Repairing self tap holes in plastic

[robgraham]

I've a plastic cold water filter that is some 150mm in diameter and is assembled using eight 4mm dia self tap screws. Five of the screw holes have partially or totally stripped their thread, not so much due to abuse - possibly in the original assembly though (!) - but I think due to an over large hole existing in the manufacture for the pilot hole.

The plastic is hard but I is I think thermoplastic rather than thermosetting - what suggestions are there for a solution ?

There is not enough material to drill and plug - I could go up a screw size but buying in a small number of SS screws is not preferred at the moment.

I have thought of spraying the screws with silicon, filling the holes with epoxy and then putting the screws back in. Would this work ? Once reassembled I think is unlikely the assembly will be taken to pieces again.

Thanks

Rob

[Ian Stirling]

Obtain a shaving of the plastic, and a soldering iron. While the iron is heating up, try melting the shaving with it. If it does, then scrape off more, and smear it into the hole, using the soldering iron, with a block of wood or something behind it. Do this outside, or in a well-ventilated place. Until you build it back up to flat plastic. Now, screw it up.

Or more likely, repair using a nut and bolt, with the bolt screwed through the other way from what the screws were, and then tightened.

[meow2222]

Or if you can get a rough surface on the plastic, which one pretty much always can/does with thermosets, fill the holes with araldite, redrill pilot and screw.

You might also be successful using plastic sleeving. Put a little in the hole, hold it on the outside as you screw, cut off excess.

Or use those press-in fasteners insteaad of screws.

New bigger ss screws is usually the easiest way.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

Another option is a thread tapping bit..forget what they are called - that self taps into something and has an internal machine screw thread.

If its a thermoset plastic just chars without melting) use car body filler and redrill teh holes later.