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Plastic Welding Tools Ltd
Phone: (09) 827 6567
Phone: 0800 603 603
info@plasticweldingtools.co.nz
Tarps & Covers Kits
Tarps & Covers Kits
Tarp, cover and banner fabrication
PVC tarp fabric is welded — not sewn — for waterproof, durable seams. The tarps and covers kit gives you the hot-air welder, lap-weld nozzle and rollers needed to fabricate truck tarps, pool covers, awnings, banners, marine covers and industrial covers of any size.
Truck tarp manufacturing
Curtain-side trailers, tipper covers, container covers, side-skirt tarps. Heavy-duty 550-900 GSM PVC fabric, multi-panel construction.
Marine & pool covers
Boat covers, pool covers, spa covers, marine waterproof bags. Welded seams stay watertight where sewn seams leak.
Banners & signage
Event banners, building wraps, fence signage, mesh banner fabric. Hem welding, pocket welding for support poles.
Awnings & outdoor blinds
PVC roller blinds, restaurant patio awnings, cafe windbreaks. Clear PVC inserts can also be welded with the same kit and rod.
Industrial covers
Machine covers, plant covers, equipment shrouds. Heavy 900+ GSM fabric for outdoor industrial use.
Agricultural & rural
Hay covers, silage covers, water-tank covers, animal-shelter tarps. Heavy-duty PVC built for NZ rural environments.
Kit contents
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Hot-air welder | Triac or equivalent, capable of the temperature range needed for PVC tarp fabric (around 350-400°C). |
| Lap-weld nozzle (40mm) | Wide nozzle designed for the overlap-weld technique used in tarp fabrication. |
| Pressure roller (silicone or PTFE) | Compresses the molten lap-weld evenly. PTFE preferred for sticky PVC fabrics. |
| PVC welding rod | For repair welds, V-groove butt welds and detail work. The bulk of tarp construction is overlap welding which uses no rod. |
| Brass brush & rule | For cleaning seams and measuring overlap consistently. |
| Optional: eyelet press | For perimeter eyelet installation. Add as a separate accessory; often bundled with production tarp kits. |
Overlap weld vs butt weld vs hem weld
Overlap weld
Two layers of fabric are overlapped 25-40mm. Hot air is directed between the layers; the pressure roller compresses them together. The default seam for joining panels.
Butt weld with rod
Two fabric edges butted together with PVC rod welded into the joint. Used for repairs and where overlap would be visually objectionable.
Hem weld
Folding the fabric edge under itself and welding the fold closed. Creates a clean, reinforced perimeter edge for eyelets to be set into.
Production tip
For more than a handful of tarps a week, an automatic overlap welder pays for itself fast. A Laron-class automatic welds at 1-3 m/min consistently, where hand welding maxes out around 0.5 m/min and varies with operator fatigue. Hand tools stay in the kit for details and patches.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What sizes of PVC tarp can I make with this kit?
There's no practical size limit. Single-panel PVC fabric comes in rolls (typically 1.5m to 2.5m wide), and you weld panels together to create the finished tarp. Truck tarps, pool covers, awnings, banners — all are built from welded fabric panels. The kit handles the seam welding; an eyelet press handles the perimeter fixings.
Hand-welded or automatic — which for tarp fabrication?
Hand-welded is fine for small one-off tarps, awnings and banners. For production tarp manufacturing (truck tarps, pool covers, banners at scale), an automatic overlap welder is dramatically faster and produces more consistent seams. The hand kit is the right starting point or for the smaller fabrication shop.
Can I weld banners and signage with the same kit?
Yes. PVC banner fabric is the same family of material as PVC tarp fabric, and welds with the same kit, rod and technique. Hem welding, pocket welding for support tubes, and overlap welding multiple panels are all standard banner-fabrication techniques.
What thickness PVC tarp can the kit weld?
The kit handles standard tarp weights from 380 GSM up to about 900 GSM (heavy industrial truck tarp). For exceptionally heavy or technical fabrics (e.g. 1500 GSM industrial covers), a higher-output welder or automatic machine may be needed. Most NZ tarp work is in the 550-680 GSM range.
Do I need to add eyelets or grommets?
For most tarps, covers and banners, yes — eyelets give you the perimeter anchor points for tie-downs, ropes and bungee. A semi-automatic eyelet press fits 8mm, 10mm or 12mm brass or aluminium eyelets through the fabric quickly and consistently.
Need help choosing the right tarp or cover kit?
Tell us about the job: the plastic you're working with, the wall thickness, and how often you'll use the tool. We'll recommend the right combination for the application.