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Plastic welders can fix broken garden furniture, toys, kayaks, car bumpers, and many other items. In many cases, these welders will soon pay for themselves. Unlike glue repairs, which often crack if the plastic flexes, a properly formed weld is strong and permanent.
Shlomo Cherniak, handyman and owner of Cherniak Handyman Services in Baltimore, Maryland, says almost any homeowner can benefit from having a plastic welder. “They offer a cost-effective and durable solution for repairing a variety of plastic items around the house. By investing in a plastic welder, you’re not just fixing things; you’re extending their life and saving money in the long run. Plus, it’s a skill that can come in handy for creative crafting projects as well.” While most plastic welders are easy to use, they don’t all do the same jobs. Shoppers can choose from several types and will want to consider different performance levels for their home repair projects.
In this article we explain the key features of each machine. Our favorite is the Polyvance Mini-Weld Model 7 Airless Plastic Welder, which we liked for its consistent heat, ease of use, and flexibility. We also provide real-world examples that represent the best plastic welders for a variety of jobs at home and at work.
- BEST OVERALL: Polyvance Mini-Weld Model 7 Airless Plastic Welder
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: TruePower Plastic Welding Kit With Plastic Rods
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HOME AND LEISURE: JounJip Plastic Welding Repair Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST AUTOMOTIVE: Allturn Plastic Welding & Stapler Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST AIR GUN: Seekone Heat Gun Hot Air Gun Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR SMALL REPAIRS: Bondic Pro UV Resin & Welding Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR SEAMS: BeyondLife Plastic Hot Air Welder Heating Gun
↓ Jump to Review
How We Chose the Best Plastic Welders
Our aim was to provide comprehensive coverage of the subject and find solutions for just about every plastic welding task, which meant we needed to find various tools. Cherniak says the main features to consider are compatibility and temperature control. “Check the types of plastic the welder can repair, and ideally, look for adjustable temperature settings, which allows for precision when working with sensitive materials,” he says. Looking at these features and ease of use, we considered plastic welders and plastic welding kits from all the leading manufacturers in this market, taking into account the machine’s capabilities, accessories provided, and, of course, the cost. Our research uncovered that although some tools are very versatile, there is no one best plastic welder for every single job.
The result of our research is a collection that can solve nearly any plastic welding challenge and offers something for all budgets.
Our Top Picks
The following are some of the best plastic welders on the market. They’ve each been assigned a category so shoppers can quickly identify the best plastic welding tool for different tasks.
Best Overall
Polyvance Mini-Weld Model 7 Airless Plastic Welder
Product Specs
- Type: Airless
- Power: 200W
- Maximum temperature: Not specified
What We Like
- Features easy-to-use temperature control
- Has 8 different types of welding rods
- Molded case for storing the welder and accessories
- Includes 2 interchangeable tips and a range of accessories
What We Don’t Like
- Users may run out of some included rods
The Polyvance Mini-Weld Model 7 takes top spot in our plastic welder review thanks to its high performance, flexibility, comprehensive content, and useful storage case.
The 200-watt (W) ceramic element heats up quickly and is more reliable than metal alternatives, delivering the consistent heat necessary for high-melting-point materials. A straightforward dial controls variable temperature. The dial doesn’t show temperatures but rather the type of plastic being welded instead. The settings make it simple for beginners to get started, plus a link to instructional videos is also provided.
The Polyvalence comes with one general-purpose standard welding tip, teardrop welding tip, reinforcing mesh, and a wire brush. There are eight welding rods, each for a different type of plastic repair. These include polyurethane, polypropylene, ABS, polyethylene, TPO, nylon, polycarbonate, and FiberFlex rods. While this adds to the model’s versatility, it does mean that some rods may run out quickly, depending on the job. However, the set also includes a pack of FiberFlex, a unique hot-melt adhesive that adheres to any plastic substrate.
Get the Polyvance plastic welder at Amazon, Walmart, or JB Tools.
