Bonding overhead wood strips to the ceiling?

[Sailorman Ed]

My salon and cabins all have thin plywood panels (covered with fabric) that are held on only wood strips with long Velco strips. It looks like the PO or maybe the builder attached the wood to the inside of the hull with some adhesive out of a caulking gun. It seems to adhere to the wood quite well but not to the fiberglass. I suspect a lack of surface prep. I am now ready to put my ceiling panels back up but many of the wood strips will need to be bonded again. Close to 100 lin feet. I am going to fabricate some adjustable braces. Thickened epoxy or Liquid Nails or 4200 or ???

[Matt Johnson]

5200 fast cure works well for this. If you want to do thickened epoxy, get an empty caulk tube to apply it with a gun. You can also use pastry bags, but the gun is easier.

Matt

[Cheechako]

There are modern adhesives now days that come in a caulking tube. I think they are relate to iso 5 second glues but different of course and thick. They are super strong, actually being used in lieu of welding even! That's what I would use now days. 5200 is great for that, but the problem with 5200 is you have to clamp/ support it in place for 24-48 hours. If you are using screws that's not an issue though.
I have not found fast cure 4200 etc type to hold very well personally. not like 5200 anyway.

[Sailorman Ed]

Looks like the fast cure 5200 is quite costly. Any experience with the Loctite PL polyurethane as less than 1/2 the cost? Seems to get good reviews.
I do not have any problem supporting it for overnight.

[Cheechako]

I have used "home" polyurethane for various things. It appears to be very much like 5200 in look, texture and hardened state. Not sure. It's getting a bit hard to find for some reason.
Plexus is great stuff or other similar types of a different name: Plexus - Structural Adhesives

[Matt Johnson]

Plexus is pretty pricey for what he is trying to accomplish. Try the Loctite on a small section and see. The TDS for the Loctite shows wood to wood bond of 500psi plus, but If it sets too rigid, it could pop off later on. Redoing the job would be a major pain I'm sure.

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[Delancey]

Maybe 3M VHB tape? Just by itself or little pieces to hold the strips in place while the adhesive caulk cures? Have used 5 minute epoxy in a similar fashion. Just a thought.

Products:Â*3Mâ„¢ VHBâ„¢ Tape

[Offshore1960]

Thixo epoxy from Jamestown Distributors will work great for your application.

TotalBoat Thixo Pro 2:1 Epoxy System

Not cheap per say but very effective.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Sailorman Ed

Looks like the fast cure 5200 is quite costly. Any experience with the Loctite PL polyurethane as less than 1/2 the cost? Seems to get good reviews.
I do not have any problem supporting it for overnight.

I used Loctite Power Grab to install several hundred feet of 3/4" furring strips to my ceiling in which I nailed T&G bead board to. After applying to the wood strips, I pressed tightly against the ceiling and used a couple of 7/8" sm screws to hold in place overnite while it cured. I had to remove a coupe pieces a couple weeks later and it actually delaminated the wood strips when I pried it off with a chisel. It is available at Lowes for about $4.00/caulk tube.

[HopCar]

What ever you do, don't use 5200! You'll never be able to remove it! It's the Devils Glue! That's what I hear every time I suggest 5200.

I don't know about the other adhesives mentioned but I've used 5200 to adhere teak to fiberglass several times. It hasn't failed yet.
10 oz. White Marine Adhesive Sealant 5200

Another adhesive / sealant I've been playing with lately is Sudbury.
The stuff is nicer to work with than 5200 as it skins over quickly and doesn't seem to get everywhere. It bonds well to both wood and fiberglass. It will even bond to Starboard without any special prep.
Sudbury Elastomeric Sealant

[cruisersfarm]

Originally Posted by HopCar

What ever you do, don't use 5200! You'll never be able to remove it! It's the Devils Glue! That's what I hear every time I suggest 5200.

I don't know about the other adhesives mentioned but I've used 5200 to adhere teak to fiberglass several times. It hasn't failed yet.
10 oz. White Marine Adhesive Sealant 5200

Another adhesive / sealant I've been playing with lately is Sudbury.
The stuff is nicer to work with than 5200 as it skins over quickly and doesn't seem to get everywhere. It bonds well to both wood and fiberglass. It will even bond to Starboard without any special prep.
Sudbury Elastomeric Sealant

How does sikaflex 212 compare in the same situation?

Curious, because i just bet the farm on it,

[Reefmagnet]

Waterproof liquid nails glue.

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[Terra Nova]

5200 is a wonderful wood to fiberglass adhesive; cheap and easy to use.

[Three Sisters]

This is a high quality contact cement used in high heat environments. If you have never used it before, there will not be much adjusting your panels once the two pieces have been pressed together.

[Terra Nova]

Ixnay on the contact cement.