Your Favorite Adhesives

[thinwater]

Epoxies (including thickened) and polyesters are obvious. Also 3M 5200 and CT-1. 5-minute epoxies are good for tacking things in place. Thread lockers. But what else?

• Plexus. Many newer boats are practically built with the stuff, including keel grids and bulkheads. Also attaching threaded studs and gear to walls (such as electrical panels). I'm guessing MA 310 is the most common formula, but they make a bunch.
• Other methacrylates. Devcon Plastic Welder seems VERY similar to MA310, and they are both ITW brands. I've used it for a few household things, but never researched it. It seemed very good. I need to learn more about this.
• Sail-specific adhesives. I did some testing and was not thrilled with the long-term UV results of most.
• G-Flex. Really, in a different catagory from other epoxies. MUCH better with plastics, including PE, if properly prepared. Competing products?
• Waterproof epoxies. Everyone should carry some for emergencies. It works. Splashzone and JB weld version are good.
• Spray adhesives. Like 3M Super 77. Good for fabric hull liners.
• PVC glue.
• Inflatable repair glues.
• Glues used on furniture. Wood glues, including waterproof types. Big topic.
• Whatever the "glue" was that they ran out of in "A Christmas Story."

What have I missed? A favorite?

[MicHughV]

Brand name epoxies...I don't see WEST system listed anywhere...

[Jim Cate]

For Hypalon: Rema Tip Top SC2000 or SC4000 (different solvents to solve regulatory limitations due to OSHA or other groups, but similar performance).

Jim

[MicHughV]

I've enjoyed good success with plain 'ole " Gorilla" wood glue

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

Brand name epoxies...I don't see WEST system listed anywhere...

a. Epoxy has been done to death on a lot of threads. We all know about it.


b. Is West Systems that much different from System 3 etc, or is it just superior marketing? I believe the latter.

[PippaB]

Couldn’t do without hot glue for temporarily attaching guides and forms when you just can’t get a clamp in the work area. Holds well enough and actually cleans up pretty easily.

[chris mac]

3m 4000 and 4200 are my go to for long term adhesion. It stays playable/flexible where the 5200 goes much harder
Dow 795 is incredible for rebedding any acrylic products. Windows and hatches.

[Thumbs Up]

G-5 (or probably any 5 minute epoxy). I intersperse a few dabs of it with the slow when bonding a difficult to clamp piece. Hold it for a few minutes by hand...voila!

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Thumbs Up

G-5 (or probably any 5 minute epoxy). I intersperse a few dabs of it with the slow when bonding a difficult to clamp piece. Hold it for a few minutes by hand...voila!

Yes, that is by far it's best application IMO. It's far weaker than other epoxies, but enough for tacking.


I wonder if Devcon Plastic Welder would be even better (stronger, faster, and no need to thicken).

[Ziggy]

I've had good luck using weldmount for affixing small parts to fiberglass (below decks). However, weldmount is pretty expensive and has a short shelf life. Devcon Plastic Welder seems like a similar product. Appearance and smell are similar, and so are application instructions. It's inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. So far, it has held up as well as Weldmount.

[CarlF]

Gflex is my goto 95% of the time when I can wait overnight for full strength. Works on metal, fiberglass, wood, plastics, starboard - never found anything that it doesn't grip.

I have both the unthickened and thickened version on board. A bottle lasts for years after opening with the little rubber caps on. Much cheaper in the long run than most glue containers that harden a month after opening.

I give plastics an alcohol wipe first and flame treat starboard.

When glueing to aluminum, sand the aluminum, apply the Gflex glue and then sand a bit more right on the wet glue. This will knock off the oxide layer that forms almost instantly on aluminum when exposed to air.

Works great on hypalon (not as good as the hypalon glues for seams but I think better for mounting rubber accessories). Also, not nearly as hazardous to your health as the hypalon glues.

You can undo the bond (or remove drips) later by heating to about 250F with a hot air gun and inserting a putty knife.

As mentioned previously, a few dots of a 5 minute epoxy is very handy to hold things together while the Gflex sets.

I bought a 50 pack of 3/8" glue brushes off amazon for $10. Perfect for mixing and applying.

[s/v Jedi]

CA glue with spray activator. Works much better than 5-minute epoxy for clamping during slow epoxy cure. Also for gluing rubber seals around hatches etc.

[Thumbs Up]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

CA glue with spray activator. Works much better than 5-minute epoxy for clamping during slow epoxy cure. Also for gluing rubber seals around hatches etc.

I've been wanting to try this stuff.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Instantb...-400/203082931
Carpenters are using it for trim miters and has a thousand other uses but can't imagine how you could intersperse a few dabs of it on a slow epoxy bond line as you can with G5.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Thumbs Up

I've been wanting to try this stuff.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Instantb...-400/203082931
Carpenters are using it for trim miters and has a thousand other uses but can't imagine how you could intersperse a few dabs of it on a slow epoxy bond line as you can with G5.

Well, just try it out :-)

Another good trick for clamping with it is to just glue a block to hold it, then knock it off with a hammer when done. If you don’t want to mar the surface, then you can put blue masking tape on it first, so that you’re gluing the blue tape. You can even do that on both sides to temporarily fasten something.

I also use it often to fasten shims.

[MicHughV]

my wife uses a product called " Aleene's Tacky Glue" as a hobbyist. It's available at most any hardware store...it costs about $1 per container....I've used it to glue wood together and it is surprisingly strong...I use it now as my " go to" wood glue for small projects, it sets up quick and will dry clear....it's pretty amazing stuff.....