Plastic welding, making a Plastic electrical console for my boat.

Have any of you guys fiddled with plastic welding.
Empty Jugs from the kitchen etc. would make a lot of uses if a guy could put the parts together permanently!

I've made two consoles. Both with Pop Rivets and screws.
They work.
But I'd like to make a fancy looking thing for my last boat.

Flame torches and Hot Air guns, are the only ways I know of. I tried Soldering irons, but some times the welded parts came apart.

Different kinds of plastics are a problem too.

So c'mon all you tinkerers out there. Let's make this work!

Fixed a few kayaks by plastic welding. Similar plastics work best. Seems like a console would be easier to rotomold or thermoset rather than weld. Used car lots often have bumper repair guys that are very good at plastic welding, might want to seek them out for advice. Hot air with fine temperature control is the way to go, if you can afford the equipment.

I have welded lots if plastic, Hdpe mostly, get you a welder and some rod of the same type plastic that you are welding together. We used nitrogen as a shield gas. It's not hard but you'll need a little practice. Almost as easy as Mig welding, and not near as complicated as tig. Just to give you am idea.

try Harbor Freight, that's where I bought my stuff.

Searçh youtube for plastic welding repairs on kayaks. Should have plenty to watch.

Had a 3 wheeler that had cracked finders. Got some hot glue sticks from Honda that you use in hot glue gun. Fixed cracks and held up real well....just didn't look too great. you go slow and melt the plastic on each side of cracks as you fill with new plastic.