Small Crack in Freshwater Tank...

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AustinPaul

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I've got a 100 gal plastic freshwater tank that has developed a small crack on the topside. It's really not a big issue yet, but I want to see if I can stop it from spreading.

Any suggestions? My first thought was JB Weld. I had amazing success with it on an underwater part of my pool cleaner. It lasted forever.

EDIT: Just knocked down the JB Weld. Checked their site and they specifically indicate that it does not bond well to polyethylene, which is what I am expecting the tank is made from.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Paul
 
Man up and duck tape it!

Seriously, how big is the crack and how easy to get to? I would think you would have to drill a small hole at each end to relieve the inline stress.

Found this online:

http://www.stealth316.com/2-dp8005.htm

Maybe the Scotch Weld will work. Worth a shot.

If you know a dentist, I wonder if a composite resin filling cured with one of those UV guns would work?

That's it. I'm out of ideas.
 
Paul, if it isn't on a corner, edge or seam - basically if it's in an area where you have good access to it, along with both ends of the crack, first drill a small hole (1/8") at each extreme end of the crack - to stop it from spreading. Then get a piece of neoprene gasket material, and a piece of stainless steel metal, 1/16" or thicker. Put the neoprene on top of the crack, the stainless on top of it, and drill and screw it down with stainless steel sheet metal screws spaced about an inch apart. It'll need to cover the crack and at least an inch more on either side, and each end.

But if it's in an area where you can't get good, open access to it, you'll probably have to get someone onboard who does plastic heat welding, to repair it that way. Look in the phone book or ask around. Plastic heat welding is similar to metal welding with a torch, but isn't for the novice. You heat it up with a heat gun, then with a rod of the same plastic material, melt both sides of the crack along with the rod, and fill it in with the plastic rod. The base material, as well as the rod, must all be melted together.
 
Many thanks guys.

Vic, I know someone who has, and knows how to use, a plastic welder, so that's definitely an option I had considered (but I have to pay $90/hr to have it done). Thanks for the other suggestions too. I have perfect access to the tank and the crack, though it's quite close to a corner. I'm going to give it a careful look tonight. There's also a special 3M product I found that I'm going to check into.

Thanks again!
 
Paul, because polyethylene has so much oil in it, most adhesives will not permanantly adhere to it, not even epoxy.

Maybe you can offer to take the guy with the plastic welder out fishing or something for a few hours or even a day, in exchange for him fixing your tank.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

Paul, because polyethylene has so much oil in it, most adhesives will not permanantly adhere to it, not even epoxy.

Maybe you can offer to take the guy with the plastic welder out fishing or something for a few hours or even a day, in exchange for him fixing your tank.

Click to expand...
Vic, I think that's the best plan!

Paul
 
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