I am looking at buying a "plastic welder" where it heats air to use as a "gas" and softens the plastic base and "filler rod" similar to oxy fuel welding for metal. Though I have a very nice set of interior, I have some ratty pieces taht I want to experiment with, adding in custom gauge clusters etc and fix some old speaker holes, etc. (using donor plastic from some junkyard interior panel plastic. Do these machines work, at least well enough to justify the cost? I guess they use these for fixing today's "bumpers" too.

 

Umm about 3 years ago I purchased one from a companys store called Harbor Freight the gun and plastic rod cost $20.00-$30.00 at the time, but I never got it to work right I cant even recall what I bought it for but I do remember it just kept destroying what I was working on, But I do have friends that do custom work and they have some and they love them sooo I guess it depends on what kind you buy and how long you play with it.

 

the one I am looking at runs off of ~2 CFM and 3PSI of air. One thing thbat is putting me off is the cost of the various tips etc that go with the machine.