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Best plastic welder 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated March 1, 2023
Hi, I’m Brayden Diaz. After putting in 53+ hours of research and testing, I made a list of the best plastic welder of 2018 and explained their differences and advantages.
In fact, it was the first time I had been in this situation and what I thought was going to be a very quick and easy task turned out to be a good many weeks of research. Now I’m going to recommend a few plastic welder you can pick from to get started quickly and easily.
Let’s get to it!
Best plastic welder of 2018
Customers need to be careful on how they spend their money on these products. The above tidbits will bring you closer to selecting plastic welder that best serves your needs and as per your budget.
So this is not only going to give you an insight to the best plastic welder of the 2018 but also those which are user friendly and easy to work with. Many models on the market may be confusing to a person who is shopping for their first time.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
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| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Design |
5 points
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5 points
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4 points
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| Materials |
5 points
|
4 points
|
5 points
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| Construction |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
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| Quality |
4 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the plastic welder by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Mini GEO2 Plastic Membrane Hot Wedge Welder Welding Machine High Powerful Waterproof Membrane Welder
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this plastic welder win the first place?
I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I was completely satisfied with the price. Its counterparts in this price range are way worse.
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
№2 – Visbella UQ0004CR5P UV Light Glue Liquid Plastic Welder Adhesive with Alcohol Pad Fill
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this plastic welder come in second place?
This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. Seems that the material is good. It has a very beautiful color but I don’t really like the texture. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price.
5
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
№3 – Bondic
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this plastic welder take third place?
This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. The material is incredibly nice to the touch. It has a great color, which will suit any wallpapers.
4
|
5
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4
|
4
|
plastic welder Buyer’s Guide
Special features of the Lotus Pro
MIG 140 Welder include a thermal overload protection system, which can help prolong the life of the tool over the long-term by ensuring it never overheats.
It’s also dual function – it can be used for flux cored welding as well as gas-shielding MIG welding.
Power requirements for welding machines
We could have placed power requirements in to the previous point about your working environment, but paying attention of power specifications on welding machines is so important that it is deserving of its own section. Some machines will be capable of working from a typical household mains socket, while others have more specific requirements.
Power Input
This will simply mean the power required to operate the welding machine. Some machines will be fine to run from a normal 240 volt mains supply, although many will have more detailed requirements. It is worth knowing what you have available in your work area, and also what additional costs may result from additional power requirements.
There is such a thing as a welding generator which is required to power some more heavy duty welding machines, and these generators themselves can cost many hundreds of pounds. Other machines may not require this, but will require more than your average mains supply, so do your homework in this area prior to buying.
Power Output
As the name suggests, power output is the amount of power that your welding machine will generate itself during operation. This is very important to be aware of as it can impact the types of welding jobs you can do with the machine, such as the thickness of the metal it can weld. A weaker power output may not reach the heat required for certain metals, with 180-200 amps of output required for thick metals and perhaps only 100 amps needed for thinner metals. It’s vital to know this information ahead of buying.
Stick Welding
If you’re a hobbyist welder, or you have been welding for many years, it’s likely that stick welding will be the process you are most familiar with. It’s more formally known as arc welding and involves a consumable electrode covered with a flux that lays the weld. An electric current flows from a gap between the metal and the welding stick itself, creating the arc-welding electrode.
There are some distinct disadvantages as well however, which is probably to be expected from such a cheap and versatile welding process. Firstly, the welding rods will need regularly changing, while the welds themselves will likely need cleaning or neatening up once completed. It’s also only able to be used on metals that are at least 1/16-inch or more.
Stick welding is also typically difficult to master, and the learning curve can be a frustrating one. However, with its portability, relative versatility and capabilities of operating both inside, outside and in slightly windy/breezy conditions, it’s certainly a process that can work for many people.
MIG Welding
More popular with professionals, MIG welding is also commonly referred to as gas metal arc welding (GMAW). The concept is simple, as a wire welding electrode is emitted from the welding stick/spool at a constant pace which can be pre-selected on the unit prior to beginning. The arc is created by an electric current that runs between the metal that is being welded, and the wire itself. The wire melts, joining with the work piece metal and forming a strong join.
Welds performed by the MIG welding process are incredibly favourable, with a high-quality and neat finish that usually requires no post-welding clean-up. The welds are strong and have great structural integrity between the metals and can be used in many scenarios.
There are disadvantages to this form of welding as well though, not least the gas tanks themselves. Due to these tanks often being incredibly large and heavy, it is not a very portable form of welding and so will often be done in some sort of workshop or factory, rather than those who have a mobile working setup.