Best Bang For The Buck
TruePower Plastic Welding Kit With Plastic Rods
Product Specs
- Type: Airless
- Power: 80W
- Maximum temperature: 525 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Affordable; designed for the everyday user
- Includes a beginner set of accessories
- Has a lightweight and easy-to-operate slim handheld design
What We Don’t Like
- May be slow to work with on some surfaces
- Lacks additional welding tips
The TruePower kit comes with everything required to start plastic welding at a price that brings it within just about any budget. Though power is limited to 80W, it can still produce sufficient heat for various plastic repairs. However, progress will be slow on some materials and thicker items.
The welder design is basic with no temperature control, yet it warms quickly up to 525 degrees Fahrenheit. A general-purpose tip with a fairly common fit comes with the welder. Users can purchase others, such as a boot tip, separately. Also included is a cleaning brush, a small amount of mesh, and a pack of plastic rods. These are intended for use with thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), olefinic thermoplastic elastomer (TEO), and polypropylene (PP) plastics.
Get the TruePower plastic welder at Amazon.
Best Home And Leisure
JounJip Plastic Welding Repair Kit
Product Specs
- Type: Airless
- Power: 80W
- Maximum temperature: 525 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Includes a spare tip and a varied accessory kit
- Offers an intuitive handheld design and straightforward controls
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certified
What We Don’t Like
- Low wattage, which may result in slower operation
The JounJip plastic welding repair kit is an upgrade to TruePower’s budget model. The welder is the same low-cost but reliable 80W unit, but the kit has a larger, more versatile set of accessories.
This kit includes two identical tips, which is great for long-term use since tips eventually wear out. There are 20 welding rods suitable for a wide range of TPO, TEO, and PP items, including plastic bins and buckets, furniture, kayaks, toys, and vehicles. In addition to including the usual reinforcing mesh, the kit also has five aluminum repair tapes that can add tremendous strength, particularly for automotive repairs.
The JounJip plastic welder is also UL certified, so it meets independent safety standards recognized in the U.S. and Canada.
Get the JounJip plastic welder at Amazon.
Best Automotive
Allturn Plastic Welding & Stapler Kit
Product Specs
- Type: Airless tack welder
- Power: 100W
- Maximum temperature: 1,380 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Metal staples enhance joint strength
- Accessory kit includes the welder, plastic rods, metal staples, and wire cutters
- Built-in overheating protection safeguards the welder from damage
What We Don’t Like
- Welder can overheat quickly
The Allturn hot stapler can be used as a standard airless plastic welder, melting rods into splits or cracks to form a repair. However, it can also work as a hot staple gun, embedding hot staples into the plastic components, holding them together with tremendous strength. Plastic can then be smoothed over the top to conceal the staple and provide a neat finish.
This hot stapler plastic welder is an ideal solution for cracked bumpers, lighting surrounds, and dashboards, and can also be used for motorcycle fairings and luggage, lawn mower decks, etc. The 100W gun is well-balanced and heats up quickly. An LED work light built into the front helps users see their work in dark areas, and overload protection prevents overheating.
The Allturn Hot Stapler plastic welder comes in a useful case with a utility knife, snips, 800 assorted staples, and an assortment of plastic welding rods.
Get the Allturn plastic welder at Amazon.
Best Air Gun
Seekone Heat Gun Hot Air Gun Kit
Product Specs
- Type: Heat gun
- Power: 1,800W
- Maximum temperature: 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Provides a concentrated stream of hot air that can quickly heat large areas
- Offers variable temperature settings
- Serves multiple purposes and includes 4 nozzles
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for small repairs due to the wide spread of heat
- Features a power cord that is only 5.25 feet long
The Seekone heat gun is extremely popular. It’s powerful, versatile, and very inexpensive. Two power modes can deliver airflow of 190 to 210 liters per minute (l/min) or 250 to 500 l/min, and the temperature is variable, from as low as 122 degrees Fahrenheit up to 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit.
Particularly good at heating large parts quickly, and with four included nozzles, the Seekone heat gun can also be used for shrink-wrapping cables, soldering copper pipes, bending PVC, and stripping paint. Overload protection protects the heat gun and provides operator safety. A useful wire stand allows the gun to sit upright, preventing damage to the desk or bench while it cools.
The power cord is a bit short at 5.25 feet, and the welder does not have a case. Plus, focusing on small areas with heat guns or achieving the smooth finish that airless plastic welders can provide is difficult.
