Patching ABS Hulls
 

Maybe it's just me but I can't seem to find anything on patching ABS hulls. I'm redoing a Graupner Electro Vee that had some crap hardware on it. It has a million holes. Does anyone know how to repair these?
Thanks in advance.

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

you might want to experiment .. But I have a buddy that taught me a neat trick, brush on some of the pvc pipe glue, lay in glass cloth, then brush until its all saturated ....let it dry.. It makes a plastic airplane cowl SOLID as heck...

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

I rehabbed an Electro Vee -don't use any solvent glues!The hull will distort or worse-use epoxy and back the holes with ABS or even thin ply then fill them in.[8D]

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

What would you fill them in with? I thought about fiberglass chop mixed with the resin/hardner.

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

Have you considered "MarineTex"?

[link=http://www.marinetex.com/PRODUCT%20PAGE_files/All%20PolyDura%20Info/PolyDura%20General%20Info.htm]http://www.marinetex.com/PRODUCT%20PAGE_files/All%20PolyDura%20Info/PolyDura%20General%20Info.htm[/link]

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

No I have not. Interesting stuff, looks like maybe a step above regular epoxy.
Thanks for the link.
Scott

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

Like Greg said, the ABS hull is rather flimsy and too much solvent will reek havoc on the material.

You can however make an inside doubler for the transom out of styrene (ABS) sheet and glue it in place by running a tiny(!) amount of Acetone or MEK in the Swiss cheese from the outside, while holding the doubler in place, the ABS will weld solid after the solvent has evaporated. Make sure there are no burrs between the transom and the doubler before applying the solvent.

I use a goo made of ABS scrap pieces, solved in either one of the solvents above in an airtight container (35 mm filmcan works nice) and fill the holes with that.
You can make the goo as thick as required.
Again; don't overdo it on the solvent!

I've built entire ABS sheet hulls from scratch with this goo and it works very nicely.

Regards, Jan.

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

I do appreciate the reply. However, what the heck is Swiss cheese?
Thanks.

RE: Patching ABS Hulls
 

heres your best bet.. Go to advance autoparts or autozone. They have permapoxy for plastic.. Its very strong and works great with plastic's &fibler glass. I've used that stuff alot..;)