Options for cementing rubber to painted metal?
December 1, 2018 8:21 AM Subscribe
How to attach rubber to metal, that will stay attached, even with flexing? (It's for an automotive application: side window scrapers). A common suggestion is contact cement. Also, Super Glue -- and how about that silicone gasket stuff? Anything else available?
The recommended product for my project is Dunlop CA which I cannot find in local shops. However, this stuff sounds like trouble, to me. Super Glue, also -- how to undo, if my initial positioning is wrong? Once in contact, I'd be real lucky if I didn't need to adjust one of the pieces a bit, to get it into position.
I'm curious about this RTV Silicone Gasket Maker stuff. Does a certain variety bond metal and rubber well? Will it hold up even in cold, wet and very hot weather, and with some flexing of the rubber? My impression is this stuff can be peeled and scraped off later, without damaging the metal or rubber.
Or maybe I'd be better off just using Epoxy?
The recommended product for my project is Dunlop CA which I cannot find in local shops. However, this stuff sounds like trouble, to me. Super Glue, also -- how to undo, if my initial positioning is wrong? Once in contact, I'd be real lucky if I didn't need to adjust one of the pieces a bit, to get it into position.
I'm curious about this RTV Silicone Gasket Maker stuff. Does a certain variety bond metal and rubber well? Will it hold up even in cold, wet and very hot weather, and with some flexing of the rubber? My impression is this stuff can be peeled and scraped off later, without damaging the metal or rubber.
Or maybe I'd be better off just using Epoxy?
The RTV gasket stuff isn't exactly permanent, since gaskets occasionally need to be replaced. You definitely need an all-weather, waterproof contact cement. Superglue definitely won't cut it. It will fail due to the combination of moisture, cold, and shear forces involved in scraping ice.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:25 AM on December 1, 2018
posted by Thorzdad at 9:25 AM on December 1, 2018
A little pricey but at work we use 3M Rubber and Vinyl 80 Spray Adhesive to bond vinyl to wood and rubber to metal. It's a contact cement. Spray both surfaces, let dry and then put them together. Make sure you get everything lined up exactly right because you'll only have one chance, it will be very difficult to pull it apart after you put the two parts together.
posted by Grumpy old geek at 9:48 AM on December 1, 2018
posted by Grumpy old geek at 9:48 AM on December 1, 2018
If you're working with contact cement and need to get positioning correct first time, tape bits of cardboard to the larger surface to help position the smaller piece in place. When the cement is ready, rest the small piece on edge near one of the fences and then slowly rotate it into position. Alternately if the surface area is large, you can use silicone-impregnated baking parchment to block all but a fraction of the glue surface, get the top piece lined up and in place, then slowly pull the parchment out from between the two while pressing them together.
You might also consider ultra-high adhesion double-sided tape -- 3M's VHB series for example -- which is what car manufacturers use to stick e.g. mirrors to windshields. It may be overkill to buy a roll at if you only need a little and just for one job.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:22 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
You might also consider ultra-high adhesion double-sided tape -- 3M's VHB series for example -- which is what car manufacturers use to stick e.g. mirrors to windshields. It may be overkill to buy a roll at if you only need a little and just for one job.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:22 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Long ago when I worked on cars we used to swear by Gorilla Snot
it's possible the formulation has changed, but what you are trying to do is exactly what it was meant for.
posted by rudd135 at 1:17 PM on December 1, 2018
it's possible the formulation has changed, but what you are trying to do is exactly what it was meant for.
posted by rudd135 at 1:17 PM on December 1, 2018
ThisToThat (a handy resource in general!) suggests Household Goop or the same 3M product Grumpy old geek suggests.
posted by whatnotever at 2:01 PM on December 1, 2018
posted by whatnotever at 2:01 PM on December 1, 2018
I've used 3M 847 contact adhesive for applications like this and it has performed well. It may go without saying but clean and well prepped surfaces are as important as proper adhesive selection.
posted by dudemanlives at 9:17 PM on December 1, 2018
posted by dudemanlives at 9:17 PM on December 1, 2018
Response by poster: I found this helpful video comparing various adhesives, including contact cement and epoxy. Its conclusion is 3M VHB mounting tape (which I didn't try, 'cause I only need a little, and don't know where to buy).
Long ago when I worked on cars we used to swear by Gorilla Snot
I thought this was some variant of Gorilla Glue, but it seems to be a nickname for 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive. Ironic because googling it brings up this hair gel with the same name.
I got some Permatex Contact Cement. However, it failed in a test adhesion, but Permatex Weatherstrip Adhesive looks like it's doing the job.
seanmpuckett's tip about using parchment paper was invaluable, for working with this stuff.
posted by Rash at 8:34 PM on December 9, 2018
Long ago when I worked on cars we used to swear by Gorilla Snot
I thought this was some variant of Gorilla Glue, but it seems to be a nickname for 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive. Ironic because googling it brings up this hair gel with the same name.
I got some Permatex Contact Cement. However, it failed in a test adhesion, but Permatex Weatherstrip Adhesive looks like it's doing the job.
seanmpuckett's tip about using parchment paper was invaluable, for working with this stuff.
posted by Rash at 8:34 PM on December 9, 2018
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Autozone [or similar] probably will have a Permatex-branded version oriented toward the transportation market.
posted by Glomar response at 8:39 AM on December 1, 2018