Get the Seekone plastic welder at Amazon.
Best For Small Repairs
Bondic Pro UV Resin & Welding Kit
Product Specs
- Type: UV resin
- Power: N/A
- Maximum temperature: 302 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Features a slim size and precise tip
- Suitable for use on various materials
- Bonds almost instantly under the included UV light
What We Don’t Like
- Not a true weld
The Bondic Pro uses a unique approach to repairing broken plastic, which, strictly speaking, isn’t welding. It doesn’t use heat but relies on an LED UV light instead. However, this method still can provide effective repairs with unrivaled accuracy.
The Bondic Pro’s fine tip can apply a precise amount of liquid plastic to a crack or break. The UV light then hardens the plastic. When dry, which takes seconds, it is nontoxic, heat-resistant, and waterproof. Users can then sand and paint the repair if necessary. In addition to various plastics, the Bondic Pro can repair wood, metal, rubber, ceramics, and fabrics.
The Bondic Pro system is more effective than most glues but does not fully bond plastics like welding, so repairs don’t have the same strength. The tool comes with two tubes of adhesive in a neat metal case.
Get the Bondic plastic welder at Amazon.
Best For Seams
BeyondLife Plastic Hot Air Welder Heating Gun
Product Specs
- Type: Heat gun
- Power: 1,600W
- Maximum temperature: 1,202 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Includes 4 nozzle types
- Offers variable temperature and airflow to handle a broader range of jobs
- Comes with a silicon finishing roller for creating a smooth surface finish
What We Don’t Like
- Finicky heat control that lacks precision
- More expensive than other units on this list
The BeyondLife heat gun is an easy-to-use tool that provides good versatility thanks to its four nozzles. In particular, the tool includes two speed nozzles: one for triangular welding rods and one for round. This makes it ideal for welding plastic seams on tarpaulins, truck curtains, and vinyl pool linings. The welder also has the power for heavy-duty repairs if necessary.
Airflow can vary up to 230 l/min via a collar with useful suggestions for different material settings. Temperature control is on the back of the unit, though the 1 through 8 positions are a bit hit-and-miss until users get accustomed to performance. The kit also contains a silicone roller that can help make smooth repairs if necessary. The kit includes welding rods for polyethylene and PVC, though only one of each, and has no case.
Get the BeyondLife plastic welder at Amazon.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Plastic Welder
There are dozens of plastic welders on the market, so it’s important to understand their capabilities in order to make the right choice. Much like when looking for the best welders for beginners at metalwork, buyers should know that some tools are more user-friendly than others as beginners learn how to weld plastic, and some are more suited to professional tasks. The key features are as follows.
Type of Welder
Plastic welders fall into four general categories: heat guns, airless (or contact), high-frequency, and friction welders.
A plastic welding gun typically looks a lot like a small hair dryer, though some have tubular shapes. They melt plastic by delivering a stream of hot air. The tools come with various attachments to spread or focus the hot air, so the heat guns are quite versatile. They can be used directly on plastics, or plastic welding rods may be melted into joints or cracks.
Airless plastic welders are similar in design to a soldering iron used for electrical work. A handle with a rod attached delivers heat to a metal tip. Basic models have a single heat setting, though better tools are variable. Plastic welding rods can be used with mesh or foil to create strong repairs.
Ultrasonic and friction welding both work by vibrating plastic components very fast, developing heat that bonds them together. However, both are industrial processes found only in factories and laboratories.
Types of Welding and Tips
Several terms are used to describe types of welds in plastic welding, and the tool’s welding tips might be confusing. So, let’s clarify those.
Tack welding is usually considered a small temporary weld to hold two pieces together until the full weld forms. However, in plastic welding, a plastic staple welder can insert a metal staple between the pieces to be repaired, thus providing a strong joint. The area can then be smoothed over to conceal the staple.
Speed welding tips are particularly good when joining two seams together. A plastic welding rod is fed into the tip, right where the heat is focused, and melts into the joint as the user moves the gun along.
Pendulum welding is a process used with heavy-duty plastic welding, when parts require considerable heat buildup to weld them together successfully. The term describes the motion of moving the tip back and forward across the area in a swinging, or pendulum, motion.
