ABS BUMPER REPAIR

[Paul and Pippa]

I've posted about repairing my own bumper before but just found out it's ABS plastic,,any advice would be much appreciated..

 

[Stealaway]

I'd be interested too - So many different plastics and many of which will not glue successfully.
I have managed to stick strips of curtain rail (similar plastic) to my bumper cracks but still not 100%

 

[Landy Andy]

Are you talking about front (Ducato) bumper or the rear MoHo one?

 

[Paul and Pippa]

Rear MH,,

 

[Puddleduck]

People who 3D print with ABS inform me that acetone is a solvent for it. I have not tried this so don't blame me if it doesn't work or works too well.

You can get ABS filament made for printing from these people:



They are very knowledgeable and you could ask them for recommendations.

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[Paul and Pippa]

I'd be interested too - So many different plastics and many of which will not glue successfully.
I have managed to stick strips of curtain rail (similar plastic) to my bumper cracks but still not 100%

I contacted Dethleffs and they said it was ABS..apparently what l saw, on utube its the same material as lego..

 

[Paul and Pippa]

I'd be interested too - So many different plastics and many of which will not glue successfully.
I have managed to stick strips of curtain rail (similar plastic) to my bumper cracks but still not 100%

Saw a video on utube, said ABS is the same material as lego.. And said it can be melted down to use as a repair.

 

[Ismbardbrunel]

You can buy ABS welding rods off ebay very cheap and quite easy to use....with a hot air gun... I use them also with polypropylene rods to repair washing machines

 

[Crazylegs]

Nearly if not all plastic products are stamped with info including what type of plastic it is. This allows plastic welders to select the correct rod to repair cracks and splits.
These folk supply all the equipment for plastic welding
https://www.welwyntoolgroup.com/plastic-welding/plastic-welding-hand-tools
whilst it’s probably not worth buying for one job, you can Google plastic welding around your location and you should find someone not too far away with the equipment.

 

[Paul and Pippa]

Nearly if not all plastic products are stamped with info including what type of plastic it is. This allows plastic welders to select the correct rod to repair cracks and splits.
These folk supply all the equipment for plastic welding
https://www.welwyntoolgroup.com/plastic-welding/plastic-welding-hand-tools
whilst it’s probably not worth buying for one job, you can Google plastic welding around your location and you should find someone not too far away with the equipment.

That's very helpful, thank you

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[Diabalo]

Try a repair kit called plast-aid, it can be found on Amazon

 

[Paul and Pippa]

Try a repair kit called plast-aid, it can be found on Amazon

Thank you

 

[TheBig1]

You can quickly cause more damage trying to diy repair split abs plastic panels. Far better to have a trained specialist plastic weld the damage

 

[Dognewf]

YouTube has info for self repairs. plumbers glue for ABS thickened with scrap pipes is suggested. i have some but not brave enough to try it yet. white Gorilla make duct tape covers it well enough for now.

 

[Paul and Pippa]

YouTube has info for self repairs. plumbers glue for ABS thickened with scrap pipes is suggested. i have some but not brave enough to try it yet. white Gorilla make duct tape covers it well enough for now.
[/QUOTE. I've got duct tape on now,, lol.. I'm fed up with people going past saying.. Ohhhh look he's had a bump lol..l will try and repair it myself after taking on board all the advice. May be better than paying out almost £1000,,

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[TheBig1]

plastic welding should be way cheaper than that, maybe £200 ish

 

[bill1950]

I had exactly the same problem last year. New corner section was about £250 plus painting plus vat etc so I thought what the hell what have I got to lose. The perfectionists here may not agree but it worked for me.

Either remove panel and work on a bench I was lucky I could do repair in situ from underneath Ive got a Swift. Using a Bremel with a fine grinding disc very slightly and gently widen the crack grooves from the inside, then about 1/2 inch away from the cracks drill a few tiny holes about 1/8 dia. I had a few small fragments so I put them together on the bench using super glue to hold them together in 1 piece temporary and inserted it into position from underneath

Here is the expensive bit go to Halfords and buy a fibreglass repair kit about £8. Apply several lays of matting/resin from the inside, the holes you drilled act as extra anchors. Use a 4 pint milk container cut it into a flat square and fix it to outside edge with masking tape you can use a little heat ( gently does it ) to mould the container to the contour of the panel. The beauty of this trick is fibreglass resin will not adhere to this type of plastic.

Finish off outside with abs filler also from halfords. The most important thing is to use flexible primer as normal primer will crack as the panel flexes. The biggest problem I had was matching the paint. MH seem to have exclusive paint colours I was lucky it turned out to be a RAL colour.

Like I said I tried this, it had 2 chances and up to now its lasted over 12 months no sign of cracks total cost of about £50. Worse case scenario new panel nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

[Paul and Pippa]

I had exactly the same problem last year. New corner section was about £250 plus painting plus vat etc so I thought what the hell what have I got to lose. The perfectionists here may not agree but it worked for me.

Either remove panel and work on a bench I was lucky I could do repair in situ from underneath Ive got a Swift. Using a Bremel with a fine grinding disc very slightly and gently widen the crack grooves from the inside, then about 1/2 inch away from the cracks drill a few tiny holes about 1/8 dia. I had a few small fragments so I put them together on the bench using super glue to hold them together in 1 piece temporary and inserted it into position from underneath

Here is the expensive bit go to Halfords and buy a fibreglass repair kit about £8. Apply several lays of matting/resin from the inside, the holes you drilled act as extra anchors. Use a 4 pint milk container cut it into a flat square and fix it to outside edge with masking tape you can use a little heat ( gently does it ) to mould the container to the contour of the panel. The beauty of this trick is fibreglass resin will not adhere to this type of plastic.

Finish off outside with abs filler also from halfords. The most important thing is to use flexible primer as normal primer will crack as the panel flexes. The biggest problem I had was matching the paint. MH seem to have exclusive paint colours I was lucky it turned out to be a RAL colour.

Like I said I tried this, it had 2 chances and up to now its lasted over 12 months no sign of cracks total cost of about £50. Worse case scenario new panel nothing ventured nothing gained.

Thanks that sounds Brill, l thought about using fibreglass but was unsure if it binds with abs,, also l think like you l can do it while still attached to the MH,, my estimate was almost £1000 for the back right end bumper and a skirting

 

[bill1950]

Funny old stuff this ABS thats why I suggest drilling the holes for that extra bit of grip. The other option is to remove it and take it to a bumper repair place. Cost you more than £50 though.

 

[Paul and Pippa]

Funny old stuff this ABS thats why I suggest drilling the holes for that extra bit of grip. The other option is to remove it and take it to a bumper repair place. Cost you more than £50 though.

It's really expensive just to buy a replacement, and then l would have to cut holes for lights and the decorative stickers and painting.. Sooner have a go myself. ?

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[bill1950]

good luck like I said nothing ventured nothing gained depends if you are perfectionist like my old boss said you cant see it at 30mph or only go out in the dark

 

[Paul and Pippa]

good luck like I said nothing ventured nothing gained depends if you are perfectionist like my old boss said you cant see it at 30mph or only go out in the dark

Hahahaaaa.,,,cheers..?

 

[mid4did]

I did mine a few years back using a soldering iron and strips from a replacement half bumper from ebay.
Repairing my rear bumper.

 

[Paul and Pippa]

I did mine a few years back using a soldering iron and strips from a replacement half bumper from ebay.
Repairing my rear bumper.

That's a good idea, thank you