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by Configure0251 1278 days ago
As a handy person, I'm curious about the idea of being able to repair plastics. Could you provide some more info? Are there different kinds of fiberglass cloth? Is it safe to handle? Where might I shop for such a product? Thank you.
2 comments
nkurz 1278 days ago
I'm dubious about the GP's suggestion to use epoxy and fiberglass on this. Epoxy usually doesn't bond well to polyethylene or polypropylene, especially if it's flexing: https://support.jamestowndistributors.com/hc/en-us/articles/.... Are these laundry hampers made from something else?

Answering your actual question, if you are on the US West Coast, TAP Plastics might be a good source if they are near you: https://www.tapplastics.com/departments/fiberglass. If you are elsewhere in the US, either TAP or https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/fiberglass-and... online would be good places to start. If you are non-US, you'll need to provide more info and hopefully someone else can advise.

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jaclaz 1278 days ago
Yes, fiberglass won't stick well to polypropilene.

It is however possible to do this kind of repair with fiberglass if you drill a few holes just over and under the crack.

The resin will get into the holes and keep the inner and outer fiberglass layers together, besides acting as a sort of nails transmitting the forces applied to the basket to the outer fiberglass layers.

But unless you are familiar with fiberglass and have the materials from another project, it makes little sense, you can have the same result (with the same technique of drilling a few holes) using metal epoxy putty, the kind that you cut a piece from a stick and knead/mix in your hands.

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tyingq 1278 days ago
Nothing sticks really well to polypropylene, unfortunately. But the fiberglass cloth lets you spread the adhesive out across a wider area. You can use whatever epoxy might work (somewhat) better with polypropylene with the same cloth.
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michaelt 1278 days ago
Suppliers for things like boatbuilding will sell you fibreglass cloth, epoxy, and all the other equipment you might need.

Honestly, it's unlikely to be cost-effective on a $4 laundry basket. But if you happened to have all the materials around from doing a different, larger project you might use the leftovers for a repair like this.

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