heat welding of vinyl (thermoplastics)

[stitchm]

Does anyone have feedback on the heat welding of vinyl and or acrylics?

What equipment do you use, what are your thoughts on it/the process.

From what I understand the heat welding of acrylic (sunbrella) for awnings requires a fairly elaborate/costly piece of equipment.

Vinyl or thermoplastics can be done with a tool called a hot air welder, and then pressed with a silicone roller......but what are your thoughts on the results it achieves. Is this the tool that is used in refabricating pontoons, or adding a color stripe into vinyl upholstery, without sitching.

[fragged8]

these days a lot of plastics are ultrasonic welded
like pvc windows into covers, i don't like it as after a short time the
welds can crack.

It's done a lot over here but i steer clear of it.

Rich

[Allan]

I have a hot air welder that is used for plastic welding however i haven't tried it on vinyl yet although only last week i was chasing info up on the subject
I will let you know when i try it

Allan

[SteveMoke]

How did you get on with the hotair welder Allan? I'm looking at doing some rear PVC windows onto an everflex hooding so any info would be great.

[Allan]

Hi Steve

The hot air welder that. Have would not be suitable for what you want unless you spend some more dollars to get the proper attachments and I am talking thousands of dollars
I would suggest as Rich said and use an ultrasonic welder maybe
Check the local upholsters some one might have one or one who makes clear blinds might

Allan

[SteveMoke]

Thanks Allan .. I found this company and it may be what I am looking for, I am going to call them for a bit more info and maybe take a drive over as they are only a couple of hours away.

http://www.jhmbuttco.com/acatalog/Shop_Leister_Hot_Air_Tools.html#VR

[scarab29]

http://www.halldielectric.com/

http://www.leisterusa.com/en/index.html

http://www.weldmaster.com/

http://www.sineqco.com/

Went to a seminar on this @ ifai expo , these guys were there + some but I saw these machines in action. Pretty cool but not for the one off custom stuff I do. Production and factory assembly seems to be their home !

[SteveMoke]

Thanks for the links ... hotair is looking like it's the way to go for me, ultrasonic equipment looks to be a far more expensive option and will be way over my budget. The hotair gun and the few attachments I'll need comes in at around the 200 quid mark.

[fragged8]

hiya


I would check it out first Steve, i'm sure I was told hot air is not really any
good for PVC when I was thinking about buying one of those self propelled
ones you can get on ebay.

Rich

[Jim101]

You might want to give HH-66 vinyl adhesive a try.  It bonds vinyl quite well and you don't get that hard easy to crack weld, especially in cold weather, that you get with heat sealing.

Admittedly, the HH-66 adhesive can be messy and ideally you will need to use it outside or in an area with a high level of air exchanging.  The fumes can be overwhelming and there's always the risk of igniting if there's an open flame nearby.   :o

Other than the previously mentioned dangers it's good stuff.

Jim

[JuneC]

Jim's dead on with the HH66.  Wonderful stuff!  What I did was go to Sally Beauty Supply and buy a plastic squeeze bottle that hairdressers use to apply hair dye.  They're a comfortable size, very soft plastic (no hand fatigue), with a narrow nozzle tip that works great for controlling the glue.  And cheap.  I could not do without my HH66.  Darren turned me on the stuff many years ago. (thanks Darren!! :-* 0

June