cracked plastic bath - cheap bodge needed

[happypig]

I was having a shower today and heard an ominous crack sound. I checked the bath and theres a crack about two inches long appeared.
Can anyone suggest a short term bodge that I can do to keep it useable for a couple of weeks or so ?
Would duck tape do it (I don't mind if I have to stick a new bit on every few days) ?


Reason I don't need a proper repair is that the new bathroom will be in use in a couple of weeks and the old one is getting ripped out then.

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

i used epoxy resin from halfords on an emergency repair once.
that worked well the women still had it 4 yrs later.

 

[suds]

The first thing I would do is to drill a small hole at each end of the crack to stop it extending. Then as a 'bodge' I would use a bit of silicon sealer and cover it with one of the 'repair' tapes you can buy in DIY stores. I am not sure if gaffa tape will take the heat...

Not tried this myself but it should work as a temporary fix.

Ralph.

 

[JohnD]

have a look underneath.

It has presumably cracked because it is not properly supported.

Plastic ones usually have a piece of chipboard glued to the bottom to stiffen them.

If it is not properly supported it is liable to crack again tomorrow, and your repair will be over-stressed

 

[Symptoms]

Pig - hi-spec's solution is the one to use. New bathroom??? New bath??? Shower in new bath??? Will the new bath crack??? Maybe not right now whilst you are fit & slim, but when the middle-age spread appears cheap baths (eg. 5mm thick budget stuff from B&Q) run the risk of cracking. For a little more money get a stronger tub, say an 8mm thick one or for a bit more, a Carronite (reinforced).

 

[happypig]

New bathroom has seperate shower and a steel bath so I can raid the bisuit tin with impugnity.

 

[gtd.]

there's a bodge used on truck wheel arches you could use

Drill a hole at each end of the crack to stop it spreading

then drill holes opposite each other 1/2" apart and 1" across the crack

use tywraps/cable ties to stitch the crack together but don't tighten them fully

spread silicone sealer over both sides of the repair then tighten off the cable ties

 

[JohnD]

that will certainly look best

 

[happypig]

I've used a bit of epoxy resin on it and it looks to be sealed ok. The only problem is that the resin looks a bit like a bodily fluid sitting in the bath and sooner or later someone is going to jump to the conclusion that i've knocked one out in the bath
Maybe I need to put a sign up...

 

[JohnD]

paint it blue.