Glue/ epoxy for aluminum

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
What's the best stuff to use to stick 2 peices of flat aluminum together (besides TIG, lol)?
I get the impression JB Weld is really intended more for filling and repairing, not so much as an epoxy?
What about good ol' Krazy glue?

Not a high-strength sort of application, FWTW.
 
If it is not very thick try some of those aluminum rods that you use with a propane or map gas torch. Just make sure you clean them real good with a Clean Stainless Steal Brush first.
 
Maybe if you had a buddy that knew how to TIG, maybe one that didn't live too far away...nah, you probably don't know anybody like that, do you?

Kidding. JB is an epoxy, it does have killer adhesive qualities. Why do you think it sticks so well in filling applications? For appearances sake, though, I'd probably use a good quality clear epoxy. Make sure it's fresh, they do have a shelf life.
 
In what way would forces be acting upon these 2 plates of aluminum?
 
Well, if you're curious about how I was planning to use it, take a look here:

http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Final/resized/Top_tabs_zoomed_labeled.jpg

This is for the tabs used to connect some of the panels together on the 4Runner top project.
Sorry it's a little hard to see, thsi pic was taken after it was already painted and together.
In the pic above, Panel "B" has some aluminum that overlaps w/ panel "C" (which has it's own aluminum. "A" is a small tab that covers the seem between the two. It is attached (epoxied) to the strip on side "B". The bolt you see there then goes through it, the strip on "C", and the fiberglass, pinning it all together (wingnut on underside).

So we're not talking about a whole lot of force - the panels have enough weight that they hold still anyway, just a few foot-pounds to clamp it down.
Originally I used JB Weld, seemed to work great. However, one day I was moving that peice aroudn and knocked the tab on something - and it popped right off, perfectly cleanly. I was really surprised.
I re-did it with a 2-part epoxy, hopefully that wil lhold better.
I did consider calling in a favor to just TIG 'em, but that would be such an overkill when 5 min w/ glue owuld be just as effective.
 
Not a lot of force clamping down, but when you consider the forces that it will see in use, it gets more complicated. The compression from the bolt is going to be hard on an epoxy joint underneath. Combine that with the unavoidable distortion and flexing that it will see and it's bound to pop off again. A fairly flexible epoxy might work better, but I'd weld it or use something like Shoe Goo or an RTV to hold it down, something flexible. The constant stresses on many hard-setting epoxies will turn the glue to powder eventually. And I haven't said this yet, but the top looks great! I almost stopped by today just to see it in person. I need to swing by and check it out sometime.
 
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