Glue Recommendations

[Michael J.]

I am trying to attach some thin billet metal trim items and have tried several glues that don't hold, like contact cement, StixAll, and Permatex clear silicone sealer. I am trying to attach the metal items to hard interior plastic, and the under hood insulation pad. Anyone know of a glue that will work? Thanks for any ideas.

[Dick W.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

Both SEM and 3M have some very good products. You should check their catalogs.

[Michael J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

I have some of the 3M weatherstrip adhesive, the yellow and black varieties, maybe that will work.

[Paul J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

I am trying to attach some thin billet metal trim items and have tried several glues that don't hold, like contact cement, StixAll, and Permatex clear silicone sealer. I am trying to attach the metal items to hard interior plastic, and the under hood insulation pad. Anyone know of a glue that will work? Thanks for any ideas.

Any good, old fashioned, two part epoxy will do the trick. It will last a very long time. If these parts are not under any stress, you can also try Gorilla Glue. It is a polyurethane glue that cures with moisture. It foams when it cures so you'll have to scrape off the excess after it cures. Be careful not to get it on you because you'll have to wear it off, like super glue.

[Dick W.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

Some plastics and expoy adhesives do not play well together. SEM has a two part "problem plastic" adhesive that will stick to about any plastic part made

[Paul J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

Some plastics and expoy adhesives do not play well together. SEM has a two part "problem plastic" adhesive that will stick to about any plastic part made

I had assumed that he was gluing to painted parts, but you raise an interesting point, Dick. Both the Devcon and Permatex epoxies that I have specifically do not say that they are for plastics. I had'nt noticed that before, as I've always used them on metal and wood. Even the JB Weld does not list plastics. I think the Gorilla Glue is OK. I had also thought about bonding adhesive but I don't know if he could only get a small amount.

Paul

[Michael J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

One problem I have is that there is no way to clamp or even tape the parts onto the surfaces to wait for curing or drying. Painter's tape will not even stick to the hard interior plastic for instance. Maybe duck tape will, but I am afraid it will leave a residue. I am going to have to experiment a bit I guess. I have heard something called 3M clear silicone sealer may work.

[Paul J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

One problem I have is that there is no way to clamp or even tape the parts onto the surfaces to wait for curing or drying. Painter's tape will not even stick to the hard interior plastic for instance. Maybe duck tape will, but I am afraid it will leave a residue. I am going to have to experiment a bit I guess. I have heard something called 3M clear silicone sealer may work.

Only the Gorilla Glue would require a clamp. I'd use pieces of wood and weights to form braces. Under the hood you can lay down blocks and use the weight of the hood. Inside the car sit a weight beside the part and insert a wooden brace between the weight and the part. You can also just hold the part in place a few minutes to get the initial set, then use braces later if you need to.

[Dick W.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

I had assumed that he was gluing to painted parts, but you raise an interesting point, Dick. Both the Devcon and Permatex epoxies that I have specifically do not say that they are for plastics. I had'nt noticed that before, as I've always used them on metal and wood. Even the JB Weld does not list plastics. I think the Gorilla Glue is OK. I had also thought about bonding adhesive but I don't know if he could only get a small amount.

Paul

Paul, some plastics seem to adhere very well to adhesives but I have encountered some that almost defy bonding. The SEM Problem Plastic bonding agent has worked well for me on anything I have tried it on.

[Don W.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

roughing up both surfaces may also be needed to obtain a good bond.

[Kevin N.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

try rhino glue. IMO it works better than gorilla glue and does not foam up like the gorilla glue does. it's held everything i've tried it on.

[Norris W.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

The boat people like 5200 3M. It's a silicon type product, but they use it to glue high stress aluminum pieces to fiberglass. They claim that when they try to seperate it, it pulls the gel coat off down to the glass itself, rather than seperating. The two part 3M black stuff in the mixing tube that the bodyshops use to glue panels on some vehicles is super strong and versatile also. I can't remember the part number, but it's also recommended for bonding Corvette glass to bonding strips. Only drawback is it's expensive at about $35 to $40 a tube and should be done with a gun.

[Michael J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

Thanks, I have the 3M silicone stuff on order, I will try that first before the other things. The Goop automotive silicone adhesive did the trick for the underhood attachment, since one side was porous it worked, but not on the interior. It seems if both sides are non-porous, there are many extra problems with bonding.

[Michael J.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

I have now put the 3M Super Silicone Sealer on the pieces, and they stick, well, like glue. They bonded immediately and held easily without clamps, etc. This is the stuff to get for non-porous to non-porous bonding.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Glue Recommendations

If you can tolerate the thickness, 3M double sticky back tape is excellent for both interior and exterior applications.