Gluing Aluminium

[Ramon WilsonParticipant @ramonwilson3]

Stuart, I have only just seen your thread otherwise would have commented earlier.

Looks like you have now found the extremly useful attributes of JBW. There are other alternatives equally as good of course but are usually much more expensive which is a factor to be considered if it is going to sit on a shelf between occasional useage.

As Tim and I'm sure like some others on here I have built and raced IOM and Mablehead yachts but not recently. Stangely enough I don't recall having a use for JB on any of them though.

Hope your model sails well

Ramon (Tug)

[Neil LickfoldParticipant @neillickfold44316]

When I made an engine mount for a OS Wankel rotary engine, I glued all of the frame with Purbond Al glue. It was a 2 part, with a brown activator on one surface, and a opaque looking glue to the other part. The pieces were glued end on. The instructions back in 1985 was to lightly sand then apply the activator as soon as possible after sanding. Then sand the other areas where the opaque gel goes, again apply the gel as soon as sanded. Then assemble within 60 seconds, and hold in place for a few hours until cured. I also made a curtain rail extension which lasted until the sale of the house in 1997. So lasted at least 12 years. The engine mount never failed in the life of the model.

Neil

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I have found that the slow curing Araldite is stronger than the quick type.

[Stuart Munro 1Participant @stuartmunro1]

To conclude.

My JB Weld 'original cold weld' has now set and is frankly fantastic. My one observation is to be neat in applying it, once dry the only way to remove it from surfaces seems to be mechanical, filing it off.

Ramon & Tim, I sometimes dream of a Marblehead – they are so graceful on the water. For a quick dip I have a 'Tupperware' DF65 which is fun to sail but about as beautiful as a brick. But to be honest, its the building of the boat, and designing the mechanics/electronics that I enjoy most so 'near scale' is likely to remain my preferance.

Perhaps a steam powered boat….

Stuart

[Stuart Munro 1Participant @stuartmunro1]

Hi,

Just thought I'd report back after completing all my aluminium gluing.

JB Weld is fantastic stuff as long as you prepare the aluminium carefully. But you do need to take care on being neat when applying the mixed glue, it dried hard and sanding it off can impair the aluminium surface, I found that after an hour the glue was firm but not hard and excess could be removed with a hobby knife. This will leave a stain which, once fully hardened, can be removed easily with 1000 grit paper.

I am painting the aluminium for corrosion protection; after an etching primer the aluminium and any visible glue takes the paint well with no remaining sign of the glue in the joint.

Regards

Stuart

[egaParticipant @ega]

I don't think David Lammas' excellent little book Adhesives and Sealants (WPS21) has been mentioned (currently in the smallest room here).

[Stuart Munro 1Participant @stuartmunro1]

Posted by ega on 18/04/2021 10:02:39:

I don't think David Lammas' excellent little book Adhesives and Sealants (WPS21) has been mentioned (currently in the smallest room here).

Just found it on Amazon, £6.25 so worth a punt.

Thanks for the hint

Stuart

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