Polyethylene holding tank

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Terry, Mar 15, 2004.

  1. Terry
    Joined: Feb 2004
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Florida Panhandle

    Terry Junior Member

    Hey All,

    Does anyone know how to weld/glue fittings to polyethylene tanks? I usually use thru-hull fittings with lots of 5200, but I really don't like how that looks.

    There's got to be a way!

    Thanks,

    Terry
     
  2. mmd
    Joined: Mar 2002
    Posts: 378
    Likes: 18, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 309
    Location: Bridgewater NS Canada

    mmd Senior Member

    Around my neck of the woods there is a pretty healthy fishery, and all the fishermen and processors use polyethylene fishboxes. When they break 'em or run a front-end loader through 'em, they call a local company that specializes in welding polyethylene. I suspect that your Gulf shrimp fishery uses the same type of fishboxes, and I bet your local processor would know someone who welds poly. Ask down at the fishplant.
     
  3. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Welding plastic isn't hard, but as in all welding, requires experience to do correctly. A heat gun, some rod and a respirator (you don't want to suck this stuff into your lungs) should get it done, but take MMD's advise and find the local folks who do this for a living. I don't think it's something that can be learned on a Saturday morning so you can have at the tank in the afternoon.
     
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