My 1500 gallon polyethylene water tank has been in use for some time now. Its exposed pipes are well insulated from the cold. None-the-less, during an especially cold winter day it developed a crack at its bottom. I tried various ways to seal the leak, but to no avail. Then I happened upon a YouTube video showing such a repair as I needed. It was called plastic welding.

I was under the notion that once a water tank became cracked that it was unable to be repaired, or at least there was no permanent repair available. Therefore, you can manage my surprise to discover that a plastic welding tool was available that would solve my problem. I was even more impressed in the fact that this tool could repair other plastics that are automotive in nature. This seemed almost too good to be true, but I decided that if this type of repair worked, it would be much cheaper than buying a new tank.

I searched some prices and some ratings comparisons, and settled on a plastic repair kit called the Mini-Weld Model 6. Click here to see my review of this tool. I watched some more YouTube plastic repair videos while waiting for an Amazon delivery. When I received my Mini Weld Model 6 kit, I watched the enclosed video and read the product information. Having done this, the mystery of plastic welding was out of my mind, and I was ready to begin my repair.

After draining and drying my tank out the best I could, it was time to follow the repair directions. I used my Dremel tool and a carbide pear shaped burring bit to clean the crack and surrounding area of the tank. I was concerned that the crack went behind the metal plate that someone had previously attached, and that it was still damp behind there. However, if I was able to slow a stream down to an occasional drip or two, then I would be happy. 

I proceeded with the repair until I was satisfied with the result. The ease of this tool is nothing short of amazing. I re-filled my water tank, and as I had presumed it did have a drip. However, the drip was not from my repair, but rather from underneath one of the adjacent screws to my welded repair. I was totally satisfied with the finished outcome. I do have a drip or two, but nothing like before. At this point I am totally satisfied with my repair.