MIG welding is generally used on thin-to-medium thickness metals.
Flux-Cored Arc Welding
To use the acronym FCAW for short, flux-cored arc welding is a slight variation on MIG welding. It also uses a wire-fed process; however, no shielding gases are needed. This means that flux-cored welding is more portable than MIG welding due to there being no requirement for gas tanks.
It’s especially useful when welding outdoors, able to operate in adverse weather and still produce a neat and efficient weld. For this reason, it’s particularly popular in the construction industry.
TIG Welding
Another form of arc welding, TIG welding involves the use of a non-consumable tungsten electrode to form a weld. The heat produced by a TIG welder melts a filler rod on to the two pieces of metal that are to be joined, forming a weld. This process is also known as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
TIG welding is especially useful for welds that are trickier than standard, such as on round items or s-curves, and is most commonly used for welding copper and titanium. It’s easily applied to thin metals and the welds produced through the TIG welding process are recognised as being very high-quality, and superior to those produced by most other types of welding.
Using the TIG welding process is also perhaps the cleanest and neatest, with no slag or splatter left behind, meaning the surrounding work area is left clear.
However, there are other things to keep in mind with TIG welding. It’s very much considered to be a process reserved for professionals, with it requiring a high skill level to perform successfully. It’s also more costly than other forms of welding, initially at least, due to the machinery costs, while the welding tasks themselves generally take longer than with MIG welding.
If you’ve ever worn a waterproof bag, or drunk from a hydration reservoir, you’ve relied on a technology called plastic welding.
Plastic welding can make a bag in seconds, but the techniques take years to master. There are no schools to learn it. Plastic welding experts usually learn on the job, through in-house training. Afterwards, they often remain loyal to their company, and many stay for their entire career.
Most companies that focus on welded bags – including Ortlieb, Cascade Designs, SealLine, CamelBak and Watershed – own their own factories and don’t share their secrets.
I was able to talk with people inside the top waterproof bag and hydration pack companies, and open up the mysteries and a few of the dangers of plastic welding.
II. Bag Companies’ Welding Choices
Ortlieb, Watershed, CamelBak reservoirs, Vapur, Filson drybags, Yeti Soft Coolers, and Chrome Knurled bags use radio frequency welding.
Welding processes also differ in how heat is applied.
Hot Air and Hot Wedge use external, direct heating. Heat comes from the outside, from heated tools or hot gas. The heat first penetrates the material in order to heat the contact surfaces, thus risking burning the top layer.
Alternatively, internal, indirect heating creates heat in the interface or the plastic as a whole, usually in the form of friction, high-frequency electrical fields, electromagnetic fields, or ultrasonic vibration. The material is heated from the inside and fuses quickly, within a few seconds, similar to heating food in the microwave versus a traditional oven. It is energy efficient, and usually results in stress-free, stronger bonds than direct heat bonds.
V. The Dark Side of the Weld
One manufacturer illustrated the unusual nature of RF with a lightbulb trick: “If you hold a fluorescent lightbulb in your hand while you’re near a RF welding machine, while not in any way connected to the machine, the lightbulb will usually light up.” Sort of cool, but sort of scary.
Most studies do not show a significant health difference between RF workers and non RF workers. Many RF manufacturers have long-term employees with no RF-related health issues.
However, RF operators are often highly exposed to RF; some workplaces exceed the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) levels.
The scariest thing is that workers near RF sealers may be unaware of their exposure. RF energy from sealers can penetrate and heat deep within the body and have damaging effects on cells and tissue, without activating skin heat sensors, or raising tissue or body temperature.
Pro-Series MMIG1212Amp Fluxcore Welder Kit
Are you searching a MIG welder for small and medium working projects? Then MMIG12125amp Fluxcore Welder can be a good choice. The specially designed size of the welder allows it to work safely in small spaces.This welder machine is one the best 110v mig welder for home use.
This MIG welder allows to weld carbon metal, copper, stainless steel, aluminum, silicon bronze, nickel, magnesium and other alloys.
A duty cycle 20 percent at 80 amps defines that the welder can weld constantly for two minutes when cracked up to the maximum amperage prior to being cool down.
This welder machine can weld mild steel up to 1gauge to 3/1inches in one pass. MMIG12is equipped with a ground cable with clamp, welding gun, brush hammer, flux cored wire and face shield. You can start welding after getting the unit in your hand.
Lotos MIG140 140 Amp MIG Wire Welder Flux Core Welder
If you are searching for a best 110v flux core welder, then you may keep Lotos Mig140 in your choice. The new upgrade Lotos MIG 140 features with a power output of 30A-140A. The welder can weld at industrial quality at affordable price. 2T/4T switch and digital displays are now added on Lotos MIG140 welder. These feature helps to adjust wire feeder speed and welding speed accurately.
