$30 plastic welder toy from The Discovery Channel. Runs on four C cells. It's not clear from the product description what the underlying technology is. My best guess is that it's a very low temperature glue gun but perhaps it's an ultrasonic welder! Too bad all the Discovery Channel stores in the local malls closed up shop last year. [shopping.discovery.com] Product Detail: Discover the power to make and create with the tool that safely welds plastic to plastic. Make 3 fun projects https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15587#msg-15587 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:17:14 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,82055#msg-82055 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,82055#msg-82055
Fortunately you don't have to be, but finding out can be revelatory.

This might be useful:-

[en.wikipedia.org]

Cheers

aka47]]> aka47 Plastic Extruder Working Group Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:36:51 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,81735#msg-81735 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,81735#msg-81735 john310 Plastic Extruder Working Group Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:06:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,29891#msg-29891 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,29891#msg-29891
I'm glad someone is still making these things.]]> Lawrence Kincheloe Plastic Extruder Working Group Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:23:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,27062#msg-27062 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,27062#msg-27062 [www.youtube.com]

This technology is actually being developed at super-sonic speeds to weld together things like spacecraft (which the materials can't be hot-welded without modifying the material) or for example on the sharkskin speedo suits you see at the olympics (where the end product must have a very smooth consistant surface even across welds.

The old product someone asked about was this: [www.inthe70s.com]

I posted here because this product showed up on woot.com today for $15, though the deal will only last for one day.]]> David Gustafson Plastic Extruder Working Group Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:50:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,18340#msg-18340 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,18340#msg-18340
I am afraid I don't remember what it was called. I think it had the word crash somewhere in the name on the box though, it that helps (but not a lot really sorry).

I will ask my son when I see him next.

Cheers

aka47]]> aka47 Plastic Extruder Working Group Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:57:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,18274#msg-18274 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,18274#msg-18274 -------------------------------------------------------
> Most hand welders that I have seen look to be of
> two variants.
>
> Hot Air Gun
>
> Soldering Iron type
>
> The spinning thingy was something I played with
> some time ago when my son got a present of a car
> you weld together using the spinning type tool and
> weld rods. Basicaly it was surface friction
> welding. The idea was you crashed the car and all
> the bits fell off, then you welded them back
> together again.
>
> Great fun as a toy, grim as a method to make a
> secure permanent fixing, The penetration was
> terrible.
>
> No idea what the plastic actually was.
>
> aka47




AKA47...DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS CALLED? I HAD ONE WHEN I WAS LITTLE AND I LOVED IT!!]]> Collin Plastic Extruder Working Group Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:28:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15961#msg-15961 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15961#msg-15961
Hot Air Gun

Soldering Iron type

The spinning thingy was something I played with some time ago when my son got a present of a car you weld together using the spinning type tool and weld rods. Basicaly it was surface friction welding. The idea was you crashed the car and all the bits fell off, then you welded them back together again.

Great fun as a toy, grim as a method to make a secure permanent fixing, The penetration was terrible.

No idea what the plastic actually was.

aka47]]> aka47 Plastic Extruder Working Group Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:56:09 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15792#msg-15792 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15792#msg-15792
Could something like this be used to make filament?]]> mimarob Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:53:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15675#msg-15675 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15675#msg-15675
[www.harborfreight.com]]]> Me Plastic Extruder Working Group Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:25:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15673#msg-15673 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15673#msg-15673
[www.abbeon.com]]]> SOI Sentinel Plastic Extruder Working Group Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:48:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15587#msg-15587 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?70,15587,15587#msg-15587
[shopping.discovery.com]

Product Detail: Discover the power to make and create with the tool that safely welds plastic to plastic. Make 3 fun projects ]]> JohnWasser Plastic Extruder Working Group Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:08:39 -0400