A true master knows the value of a good instrument. Repairing plastic parts and structures requires many tools, and a plastic soldering iron ranks high on that list.
To select a tool, you need to pay attention to the material itself, because... it can be either soft or denser, which can cause difficulties in the soldering process for a particular tool.
When restoring the performance properties of a material, it is always necessary to take into account the breadth and variety of plastic products. After all, these products can be either solid or made of thin polyethylene film. And each type of plastic requires its own special tools with the appropriate technical characteristics.
But first you need to decide on the main types of this tool and the requirements for it.
Soldering iron for soldering plastic
The bumper is designed to protect the body from collisions and takes all impacts and damage. Traditional “tin” metal straightening, putty, painting is not suitable for this part of the body. For repairs you will need special equipment.
A soldering iron for plastic heats the damaged area to a certain temperature. Plastic can be heated to different degrees:
- Up to plasticity temperature. The material of the part becomes soft and flexible, its shape can be changed by hand. It is used to repair depressions, protrusions, warping and other deformations of a part without compromising its integrity.
- Up to melting point. The edges of the parts are melted and can be soldered into a single whole. Used in cases of plastic rupture.
- Up to destruction temperature. Not only the edge melts, but also large areas of the bumper material. Even if it was possible to form a seam, it will be fragile and short-lived. The repaired product will not be able to withstand operating loads.
Soldering the bumper
Soldering equipment is equipped with heating temperature control systems.
Tools and materials for plastic repair.
To repair plastic parts of a car, special materials and tools are used , without which it is not possible to carry out high-quality bumper repairs. You also need to know the type of plastic, which is practically impossible to visually determine, so most manufacturers leave markings to determine the type of plastic.
Now about each of them.
Soldering iron. The most important tool in this matter. Used for joining plastic fragments, mesh reinforcement, and for welding seams. The criteria for choosing a soldering iron are quite simple. It is desirable that the handle be wooden, since the plastic one begins to melt after the 3rd bumper. The power is at least 100 W, otherwise the process of soldering the bumper will turn into a “long-playing song”.
Hair dryer. It is also called a professional, construction, industrial, thermo-gun. When choosing it, you should pay attention to the power; it should be at least 1600W. The temperature of the directional air flow is also important; depending on the hair dryer, it ranges from 80-700 degrees. Air temperature adjustment has 2 options:
Types of soldering irons for soldering plastic bumpers
There are several types of soldering equipment for plastic products on the market:
- Ordinary. Powerful soldering iron for soldering plastic with a straight or curved tip. Designed for soldering broken and torn pieces of bumper. Such a device can reliably and permanently connect disparate fragments into a single whole.
- Thermal gun. It is used both for soldering parts and for straightening deformed areas. Equipped with a system for precise heating temperature control. This allows you to select operating parameters for each specific type of material, configuration and thickness of the bumper. The device comes with a wide range of attachments and accessories to facilitate soldering and straightening.
- Universal soldering station. A multi-tool combines several devices. Both a hair dryer and an electric soldering iron with a tip are connected to a common power supply. If necessary, they can be used either alternately or simultaneously to repair the most complex complex damage.
Hot air soldering station
Most stations and heat guns have a standard nozzle diameter, which allows you to use the nozzles apart from each other.
Bumper repair kit.
Below is a basic vehicle repair kit. The kit includes a modern technical hair dryer, four main nozzles for bumper repairs, a special Leister cutter for seam jointing before welding and a test bundle of welding rod for testing the welding process of different bumpers (and plastic parts). We deliver the entire set in an original plastic case from Leister.
| Reliable, inexpensive multi-purpose hand-held device with smooth temperature control. Bestseller! Leister Triac S hand dryer |
| New model of Leister hair dryer with smooth temperature control, alternative to Triac S. Best seller! Leister Triac ST hand dryer |
| Leister 100.303 - Standard nozzle diameter 5mm, fits for Triac and Diode devices. Leister 100.303 |
| Leister 106.996 - Tack attachment. Fits on socket 100.303. Leister 106.996 |
| Leister 106.992 - Fast welding attachment with 5.7x3.7 mm rod. Fits on socket 100.303. Leister 106.992 |
| Leister 107.137 - Fast welding attachment with 8x2 mm rod. Fits on socket 100.303. Leister 107.137 |
| Leister 106.997 – End mill D5.5 mm. Leister 106.997 |
| Leister 010101 - Test set of welding rods (all types). Leister 010101 |
Requirements for soldering irons for plastic
The main characteristic of the tool is its power. To be able to repair any damage, the power must be at least 100 watts. If the power is insufficient, the device will not be able to melt thick plastic. For hair dryers, power starts at 1500 watts.
In addition to power, an important parameter is the heating speed of the soldering iron tip. Conventional electric soldering irons used for electrical installation work are not suitable - they take only a few minutes to warm up. For work on plastic, the heating time should be no more than 10 seconds. Otherwise, all the work will turn into waiting for warm-up.
Professional soldering iron for plastic pipes
And one more requirement relates to ergonomics. The device should fit comfortably in the hand, not obscure the working area, allow the tip to be precisely brought to the working area and be controlled with great precision. Excessive weight, quickly tiring the hand, will not allow you to work long and productively
The principle of operation of a soldering iron
Before starting work, the surface must be cleaned of dirt and thoroughly degreased, the edges must be sanded.
When using a soldering iron, use the tip to melt the edges of the parts to be joined. Next, they need to be pressed together and fixed until they cool completely. It's best to press the edges together in advance and process them at the same time. After cooling, a weld is formed, connecting the two workpieces into a single whole.
