Welding hinges on poly esky - anyone?

[Moonlighter]

Cleaning out my 60l blue poly esky last night, opened the lid to find one of the hinges was broken. Bugger!

On closer inspection the second hinge also pretty well stuffed.

It appears that the Thai manufacturer thought it was a good idea to use a mild steel pin for the hinge. Trouble was, to get the remaining broken section of pin out necessitated cutting the plastic because it was swollen and corroded in. Plus, it appears that the steel pins were installed then "welded over" as there was no way to get them out other than a hack job!

Got both pins out (one each hinge) now.

So, now the old steel rod is out, but the hinge bodies are a tad, well, butchered, and need to be plastic welded up so that I can then fit a new stainless rod through to create the new hinges. Well, that's the current plan anyway. If unable to do this, will most likely have to cut the old welded-on hinge bases off and fit some kind of replacement hinges. But would prefer to fix these ones if I can.

Anyone around here (Brisbane area) got a plastic welding kit, or know somewhere when I can get this done? Not a big job I wouldn't think.

Picture of said esky, in happier days, below for reference:

[Shark Poker]

Is this just a poor excuse to display the contents of your icebox? I mean, if you were serious about this inquiry you would show the relevant side of the hinges.
Very nice bunch of sandies, btw.

[Shark Poker]

to help with your question, Custom Plastic Fabrication in Capalaba do some plastic welding. And another company in Smith Street Capalaba ( near Trade Tools, other side of road) have that written on their shed.

If you go down the path of replacing the hinges, Luckily, a pair of basic butt hinges should do the job. At least you do not need any special shaped hinges.

And I have some in my shed that might be perfect.. Provided that self tapping screws have something to bite into. (If not we might need to inject some epoxy into the holes first.)

All too easy

[scottar]

There are a couple of plastic guys in Capalaba - one in Smith Street called Plastic Welded Products and another in I think Veronica Street that runs off Smith street. Other than that just cut them off and fit some stainless ones

[lethal]

I have the same problem with my orange esky, sometimes it wont close

[Yobbo70]

I got the same problem with my poly esky, I intend to use 316 stainless hinges and 316 stainless screws and some marine sealant like sikaflex when I get around to fixing it

[Rip it up]

If you intend on screwing hinges into the poly use really coarse threads on the screws. Or go down the epoxy plug scenario.


Damo's dodgy boat building repair centre.

[Dan5]

If you have a UES shop down your way swing in and have a look..........the one up here has the best selection of Marine hinges I've ever seen.........good quality poly's with stainless pins were only about $8 ea when I did my casting deck hatch lid.

Dan

[MAHALO]

Only one guy I could get to fix my water tank,really nice guy does a great job expensive, but he does all types of poly welding ACE MOBILE PLASTICS Noel Allen 0415 169 734

[rayken1938]

Will not the heat from the welding the plastic affect the interior insulation?
Cheers
Ray

[MAHALO]

It doesn't melt the existing material just joins it with a poly solution
Stu

[Moonlighter]

Thanks guys

I am going to take it up to the mobile plastics repair guy at Veronic St Capalaba to see what he could do and how much. Depending on the result I will make a call about whether to get the plastic weld repair or, as several have suggested, just to fix it with a pair of SS marine hinges.

Will keep you posted as to what happens. Might be a while before I can find a suitable time to get up there for them to have a look at it.