Adhesive for rubber sheet?

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

I need to stick some ribbed rubber sheet to the foot panel of a pre-war motorcar. In the past, I have used 'all purpose' spray adhesive, but the edges tend to curl up after a while. My guess is that this is an effect of plasticiser migration, from the rubber to the glue, softening it, or from the glue to the rubber, causing curling. Perhaps both.

The area is about 300mm x 800mm – so this rules out anaerobics such as Loctite, I think (on price at least). Are any of the modern adhesives better for this job?

I have asked the suppliers of the sheet, but they don't seem to know anything about it except the price …

Stay alert. The country needs lerts.

Tim

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

[HillclimberParticipant @hillclimber]

Double-sided tape? It's what I use to fix rubber sheet to my workbench top…..

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

I always use Evostick for rubber but don’t know if modern formulations are as good as the old stuff. It seems to almost vulcanise with the rubber.

just a thought – how about applying some rubber adhesive first and then Evostick onto that while still tacky?

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Could probably get away with using a full 250ml tin of Dunlop Alpha Thixofix contact adhesive. (between £5 and £10)

Ive used it for bandsaw tyres fix shoe soles , other jobs fixing rubber sheet to stuff etc.. and its good stuff.

**LINK**

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

We used to use Evo-Stik 528 to glue rubber seals to painted metal at work.

Martin C

[Dave Smith 14Participant @davesmith14]

Tim

We used this impact adhesive at work for glueing seal etc to parts on Aircraft parts, not cheap but does the job.

3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Rubber Adhesive 1300L.

Regards

Dave

[ANDY CAWLEYParticipant @andycawley24921]

There is a locktite product that does the trick. I used some to glue a rubber strip to a strap that held a petrol tank in place on a vintage car. Sadly I can’t rememberers the number but the Loctite technical advise team have always been very helpful in my experience.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Sikaflex 252 is my go to adhesive for maximum stick. I have found it will stick almost anything from glass, rubber, plastic to anything else. I fixed my solar panels to the roof of the caravan 8 years ago and they are still there.

regards

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I recall my old dad boiling up granules of some stinking resin-like stuff to use as glue. No idea whther it;d work but would smell authentic…
I quite like copydex for stuff like this so long as there is no visible free edge that dirt can collect on – it seems to stay tacky forever.

pgk

[Tony MartyrParticipant @tonymartyr14488]

I used an Evostick impact adhesive to glue the footwell lining in my Caterham some years ago. I had to lie on the ground with my head right under the dashboard and it took some time to get it done. Immediately upon completion my wife drove me to dinner with some friends – I had just got to their front door when I projectile vomited and passed out (quite an entrance). The doctor explained that breathing deeply in a confined space the trichlorethylene fumes was not a good idea.

[Grenville HuntParticipant @grenvillehunt47315]

I'm with Oldiron for SikaFlex, held my Landrover together for 10 years +

Gren.

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Tim, it might be worth having a word with your local flooring contractor.

I build scenery fora local theatre and one of our "go-to" adhesives for bonding textiles to timber is actually a flooring latex adhesive "Styccobond F1" which is VERY similar to Copydex but about £20 / 5 litres so much cheaper. I'm not recommending that particular adhesive as the makers, F Ball, in Leek, do whole range for the flooring industry and their recommendation depends on flooring backing material as well as the substrate material and the environment – they do have marine applications covered as well.

F Ball have a " recommended adhesives guide" which you can down load – here – that will give you some idea of what would suit your application, but a chat to your local contractor would certainly be worth the time.

[Richard S2Participant @richards2]

Another option for you to consider. EPDM rubber sheet Roofing Adhesive. Plenty of results from a web search and varying quantity options

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Some very helpful responses – many thanks. My 'local flooring contractor' is 30 miles away, sorry, Keith. And F Ball has a wonderful list but nothing in sensible sized (or priced) tins for my application. But I like the look of Sikaflex 252 – and I can get 250g through the post. I suspect it is the stuff I have used in the distant past (and forgot the name) for eg sticking a rear-view mirror on a windscreen. We shall see.

Thanks again, everyone

Regards, Tim

[Oily RagParticipant @oilyrag]

Tim- I see you said you had tried spray on adhesives with no luck.

I was involved in the automotive trade (manufacturing) and we used a spray on adhesive made by Tex Abrasives UK Ltd. We used it for attaching headliners, carpets and anti drum rubber sound deadening on engine parts (timing covers and sump pans); it was also used on urethane foam trim backing and vinyls. It was very good stuff!

I recently used some to fix a rubber pad to a backing plate for a Lidl purchased multi tool after it detached after 10 minutes use from new! The can of spray just happened to be one I had liberated about 20 years ago. If it can attach a rubber pad on a vibro tool like a multi tool and not curl, it should do the job!

Preparation is as always the key to success in adhesive use. Clean and degrease with a good quality brake cleaner, and apply after 2 – 3 minutes when the glue becomes tacky.

The can is marked: Tex Auto – Spray Adhesive. Industrial high strength multipurpose aerosol adhesive, Made by Tex Abrasives Ltd,. Viking works, 113 Greenstead Rd, Chichester, Essex – telephone 0206 870336

No guarantees that the phone number is correct or that they are still in business

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