The Best Plastic Welders for Repairs of 2024
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Welding isn’t just for metal. With the right equipment, DIYers also can repair most plastics, and the result is usually far superior to using glue.
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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
Photo: Amazon
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