Power
All plastic welders have a wattage rating that describes the amount of power generated. This should not be confused with how hot they get. For example, an 80W airless plastic welder and a 200W airless plastic welder might both be capable of reaching 500 degrees Fahrenheit or more. The difference is that the 80W model would take longer to heat up and would work more slowly.
As the tip comes into contact with the plastic to be melted, some of the heat dissipates. The machine then needs to reheat. The higher the wattage, the less noticeable this heat drain will be, and the faster the user can achieve a weld.
Heat guns have a much higher wattage rating than airless welders, typically 1,500W or more. Hot air is a less efficient way to transfer heat, so the guns need to generate more energy to overcome this.
Welding Rods
Generally, it’s recommended to weld “like” plastics. For example, to repair a polypropylene item, use a polypropylene welding rod. However, there are also some multipurpose rods that can be used on a few different types of plastic (when in doubt, try a short test weld). Many plastic welders come with a variety of welding rods useful for common plastic materials.
Ideally, choose a plastic welder that includes suitable welding rods for the job at hand. Sure, some welders come with a wide variety of rods, but the extras aren’t really useful if you don’t need them! You may need to purchase rods separately, which you’ll want to factor into your budget.
Airflow and Temperature
Airless plastic welders have either a single heat setting or variable settings. The latter allows more control. With heat guns, performance is a combination of the temperature generated and the airflow. Airflow often is given in liters per minute. An airflow of 1 l/min is roughly equal to a quarter gallon per minute.
If the temperature stays the same but the airflow is raised, then the gun will weld faster. However, that’s not always the aim. For example, heat guns are often used for shrink wrapping electrical cables, and in that case slow heat is better. So a heat gun with variable temperature control and variable airflow will be more versatile than one without these controls.
Accessories
A plastic welder might come with a variety of accessories as part of the purchase:
- Additional tips: Different heat welding tips add versatility to a plastic welder. With airless models, only one or two tips may be supplied, whereas heat guns typically have four or more. These are designed for a variety of tasks, so it’s important to check the function of each.
- Plastic welding rods: These are often general-purpose rods, but the range of materials that are called “plastic” is vast, so it might be necessary to have specific rods for welding a particular material. If the exact material is not known, then where practical, it is advisable to weld a test piece. Staples usually come with tack welding machines.
- Mesh or tape: Airless plastic welders often come with mesh or tape to reinforce repairs as well as sandpaper to roughen surfaces for a stronger bond. Each of these (and the welding rods previously mentioned) are consumables, so it’s worth checking the quantity provided and where to purchase further supplies if they run out.
FAQs
The article above covers a lot of useful information, and we hope it has provided shoppers with a good understanding of the key considerations when choosing a plastic welder. A plastic welder is a great companion to other welding equipment tools (if you’re also shopping for these tools, check out our best welders guide and YesWelder review). During our research, a few questions cropped up about welding plastics that may not have been explained above, and those are answered here.
Yes. There are a number of different plastic welders used for repairing everything from inflatable pools to plastic buckets as well as furniture to auto bumpers. Some of the best are included above.
Using any type of plastic melting tool or heat welding gun may raise concerns about fumes. Always weld plastic in a well-ventilated area. It’s a good idea to use a respirator, and it may be required, depending on the material and length of exposure. Plastic welding guns and rods should come with a user guide and Material Safety Data Sheet (M.S.D.S.), which will provide safety information.
The best glue guns don’t stand a chance against a plastic welder. When done right, it can lead to very durable results! Plastic welding is often used in automotive repair since it can result in very strong and long-lasting repairs. It’s also possible to improve durability using accessories like staples, mesh, or tape to reinforce repairs.
Providing users choose the right model, plastic welders work very well. Much like the best MIG welders for metal (which you’ll want to use with a pair of the best welding gloves), the welded pieces of plastic can be every bit as strong as the material around it.
Providing users choose the right model, plastic welders work very well. Much like the best MIG welders for metal (which you’ll want to use with a pair of the best welding gloves), the welded pieces of plastic can be every bit as strong as the material around it.