The machine is connected to 110V power source and capable of setting up within minutes or less time to use. The machine can weld stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel and other metals. The Lotos MIG 140 can weld stainless steel from 1gauge to 3/1inch, Mild steel from 1gauge to 3/1inch and aluminum metal can be weld up to 1/inch or less thin than 1/inch. The welding machine is secured with 4-inch or 8-inch wire spools.
You can use Lotos MIG 140 for DIY projects, Auto body welding, light professional project, small home projects etc. Oh yes, I just forget to mention that the Lotos MIG 140 is efficient to handle flux-cored weld. The new machine has a ground connector that makes it easily switch between “+” and “-”.
The machine is equipped with high quality aluminum wire feeder which makes it more stable and better user experience than other welders. This Welder is featured with transfer technology. Transfer technology offers more reliability and durability of the machine.
Forney Easy Weld 29125FC Flux Core Welder
Are you tired of searching a small but durable welder machine? Then the new Forney 29125FC Flux Core Welder is one of the best choices for your requirement.
Forney is an American largest metalworking product company. They have more than 80 years of experience in the metal industry, has introduced this Forney 29125FC Flux core welder. It is easy to use and affordable to buy. That’s why if you are beginner then choosing this welder is a wise decision.
The welder runs without gas settings. So, the machine is only suitable for gasless flux core welding projects. The machine comes with plug and play option. It allows welding quarter of an inch. Moreover, it has 10Ib capacity of spool which makes it a versatile welder.
You have to plug the machine into 120v input power connection. The welder machine will provide you 12amps output. So this welder is perfect for home and garage projects. The welder can weld from 2gauge to 1/4inch thick metal.
LOTOS MIG17175AMP Mig Welder
People who are seeking an affordable, industrial grade and quality welder, Lotos MIG17175Amp MIG welder is one of the best choices. This welder is a versatile welder which is featured with transfer technology. That technology made the welder reliable and durable.
You can connect this welder with our existing 220V power line. You can run the welding machine in minutes after getting the package from the manufacturer. Because you will get MIG spool gun, MIG Torch, ground cable with clamp, argon hose, Argon regulator, cleaning wire brush and hand shield with the package.
This welding machine allows to weld stainless steel, Mild steel, Aluminum and materials. The machine can weld Mild steel or stainless steel from 1gauge to ¼ inches. For aluminum materials welding capacity is up to 3/inch or thicker. Duty circle of the welder is 20% at 17amps and 30% at 13amps. You are capable of doing the job of maintenance, constructions, farm/ranch, rental, home, auto body with this welder easily.
It is equipped with high quality wire feeder which allows more stable and better user experience than other welders. Two automatic circuits are used to protect the wire feeder motor of the welder.
Hobart Handler 50055400190
The Hobart Handler 50055400190 is a robust and sturdy welding machine with a range of features. Hobart Hander is an excellent machine for them who are looking for a powerful and efficient MIG Welder.
As it is equipped with a lot of features it can handle different types of job easily. It is suitable for a professional or a beginner. It can handle small jobs or medium projects or heavy duty jobs.
This is a powerful wire-feed flux core and MIG welder that allows you to weld stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and flux core. It can weld materials as thick as ranging from 2gauge to 5/1inch. No matter you are a hobbyist or a tradesman, you can deal your work with it.
The machine comes with voltage selections and infinitive wire speed control that make it control over output settings. This is a perfect versatile machine that can be used on auto body, light industrial work, household repairs, maintenance and construction work or even heavier farm and ranch projects that need more power. But you have to keep in mind that this welding machine is not designed for constant use or heavy duty industrial work.
A built in contractor system keep the welder cool until the welder go to start welding.
Input and Output Of A Welder
If you work in the home for small projects like joining thin iron or aluminum sheets with a MIG welder. That time you need a 115v welder with 140A power output. Well if you work with thick materials that time this 115V-140A is not sufficient. You may need 220V welder with an output of 180A.
If you work with different types of sample, it is best to choose a welder that allows multi-voltage option. It gives you the opportunity to adjust power level from 120v-230v. So choose it as your required demands. Technology has changed, you can also buy an advanced model. That allows to set the power automatically.
Wire-Feed Speed
Wire feed speed determines how fast and accurately welding can be executed. So, wire feed speed is an important factor in selecting a MIG welder. You will find many welders that come with different wire feed speed. You have to choose a welder according to your need. We recommend choosing a welder that comes with wide range of wire feed speed.
