PLASQUIP WORKSHOP TOOL
Extrusion Welding Shoe Selector
Find the right WELDY welding shoe for your joint and sheet thickness, with Weldy part numbers for the booster EX2, EX3 and EX3 Plus hand extruders. This tool is for plastics fabricators, tank builders and liner installers choosing shoes for HDPE and PP extrusion welding.
Recommended welding shoe
Choose a joint type to see the recommended shoe.
How the welding shoe selection works
Each WELDY welding shoe is named with a letter and a number. The letter is the weld shape, which matches the joint. The number is the shoe size, matched to the recommended sheet or membrane thickness. The selector takes your joint type, finds the shoe family for that shape, then picks the size that suits your sheet.
V-shoes carry two ratings because the same shoe welds a V-seam from one side or an X-seam from both sides. A V8/10-X15/20 shoe welds 8–10 mm sheet with a single V preparation, or 15–20 mm sheet with a double-sided X preparation.
| Letter | Weld shape | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| K | Fillet weld | T-joints, tank walls to base, ribs and ducts |
| V | V-seam or X-seam butt weld | Joining sheets edge to edge after bevelling |
| CL | Inside corner seam | L-corners welded from the inside |
| CO | Outside corner seam | L-corners welded from the outside |
| CS | Corner seam | Larger corner welds |
| UBL | Overlap seam | Liners, membranes, patches and repairs |
Factors that affect shoe choice
Joint preparation
Butt welds need the sheet edges bevelled to suit the shoe. Above about 15 mm, an X preparation welded from both sides uses less filler and reduces distortion compared with a single deep V.
Sheet thickness
A shoe that is too small leaves the joint underfilled. One that is too large wastes material and puts more heat into thin sheet. Very thin sheet is usually better welded with a hot-air tool and speed welding nozzle.
Non-standard joints
Odd angles and special profiles can be welded with a shoe machined from the raw part 126.104 to suit the joint.
Air and melt temperature
Check air and melt temperature with a suitable probe. They affect weld quality as much as the shoe does.
WELDY extrusion welders and accessories
Use the result when choosing plastic extrusion welders and welding nozzles and accessories. Filter the accessories page by your booster model to see every shoe that fits. See the full range of Weldy plastic welding tools and welding rods.
Welding shoe selector FAQs
Which welding shoe do I need for a plastic tank corner?
Where a wall stands on the base, it's a fillet weld, so use a K shoe: K8/10 for 8–10 mm sheet or K15 for around 15 mm. For an L-corner welded on the inside, the CL14 corner shoe suits sheet up to about 12 mm.
Do WELDY welding shoes fit the booster EX2, EX3 and EX3 Plus?
Yes. WELDY welding shoes are compatible with all booster extruders.
What is the difference between a V-seam and an X-seam?
A V-seam is bevelled and welded from one side. An X-seam is bevelled on both faces and welded from both sides, so the same shoe covers roughly twice the sheet thickness.
What if no standard shoe suits my joint?
Machine a custom profile from the raw part 126.104, or contact Plasquip on 1300 722 868 to talk through the joint.