I have a council green garden bin with two cracks. I have bought a tool which heats up staples and which are then used to hold them the cracks closed. That is fine but I want it to be leak proof so need a glue that will actually bond the crack closed as well. Anyone done this with success please?
Glue for mending cracked wheelie bin?
- Thread starter JAW911
- Start date
Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:
Not done but I've wondered about this job.
My two thoughts would be hot melt glue as a bodge job, or much the best would be hot weld. Think car bumper repair where they use a hot air gun with a narrow nozzle and feed stick of plastic (not glue) in at the nozzle to melt and bond with the surrounding plastic.
My two thoughts would be hot melt glue as a bodge job, or much the best would be hot weld. Think car bumper repair where they use a hot air gun with a narrow nozzle and feed stick of plastic (not glue) in at the nozzle to melt and bond with the surrounding plastic.
I've used one of my old soldering irons (I got one dedicated to it now- being into electronics, I actually have quite a few here lol) and literally 'melt the plastic together'- kinda smearing it back and forth until it sets as one piece again...
Also works really well on the front airdam of the car lol (I do it from the 'back side' so the repair is less obvious...)
Works quite well on the council bins (our garbage truck drivers tend to have a habit of driving off with the bin still in the air, dropping them as they drive off...)
Also works really well on the front airdam of the car lol (I do it from the 'back side' so the repair is less obvious...)
Works quite well on the council bins (our garbage truck drivers tend to have a habit of driving off with the bin still in the air, dropping them as they drive off...)
I would find it hard to believe that it is not possible to find out what type of plastic the bin is made from by a simple search.
Then you can either use the same plastic as filler material in a weld or research 'glue for polypropylene' or whtever it turns out to be.
The welding option seems a better long term option as the glue would need to have the same flexibility and same temperature behaviour as the bin for it to survive long term between mid-summer and mid-winter.
Then you can either use the same plastic as filler material in a weld or research 'glue for polypropylene' or whtever it turns out to be.
The welding option seems a better long term option as the glue would need to have the same flexibility and same temperature behaviour as the bin for it to survive long term between mid-summer and mid-winter.
Lons
Established Member
I've mended both our bins though didn't bother welding or trying to make them leakproof as it really doesn't matter to me. Both were done a couple of years ago and have stayed "fixed".
All I did was drill small holes each side of the crack and threaded zip ties through. Looks a bit like Frankenstein stitches but it works. No staples to rust either and I already had the zip ties so no cost.
All I did was drill small holes each side of the crack and threaded zip ties through. Looks a bit like Frankenstein stitches but it works. No staples to rust either and I already had the zip ties so no cost.
I'm all for repairing and not wasting - you should see my earphones... like trigger's broom.
anyway, in this case, since the repair quality is important to you - why not ask the council for a new bin? They usually replace for free
anyway, in this case, since the repair quality is important to you - why not ask the council for a new bin? They usually replace for free
If the bin is a few years old, the plastic will have become embrittled by exposure to UV. Having repaired one crack, you can be pretty sure that another will follow shortly. Afraid that the only real answer is replacement. Our District Council will provide a replacement bin pretty quickly. Of course, this also works when the bin collectors drop the bin into the lorry!
Superduner
Established Member
If you "v" the crack, then fill it with bicarbonate of soda and dribble the runny type of superglue (cheap stuff will do) over it, the result is rock hard.
I use the method for car plastic repairs.
I use the method for car plastic repairs.
Canterbury council charge for replacement bins. 180ltr Black bin is £62.70 But a same size red bin is just £10. A 240ltr blue bin is £24.20
Green 240ltr is most costly at £69.30
So Looks like buy a red bin and spray the lid whatever colour you need or swop lids if the same size.
Green 240ltr is most costly at £69.30
So Looks like buy a red bin and spray the lid whatever colour you need or swop lids if the same size.
Lons
Established Member
Last time I looked Northumberland charged as well.
Well after the repairs to mine the collectors broke the lid on one and I reported that the bodies had split as well. They sent a guy out to inspect them then another 2 blokes who replaced only the lid on one and commented on my "clever" repairs.
It would have been cheaper if the council had just replaced the bins. They are after all using our council tax money.
stuart little
Established Member
'Wasting' it more like! Excuse the pun.Last time I looked Northumberland charged as well.
Well after the repairs to mine the collectors broke the lid on one and I reported that the bodies had split as well. They sent a guy out to inspect them then another 2 blokes who replaced only the lid on one and commented on my "clever" repairs.
throbscottle
Established Member
I can attest to the effectiveness of cable ties! Our Lads and Lasses were in the habit of breaking the insert (which we don't have anymore, thankfully) in our recycling bin - a new one was broken on its first collection! So I "stitched" it with cable ties. Didn't break again though the seam got dislodged once.
So anyway as to sealing. I would complement your staples with hot glue applied over the surface, which can also be used to fill the anti-splitting holes at the ends. Clean the surfaces as thoroughly as possible first. If you heat up the plastic first with a heat gun (on low setting!) it will go better.
I think the bins are made of ABS, but there should be a mark somewhere telling you.
So anyway as to sealing. I would complement your staples with hot glue applied over the surface, which can also be used to fill the anti-splitting holes at the ends. Clean the surfaces as thoroughly as possible first. If you heat up the plastic first with a heat gun (on low setting!) it will go better.
I think the bins are made of ABS, but there should be a mark somewhere telling you.
Lons
Established Member
It's unlikely to be ABS which is too brittle to throw around, think of kettles, toasters etc. They will be PETG or more likely polyethelene for outdoor use and flexibility. Perhaps even HDPE
. That's just from my plastic days, I'll have a look later.slimshady
Established Member
How about cutting a sliver from the lid and using that as the Filler Rod.
I'd have thought the technique used by body shop folk on car bumpers and skirts would be effective on a wheelie bin -
Basically they embed multiple bent wires by melting them into the plastic and thus stitching the joint together.
I've not looked in detail but would think one of those instant heat pistol-style soldering irons would be ideal and a collection of pre-bent 'tips'...
Basically they embed multiple bent wires by melting them into the plastic and thus stitching the joint together.
I've not looked in detail but would think one of those instant heat pistol-style soldering irons would be ideal and a collection of pre-bent 'tips'...
Ask the council for a new replacement.
Lons
Established Member
It depends where you are Blister, our LA charges and they weren't cheap the last time I looked. Ironic when 99 times out of 100 it's the refuse collectors / wagons that do the damage.
Similar threads
