Hello all,
I'm trying to make a DIY skeg for an inflatable kayak after the original manufacturer hasn't been able to restock the item for replacement in months. You can read more about the project on this thread on a DIY forum. I've come to a point where the main advice and concern is regarding bonding plastic. From briefly looking on this forum it seems that before moving forward I may want to reconsider the type of plastic I'm using, to which I'm not opposed. I'm hoping to bond it to itself (fin to base) and also to these fiberglass chopsticks, which I will insert inside the biplex columns of the board, for added rigidity. I was thinking of heating up the plastic board & chopsticks in a regular kitchen oven to a softening point, about 300 Deg F, then taking it outside and working on it there to insert the chopsticks and bond the board to itself. Perhaps using an adhesive as well - idk what - recommendations are welcome. I figured hot glue or superglue. Alternatively to the oven route, or even perhaps in conjuction, I have a soldering tool I could use. I also have some metal rods (that came with the plastic board) which I thought I could use similarly to the chopsticks for rigidity. Although bonding that would probably be less successful. I'm roughly aware there are serious concerns with toxic fumes when heating plastic. Should I be concerned? How can I mitigate risk? How can I assure the most successful bonding results?
I'm trying to make a DIY skeg for an inflatable kayak after the original manufacturer hasn't been able to restock the item for replacement in months. You can read more about the project on this thread on a DIY forum. I've come to a point where the main advice and concern is regarding bonding plastic. From briefly looking on this forum it seems that before moving forward I may want to reconsider the type of plastic I'm using, to which I'm not opposed. I'm hoping to bond it to itself (fin to base) and also to these fiberglass chopsticks, which I will insert inside the biplex columns of the board, for added rigidity. I was thinking of heating up the plastic board & chopsticks in a regular kitchen oven to a softening point, about 300 Deg F, then taking it outside and working on it there to insert the chopsticks and bond the board to itself. Perhaps using an adhesive as well - idk what - recommendations are welcome. I figured hot glue or superglue. Alternatively to the oven route, or even perhaps in conjuction, I have a soldering tool I could use. I also have some metal rods (that came with the plastic board) which I thought I could use similarly to the chopsticks for rigidity. Although bonding that would probably be less successful. I'm roughly aware there are serious concerns with toxic fumes when heating plastic. Should I be concerned? How can I mitigate risk? How can I assure the most successful bonding results?
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