and sets fast also. hope this helps, cliff

 

[Bribird]

At the auto parts store they sell this stuff that comes in an epoxy type 2 part syringe. I think its called plastic weld. It is not clear like most epoxies, it is dull yellow in one tube and white in the other, and smells pretty bad. I have used it for many a plastic repair. when dry it can be sanded, primed and painted, you just have to treat it just like plastic.

 

[jpaul]

FYI, the Devcon, JB-Weld, and the plastic weld are all epoxies. If you find one with a static mixer (the tip that mixes the two parts), try to get one that has more than one nozzle, since those are only good for one use.

 

[Zooks]

'Araldite' is the most common one in Aus. As mentioned though, there are dozens of 2 part epoxies and they are all pretty good.

 

[spyug]

If you know for certain that the plastic is "ABS" then you can use the yellow glue you get in the plumbing supply section i.e. the stuff used for joing plastic pipe.

The two part epoxies as mentioned are also good and in a pinch you can use the two part epoxy putty you also buy in the plumbing section. Same stuff that Billy Mays hawks on TV. this stuff also has the advantage of bveing able to be built up and can be sanded and shaped.Even Bondo works.

In all cases, you should prep the pieces to be joined by sandind or filing to give some "tooth" for the glue to grab.

In areas that may flex or that needs extra rigidity, a backing as jpaul says is an excellent idea.

Any of the methods and products mentioned should work.

Cheers,
Spyug

 

[Barneycanoe]

The instant "Crazy glues" that use cyanoacrilite also work, I repaired my CB650 headlight plastic crack with this. Crack has to be clean and perfectly mating, though.

 

[Guest]

Plastex is the product you need.... expensive but worth it.... http://www.plastex.ca/

 

[gustovh]

The bucket should be ABS plastic, the same stuff used in black plumbing pipe. The ABS glue seems to work just fine for repairs and can be used to fill some small cracks on occasion. Use the glue on both pieces, press firmly for about 5 min. let set 24 hours and file/sand to finish.
I do it all the time.
V

 

[Big T]

I superglued it yesterday and it came out pretty good. The litlle parts didn't end up exactly
straight, so I'll sand those down on the outside and do an epoxy reinforcement on the inside.

It's a spare unit, altho I'll probably need it to get my project bike titled.