Laundry-resistant adhesive
May 16, 2023 8:39 AM   Subscribe

I have an extremely cheap pocketknife with glued-on wooden scales. Twice now, the knife has gone through the wash and the scales have fallen off. I'm willing to reglue them again, but I wonder if there is a heat-and-water-resistant wood-to-metal adhesive that would be worth picking up. (I believe the last one I used was Gorilla Glue, and it didn't hold up.)

It may be that there really isn't, and the answer is "take shit out of your pockets before your wife does the laundry" is the only real answer, and that's fine, but this is a sentimental object and it'd be nice to make it a little more robust.
posted by restless_nomad to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (10 answers total)
 
Score/scratch the metal and the wood in a criss-cross pattern to key it, clean it with some rubbing alcohol, and then use a two-part epoxy.
posted by pipeski at 8:41 AM on May 16, 2023 [5 favorites]


I would use a two part five minute epoxy. Scuff up the surfaces a bit with 220 grit sandpaper. I don't know the heat resistance but it should be water resistant. The key to two part epoxy is to mix it really well. Longer than you think is practical. It'll set in five minutes but give it 24 hours to fully cure before you send it through the wash.
posted by bondcliff at 8:43 AM on May 16, 2023 [6 favorites]


And I just went through the Loctite product adviser (wood>Stainless steel) and they recommended this for resistance to weather/moisture and extreme temperatures. I have not used it myself though.
posted by bondcliff at 8:47 AM on May 16, 2023


An alternative to epoxy might be something like Goop type adhesive. It cures to a slightly rubbery consistency that resists failure by flexing, something I sometimes find epoxy does not do very well.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:19 AM on May 16, 2023


I don't know the heat resistance but it should be water resistant.

It's probably not exactly the same epoxy formulation glues have but it's the base material for circuit boards, which can withstand solder baths (for a few tens of seconds) and reflow ovens (temps over 100C/212F for several minutes).
posted by Stoneshop at 11:39 AM on May 16, 2023


Original formula JB Weld is a two part epoxy that would work well for this use. Machinable so you could sand or file any excess, incidental contact food safe, withstands 550F, impervious to water and most common solvents when cured. It has a 20 minute or so open time and isn't as drippy as 5 min epoxies; has a thick mayo consistency. Sets in 4-6 hours and full cure after a day.

I've permanently fixed radiator tanks with it.
posted by Mitheral at 1:15 PM on May 16, 2023 [5 favorites]


There's a website I learned about (via Cool Tools I think) called This To That which is all about recommending adhesives for sticking one kind of thing to another kind of thing
posted by TimHare at 10:16 PM on May 16, 2023 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks, folks! Looks like I need to finally overcome my reluctance to mess around with epoxy.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:23 AM on May 17, 2023


JB Weld, score the surface first.

Although you will never be sad to have a nicer pocketknife with actual rivets.
posted by aspersioncast at 4:01 PM on May 17, 2023


Response by poster: Oh I have nice pocketknives, I just have a special affection for this $15 Santa Fe gift shop special with my name on it. For reasons.
posted by restless_nomad at 5:19 PM on May 17, 2023


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