Separating two heat fused ABS body parts of an impeller

[recofill]

HI, Am unable to get a part for my LG dishwasher. Figured i could repair th e same if i could find a way to split open an ABS body impeller that has a worn out seal......the hitch is that the 2 parts have been fused together b y a heating method possibly without using any glues (cant find any traces o f glue). The fused parts are about 5 mm wide and about 1.5mm thick individu ally. its a spherical part about 6 inches in diameter and only the outer 5 mm seems to be fused as its hollow inside to house the impeller and related stuff. Need a clean split of the fused parts as i would have to rejoin the same po st repairs..... Any suggestions would be gladly accepted......

Ethan

[passerby]

replying to recofill, passerby wrote: If they were heat-welded like that intentionally during manufacturing, they would for all intents and purposes become 1 part. So, your chances of cleanly splitting them are slim to none. Are you hoping for a bad weld?

[trader_4]

+1

Might as well cut them anywhere with a saw and then try to glue it back together. Doesn't sound like something I'd do on a dishwasher pump. Is it that a new pump is unavailable or just too expensive? Try Ebay for a replacement pump?

[Fred McKenzie]

Ethan-

Can you saw along the seam? A hacksaw might be too crude, but there are saws with fine teeth. There is also the Dremel Moto Tool with a cutting disc.

Fred

[Stormin' Norman]

The components of the part are fused together using ultrasonic welding. This is one of the strongest and most reliable ways of joining plastic pieces.

You could try using a jewelers saw or a razor saw and then bond it back together with epoxy, however if the impeller spins at high RPM, balance might be an issue as well as the bonding product used.