Panel adhesive / sealant
Discussion
Spent some time searching through the forums but can't find much on this...
Can anyone recommend a good adhesive to use to secure the floor/side panels to the chasis? I'm going to be riveting them but I guess I should be using some sort of adhesive to rust proof/increase the bond strength.
Also any thoughts on whether I just apply adhesive around the rivets or the whole lenth of the panel?
Cheers,
Dylan
Can anyone recommend a good adhesive to use to secure the floor/side panels to the chasis? I'm going to be riveting them but I guess I should be using some sort of adhesive to rust proof/increase the bond strength.
Also any thoughts on whether I just apply adhesive around the rivets or the whole lenth of the panel?
Cheers,
Dylan
I think most companies just recomend the use of a silicone sealant along the whole length of the mating surfaces. This helps to keep water from penetrating the join reducing corrosion of the mating surface (especially at rivets) and also keeping water out of the car. Ask the manufacturers advice on the use of sealant against a bonding agent as if its not structural they might not recomend a bonding agent.
The adhesive used is Polyurethane not silicon.
Buy it from any motor factor or car paint supplier.
Normally black but other colours are out there. Once set you will bend and destroy a panel trying to get it off even after drilling out the rivets.
Apply along the whole joint line to seal the panel and clean up the ooze with Brake Cleaner. Use disposable gloves cos when it sets you will not get it off your hands. Stig says it comes off with WD40 but have not tried it.
Steve
Buy it from any motor factor or car paint supplier.
Normally black but other colours are out there. Once set you will bend and destroy a panel trying to get it off even after drilling out the rivets.
Apply along the whole joint line to seal the panel and clean up the ooze with Brake Cleaner. Use disposable gloves cos when it sets you will not get it off your hands. Stig says it comes off with WD40 but have not tried it.
Steve
I'd reccomend tiger seal or sicaflex, quite expensive (£5 for a tube) but worth it 
I use these products on a daily basis so can give a little help. The products you will require are polyurethane sealants. I'd recomend Soudal soudaflex 40FC & Detaflex 4000. Both cost around £2 per tube through trade. I have also used the Wurth stuff but havn't honestly given it any form of strength testing so can't sing it's praises apart for the fact that we were getting it for £1.80 per tube (makes a huge difference when you order 1000s per year).
As a strength example I attatched a piece of chequer plate to the wall approx 8inch square with a section the same size folded over to act as a shelf (somewhere to stick the kettle.) The sealant (detaflex 4000)was applied to the ally, pushed onto the wall and a piece of steel was leant against it to stop it falling off the wall whilst it set. Came back after the weekend and promptly stood on the shelf. Guess what? it's still there! Neither surface was cleaned or prepared in any way.
Just to let you know I don't sell any of these products or work for the companies supplying or making them.
Oh yes nearly forgot. To clean it up I use standard thinners. Too help smooth it out for a decent finish where required, there's nothing better than spitting on your finger to prevent sticking so you can manipulate the sealant into the required place/shape
>> Edited by wolf1 on Saturday 10th April 13:42
As a strength example I attatched a piece of chequer plate to the wall approx 8inch square with a section the same size folded over to act as a shelf (somewhere to stick the kettle.) The sealant (detaflex 4000)was applied to the ally, pushed onto the wall and a piece of steel was leant against it to stop it falling off the wall whilst it set. Came back after the weekend and promptly stood on the shelf. Guess what? it's still there! Neither surface was cleaned or prepared in any way.
Just to let you know I don't sell any of these products or work for the companies supplying or making them.
Oh yes nearly forgot. To clean it up I use standard thinners. Too help smooth it out for a decent finish where required, there's nothing better than spitting on your finger to prevent sticking so you can manipulate the sealant into the required place/shape
>> Edited by wolf1 on Saturday 10th April 13:42
wolf1 said:
Oh yes nearly forgot. To clean it up I use standard thinners. Too help smooth it out for a decent finish where required, there's nothing better than spitting on your finger to prevent sticking so you can manipulate the sealant into the required place/shape
Good advice, but I would just add - leave it to "set" for a minute or two before smoothing.
Seems to reduce the chances of it catching and sticking to your [moist] finger...
Jim
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