When using a hairdryer, a stream of heated air is directed to the damaged area, uniformly heating it until the plasticity temperature is reached. Now you can give the softened plastic any desired shape. For welding, a slot nozzle is put on the hair dryer, which forms a narrow flat stream of heated air. This stream acts in the same way as a soldering iron tip.
Another type of repair is stapling. Staples are inserted into the soldering machine, they are heated and pressed into the material in such a way as to connect the parts of the bumper into a single whole, providing additional strength to the weld.
When repairing cracks, they should be cleaned and deepened to a depth of half a centimeter until a V-shaped groove is formed. Holes should be drilled at the ends of the crack to prevent further spread. Next, use a soldering iron to connect the edges until the crack disappears completely.
The seam should first be passed from the inside, the second pass is made from the front.
If the shape of the surface cannot be restored completely, pieces of fiberglass are glued to the problem areas. After restoring the shape and integrity of the bumper, it is painted in the same way as metal parts. A layer of primer is applied to the sanded and degreased surface, and after it dries, two layers of paint are applied. Polishing is used as a finishing touch.
Quick order of a set or components:
| vendor code | Name | Price | Add to cart |
| 141.227 | Leister Triac ST Handheld welding gun | 55230 rub. | |
| 107.137 | Leister Fast rod welding attachment 8x2 mm | 16486.1 rub. | |
| 100.303 | Leister Standard nozzle D 5 mm (clickable) for Triac and Diode devices | 6594 rub. | |
| 106.992 | Leister Fast rod welding attachment 5.7x3.7 mm | 6429.15 rub. | |
| 106.996 | Leister Tack attachment | 6429.15 rub. | |
| 106.997 | Leister End mill D 5.5 mm | 5666.85 rub. | |
| 010101 | Welding rod 010101 - Test beam of all materials | 3150 rub. |
After selecting the components you need, go to the cart to place your order.
Gun hair dryer
While working with a soldering iron, the material is leveled and redistributed by the tip. When working with a hair dryer, plastic filler rods are used, which are an analogue of solder when soldering or filler wire when welding.
Such rods are bought in stores or made independently by cutting up plastic waste. It is important to ensure that the rod is made of the same material as the product being repaired. The rod is sharpened on one side, and the other side is inserted into the retainer on the nozzle of the heat gun.
Soldering plastic with a hairdryer
The device is moved along the soldering line slowly, tilting the additive rod at an angle of 40-50°. To connect disparate fragments, soldering is performed in several passes. First you need to connect the fragments together with short seams, at the rate of one or two per side. Next, the resulting assembly is applied to the entire part of the bumper. If the contours coincide, solder along the contour. In the last pass, the fragments are finally soldered together.
What to look for when choosing
When choosing a soldering iron, you must take into account that it is designed to heat plastic. In this case, you should pay attention to several characteristics. First, the equipment must have optimal power, otherwise the plastic will not melt. The optimal indicator is at least 100 W.
Secondly, a soldering iron for car bumpers should have a convenient design. The user should not experience any discomfort when working with it. In addition, you need to choose a reliable unit from a trusted manufacturer.
Experts recommend giving preference to models equipped with wooden handles. This material does not heat up and does not lose its performance properties for a long time under the influence of high temperatures.
Technology for preparing plastic parts for soldering
First of all, you need to find out what kind of plastic the element to be repaired is made of. All of them are divided into two large groups:
- Solid. Marked with the symbols ABS, GF 15, GF 30, PAG.
- Soft. Usually not marked.
It is difficult to distinguish them by appearance without many years of experience. Therefore, it is worth looking for markings on the back of the bumper or body kit elements. The most durable plastic is polypropylene. Products made from it hold their shape well, have a good appearance and can be successfully repaired.
The preparation process consists of the following operations:
- Clean off dirt and remnants of old paintwork. Mechanical cleaning is accompanied by washing with a warm soapy solution.
- Degrease. Common organic solvents, such as white spirit, are suitable here. acetone, etc.
- Sand the soldering area with velvet sandpaper (P120). Large products are polished using a grinder.
- Blow with compressed air to remove sanding dust.
Plastic repair
Careful surface preparation allows you to achieve high quality work. A refurbished product may simply not be distinguishable from a new one.
FAQ on bumper repair kits.
Where can I get advice on bumper repair equipment?
If you have any questions, call our consultants +7(495)943-89-96. Our specialists will answer ANY questions about Leister bumper repair equipment.
How to buy a bumper repair kit?
Buying a repair kit is very simple: 1. Add the necessary components of your kit to your cart and place your order on the website. Or send your company details to [email protected] and indicate “Bumper repair kit” in the letter. 2. Pay the invoice. 3. The delivery department will deliver the kit directly to your office (free in Moscow), or deliver it to your city by a transport company of your choice (at the transport company’s tariffs).
What are the prices for bumper repair equipment?
Current prices for kit components are ALWAYS available on our website. You can click on any item that interests you and see the price and more detailed information on the item.
Why are Leister bumper repair tools so expensive?
Indeed, Leister tools and equipment are much more expensive than the manufacturers' analogues. But believe me, Leister quality is worth it! All equipment is made from high quality materials and thoroughly tested at the manufacturer. Welding machines Hair dryers from other manufacturers cannot work an 8-hour shift without changing their characteristics. Most of the industrial hair dryers offered on the market will begin to reduce the temperature of the air flow within a few minutes after starting work, because... It's just that the electronics are already overheated. And this in turn leads to poor-quality work results. Therefore, Leister industrial hair dryers and attachments are chosen by professionals who want to get a high-quality welding gun that will work for many years and will never let them down.
