Polyethylene Tank Repair

[Passages]

Anyone know the best fix for a small crack in a polyethylene water tank?

Dockside suggestions included Gorilla Glue, "Goop" with a layer of wetted fiberglass fabric, West System Epoxy again with wetted layer of glass and melting additional PE on to the cracked area.

Additional suggestions are welcome

 

[Genesis]

The only thing that will stick to PE is more PE.

The old-fashioned way to do this is with a "p-tex candle" (used to repair gouges in the running surface on skis); they are lit and dripped molten on the area that needs repair.

(Former semi-competitive skiier here )

 

[Passages]

Karl,
Do I need to go to a ski shop for these "candles" or are they common Hardware store items?

 

[Genesis]

I've never seen them in a hardware store..... I always got 'em from the ski shop - they came in different colors (to match the base material on your skis)

 

[GOLE IV]

You can actually weld on a PE tank with PE. The key is to have the correct or compatible material as in steel welding. You can buy the tolls and rods from a company named US Plastic. ( little expensive). The tool is sort of a Hot Air gun.

IF you find someone in you area that works or fabricate things with PVC the equipment is the same.

 

[Passages]

You guys nailed it. I went to the Ski shop and they had p-tex candles in an assortment of colors.

I drilled a 1/16" hole on each end of the crack. Warmed the substrate with a hair dryer for a few minutes and then lit the candle and built up a few layers of drippage. Filled tank with water and presto! Fixed!

 

[bobk]

You guys nailed it. I went to the Ski shop and they had p-tex candles in an assortment of colors.

I drilled a 1/16" hole on each end of the crack. Warmed the substrate with a hair dryer for a few minutes and then lit the candle and built up a few layers of drippage. Filled tank with water and presto! Fixed!

Please let us know how it holds up after a few months service and sloshing in heavy seas.

Bob

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Some folks think that material would be a suitable replacement for our gasoline tanks. I don't want to be in the same county when someone drips the P-Tex on a leak in a gasoline tank. I used to race skis also. I think that any plastic tank that I have seen is a poor replacement for the original Hatteras fiberglass tanks.

 

[Genesis]

I wanna be there - and able to dive behind a nice brick wall

BBBBBOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!

 

[Passages]

Please let us know how it holds up after a few months service and sloshing in heavy seas.

Bob

Bob,
FYI, After a season of use, the poly tank repair using a p-tex candle has held up fine.