Can the hot staple plastic welders be used to repair broken tabs on the headlight trim rings, or are they only for soft plastic like the bumpers?

 

I’d use PlastiFix from Polyvance.

I’ve heard tell that this is just super glue and baking soda, but I’ve never tried it. Just used PlastiFix to make tabs on a motorcycle fairing, like in the video. But, imho, the pin oiler/applicator tip and the heat moldable pieces make the PlastiFix kit worth the money. Comes in white or black, whichever suits your needs best.

When I studied Plastic Welding and PDR, we never used the staples. Just heat irons and hydrogen torches. That would work, too if you used the proper sticks. I’d take a WAG that the headlight ring is ABS (as was the MC fairing I repaired). I think the staples work best on the various HDPE compounds. They’re softer, like you said.

 

Just about every plastic part will have a molded label on it somewhere with info like manufacture date, part #, etc like this:


The bit between the > < is the type of plastic. In this case, polypropylene (PP) Check the headlight ring to determine the plastic type. You want to use a product that is compatible with that type of plastic. On ABS, I prefer the PlastiFix (and nylon mesh if it’s called for) to welding because IME ABS has a very narrow temperature range between welding and burning.

 

Just checked one of the plastic rings I have laying around (broken of course) and no marks other than part number on them. They are a hard black plastic. Not sure what type (maybe ABS?) but it chips. Mine have been repaired with super glue and they broke again where they were glued so not sure if that's the best route. Would love to know as well because I have half a dozen of these that are all broken in one place or another.

 

If you want to send me your most busted up one, I’ll play around with it and see what works best. Hard black plastic that chips Is probably ABS.

I’m guessing PlastiFix w/ nylon mesh backing.

 

Zombie thread bump.

Was a reliable solution ever found for this type of repair to the headlight rings?

 

I tried E6000 which is good on a lot of things, but did not reliable reconnect on of the plastic nipples on this ring. Loctite 404 is superglue on steroids that I have used elsewhere with good results, but I haven't tried it on this yet.