Choosing the Right MIG Welder
Purchasing a MIG welder that is suitable for your application and yet fits your budget, without compromising on quality can be a tricky process. We’ve pulled together a guide of features & pitfalls to look out for when you’re buying a MIG set and put you in know when it comes to terminology & questions to ask the dealer.
FAN ON DEMAND: Lowers running costs and reduces contamination to internal components. The fan kicks in when it’s needed, rather than running all day.
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD PROTECTION: If the machine’s PCB’s are protected from dust & kept away from the fan, reliability will increase. Some manufacturers’ have the parts that need cooling in a duct type housing & the PCB isolated separately.
MIG WIRE INCH BUTTON: A great feature. This will save you wasting your shielding gas when feeding wire through at the start of a new reel.
GAS PURGE BUTTON: Another nice option. Save yourself some MIG wire, when you’re setting your gas flow.
SELECTING THE CORRECT AMPERAGE MACHINE: Generally, you should work on 35-40 amps per mm diameter of material to be welded.
DUTY CYCLE: The advertised amperage of the machine offers a headline guide, but the duty cycle of the machine gives up the truth. Light industrial machine duty cycles can be as low as 20%, but more heavy duty MIG’s should range between 40-60%. If a 300amp MIG has 30% duty cycle for instance, it’s on the edge of acceptability. Duty cycle is determined by how many minutes out of 10, it can weld at 100%.
MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY: Always a great guide to quality. A three year warranty is good.
WELD CHARACTERISTICS: Make sure the arc is smooth & suits your application. (Some machines are better suited at the low range and others at higher amperage range).
Welders planning to observe the solar eclipse may or may not be in luck, as some welding filters will adequately protect your eyes from the sun. But, please, double-check to make sure that the goggles you intend to use are the right kind.
The next step is a welding machine that runs from 120-V power and is designed to perform GMAW and FCAW. Typically, these machines have a maximum output between 100 and 12amps and cost a little more. They usually weld aluminum up to about 1/inch thick nicely. You will need to buy a new bottle of 100 percent argon shielding gas.
You can’t weld aluminum using COor argon-COmixtures. Again, some manufacturers make aluminum feeding kits. They usually contain different drive rolls specifically designed to feed aluminum, a plastic gun liner for better feeding, and contact tips for aluminum. While the kits aren’t strictly necessary, they do help in feeding the small-diameter, soft aluminum wire these machines use. These machines usually cost more than the FCAW machines and often have more rugged drive systems as a result.
The last upgrade in these light-duty machines before the transition to industrial equipment is the small machine that runs from 230-V, single-phase output. As with other machines, feeding kits usually are available from the manufacturer to fit these machines. They offer an expanded thickness range for welding aluminum. Usually they can weld at least 1/4-in.-thick aluminum. If you need to weld aluminum thicker than 1/in., you should consider a light industrial unit.
Make sure the welding machine is set on the right polarity. If your machine came set up for FCAW, chances are the wires are run with electrode negative. If you try to GMAW aluminum in electrode-negative polarity, you’ll get a weld with no penetration that just lies on the surface. Be sure to connect the power lead to positive polarity and the work lead to negative polarity.
Set the brake tension correctly. All of these units incorporate some sort of simple brake on the wire spool. If you set it with no tension, the wire will unravel on the spool, and you won’t be able to feed it. If it’s set too tightly, the wire drive motor won’t be able to pull it off the spool consistently, and you’ll get a lot of tip burnbacks.
Set the drive roll tension properly. The most common mistake people make when welding aluminum is to set the drive roll tension too tightly. This deforms the aluminum wire and makes it harder to feed through the gun. The tension setting should be just tight enough so that the drive rolls don’t slip on the wire.
Use the right wire. Another common mistake is to use 535wire because it’s stiffer and feeds more easily. Usually people then use 0.030-in.-dia. wire as well. Both of these are bad choices. All of these units are designed as short-arc machines for steel wire. They have a limited range of wire feed speeds and a fairly low maximum output voltage.
Because of the low output voltage, you need a relatively high current to melt the wire at the wire feed speeds available. The resistance of 404is relatively low, so it can conduct the required current and melt well into the weld.
However, 535has a higher resistance. At the low output voltage and wire feed speed, it won’t conduct enough current to weld well, and you may become frustrated with your new purchase, thinking the welding machine is at fault. Even though it seems counterintuitive, use 0.035-in. 404filler metal.
