Welding is a method of metal fabrication that uses flame or welder electric current. Welder is the best way to do this as they are, however, if you do not have one at home then this article can help you!
Welding was first made available as a method for constructing artworks in the late Middle Ages until today. Then, when work or craftsmen needed their work completed quickly, they used welding.
Today, welding is more popular than ever as it can be done at home. There are many ways to do it, though! You can start right away!
This article will discuss how to make the easy welds at home.
Contents:
Select your plastic to weld
There are two main types of plastic that can be welded. These plastics include metal-reinforced and laminate-reinforced. Both have their own benefits and challenges!
Welding plastic at home is more challenging than welding metal. The main challenge is in finding the right type of plastic for your project. While it can be done by hand, this is less reliable than using a welder.
Welding plastic at home requires two steps. First, you first need to identify whether the plastic you want to weld needs a metal or a laminate cover. If a laminate cover is needed, then you need to use another type of plastic to create a solid base.
Then, you need to pick the right temperature for the plastic. You want to use enough heat to melt the plastic, but not too much so that it becomes brittle.
Set up the plastic welder
Setting up a welder is all about the set up. You need to have a place to get your heat, you need to know how to use a welder, and you must know how to set up your welder!
A welder requires a heat source such as a burn-side gas burner or hot iron. It can also be difficult to control due to its variable heat capability.
To use a Welder properly and safely, you must have proper gear such as an arc safety device ( arcsafety ), shield, and ground alike. When working with metal, the most important part of the gear is the blade!
Arc Safety Device ( arc safety device ) – This devices protects your body from being burned by the flames created when you connect the welding wire or rod to the metal. Most places that welders supply themselves with arc safety devices are at home or at welding classes.
Choose your settings
Before you can start welding, you must choose your welding settings. These settings determine what kind of plastic you can be used on, how much heat you can apply to it, and how hard the plastic is.
Soft plastics like thermoplastic require less heat to become melted. This makes it more flexible which is what you want in your project. If you need more solidity then hardplastics may be better option.
Hardplastics cannot be melted down so well so that does not matter as much as some people think. If you are looking for a quick fix then a softplastic may be what you want!
To find out if your plastic needs more or less heat, take some into consideration its tempera- tive names like calcinator or thermostat.
Weld your piece together
Looking for a more permanent solution to your plastic welding needs? Try injection molding your piece. This is not for the faint of heart, however!
Welding is a very delicate process. If you damage your piece when working with an injection molding machine, you will have to start all over again.
But in this case, you have the opportunity to add some flair to your project with some decorative features as you build them up. You can add pieces together or make sets for parties or something.
Injection molding is the best way to go if you do not have access to a welder.
Let it dry
Once the plastic is welded, you have several options. You can either let it cool down to room temperature or refrigerate it. Both of these give you some time to observe the effect of the welding.
You can also bake the plastic in a oven or hot dry surface for twenty minutes, depending on how thick the plastic is. This requires very careful handling as the plastic can break easily.
Finally, you can use a hammer and cold metal to create a stronger bond. This requires more practice and skill so do not go doing this until you have learned how to do it yourself!
These methods all take time to set up so get busy with them already! Once they are done, your project will look beautiful and professional.
Sand it down
Once you have the reinforcing plastic pieces picked out, the next step is to figure out how to weld it together. This is where your power source comes in!
Power Sources! Paragraph
caption If you are welding metal components together, you will need a power source. The two most common sources of power are electricity and your torch.
The electricity can be supplied by a wall socket, by running a small wire through a fabric or layer of material, or by using one of those tiny battery packs that you buy for your phones.
As with all woodworking projects, be careful not to drop the torch or mishandle the board as it heats up!
You also need an iron: A heat source that does not cool down easily enough to hold its shape under pressure is just not ideal for this type of project.
Paint it or polish it
If you are planning on using the plastic in a toy or project, paint or polish it as soon as possible. If you are planning on using it to construct something, start building early to ensure your piece of plastic is painted and/or polished.
Once they are painted and/or polished, there are a few ways to use them. You can use them without worrying about them breaking, just make sure they are well-greased before attempting to hold anything else up. You can also use them gluing or painting them with some sort of substance, just make sure it is no harsh chemical that could harm the plastic.
Lastly, you can use them as decorations or molding materials.
Use UV lighting to cure it
If you are welding hard plastic such as a case or case-cover, you can use UV lighting. This is very useful if you are welding large pieces as well because the light helps cure it.
The best place to install the lighting is below and to the right of where you want your weld to appear. You will need a powerful source of light to cure your plastic, so be prepared to buy some extra power cord money!
Once the plastic is exposed to light, it must be turned away from light until it is completely cured. This may take several hours!
Make sure that you do not overheat your plastic while curing, otherwise it will not harden correctly.