Most important, remember that the fact that you own a welding machine doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll know how to weld aluminum right away. Don’t wait until your aluminum widget breaks and needs to be fixed today to learn. Practice, practice, practice! After a little while, you’ll find that it doesn’t seem so hard anymore.
Practical Welding Today
The WELDER, formerly known as Practical Welding Today, is a showcase of the real people who make the products we use and work with every day. This magazine has served the welding community in North America well for more than 20 years, and we intend to continue providing hands-on information, real-world applications, and down-to-earth advice for welders.
In MIG welding an electrode or steel wire cylinder is fed from the welder through a liner and out of a contact tip that is in the machine’s gun. The welder uses power to heat up and melt the wire so that it can be used as an adhesive. Inert gas is integrated into the metal liquid to protect the liquid from infusing with any other atmospheric substances. Using the melted electrode, two metal pieces can be joined as they pass through the welding gun. This process is far quicker than the traditional arc methods that required the use of welding rods. The simplicity of the operation allows users at different skill levels to utilize the tool for a wide range of welding jobs.
Shielding Gas
Shielding gases, A.K.A, inert gases, are utilized during the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) or gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. The reason welders use gases is to ensure that oxygen or vapor does permeate the work area. Although the gases inhibit the presence of oxygen, it can also create a poor weld if not used correctly. The key is to choose the right type and amount of gas for the work you are doing. Shielding gas can also be expensive. Before you purchase shielding gas, make sure to do your homework in order to find a type of gas that is both highly-effective, weed-friendly, and cost-effective.
Gasless Welding
To use MIG welders for Flux Cored Arc Welding (gasless welding), it requires changing the polarity switch near the drive to alternate from a solid wire to flux cored wire. In the case of gasless MIG welder, the flux core wire separates the weld pool from oxygen. A self-shielding tubular flux-cored wire can be utilized to remove oxygen by eliminating the weld pools reliance on atmospheric gas.
There are several benefits to gasless welding. First, the MIG can be used in any position or in any environment since there is protection from the gas built into the MIG. Second, since no gas is needed, then it is a more cost-effective and efficient means of welding. Third, it is perfect for beginners since it requires less skill to operate the machinery. Last, flux cored arc welding produces welds with little to no porosity. It creates a solid mass form throughout the weld.
The Hobart 50055Handler Wire Welder
The Hobart 50055Handler Wire Welder, also known as the Hobart handler 140, is a MIG welder with high task yield and incredible power. It is compact and portable. It operates on 115V household power and delivers 140 amps output power. The Hobart Handler 140 does not need additional setup and is ideal for steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Forney 29125FC Flux Core Welder
There is no need to use a cylinder filled with argon or an argon C0mix, which can be costly. This welder will save you money, and you can weld a quarter of an inch. It requires 120v for input and gives 12amp out. It is suitable for home and garage welding.
The Forney 29125FC Flux Core Welder comes with handles and allows for and lb. wire spools. It can be used anywhere. It is packed in torch wrap – making it easy to take off and on. It is perfect as a starter welder. It works without having to use a gas set up.
Hobart 50055Handler 2MVP
With the 2MVP, you can use either the 115V or 230V power input. It does not require additional tools to connect to the power receptacles. It has a multi-voltage plug that makes it easy to connect and use the welder anywhere. Using with an instruction guide is easy. It is perfect for beginners or professionals.
The optional plugin SpoolRunner 100 is great for welding aluminum. It has a built-in wire feeder with adjustable tension.
Hobart 30079SpoolRunner 100 Spool Gun
If you are looking a quick and simple spool gun, then the Spoolrunner is your best option. When using the gun, simply plug the lead directly into the feed head. You’ll then attach the trigger lead, and then turn on the spool gun switch, and you’re ready to go. The spool gun can be used for aluminum welds as well as other similar types of metal such as stainless steel.
Complete protection with a welding helmet
Welding helmets are a type of headgear used while performing welding in order to protect you from harmful radiations emitted during the process; welding helmets also protect your face, neck against the flame and flashes generated during the welding. Best welding helmet is necessary for the protection of your eyes, as the unprotected exposure to radiations emitted can inflame your eye cornea, which in turn causes arc eye. The radiations emitted could also burn your retina, which can lead to loss of your vision. Welding can also lead to skin burns as radiations emitted may also affect your skin.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the plastic welder by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your plastic welder wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of plastic welder
- №1 — Mini GEO2 Plastic Membrane Hot Wedge Welder Welding Machine High Powerful Waterproof Membrane Welder
- №2 — Visbella UQ0004CR5P UV Light Glue Liquid Plastic Welder Adhesive with Alcohol Pad Fill
- №3 — Bondic
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about plastic welder is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
