Bond Metal
Bond Metal With Glue
There are many ways to bond metal together include welding, rivets, mechanical fasteners & using metal glue. In this article we will look at the best way to bond metal without welding, rivets or mechanical fasteners.
Best adhesive to bond metal
Is it possible to glue metal using an adhesive? The answer is yes, if using the record breaking strongest Adiseal adhesive & sealant.
Why Adiseal is the best adhesive to bond metal
Adiseal adhesive & sealant was the strongest in an independent metal to metal adhesive glue strength test by Ultimate Handyman.
Strongest Metal to Metal Adhesive Glue Test Results
- Adiseal : 245 psi
- SupaBond : 224 psi
- Tec 7 : 165 psi
- HB42 : 184 psi
- Loctite PL Premium : 202 psi
- Gorilla Grab Adhesive : 166 psi
- Bond It PU18 : 136 psi
- Bond It Saves Nails : 95 psi
As well as Adiseal being the strongest at bonding metal to metal, Adiseal adhesive & sealant is also the best product at sticking wood and metal together. In an independent wood to metal adhesive strength test by Ultimate Handyman, Adiseal was the strongest product. It was over 3 times stronger than the nearest competitor in the wood to metal adhesive glue strength test. In fact it was so strong that the screws holding the metal sheet down started to rip out forcing the test on Adiseal to be stopped.
Strongest Wood to Metal Glue Adhesive Test Results
- Adiseal : 3123 psi
- SupaBond : 1115 psi
- Tec 7 : 1016 psi
- HB42 : 942 psi
- Loctite PL Premium : 873 psi
- Gorilla Grab Adhesive : 862 psi
- Bond It PU18 : 582 psi
- Bond It Saves Nails : 411 psi
Some of the other reasons why Adiseal is the best when trying to to bond metal:
- Adiseal is the record breaking strongest adhesive & sealant. It proved it’s the best in an independent adhesive strength test by Ultimate Handyman.
- Stays permanently flexible so it will absorb any vibration and allow any items to expand & contract without the adhesive becoming weak.
- Is waterproof so it is also suitable for use outdoors or indoors. It works in dry, wet & even underwater.
- Has very high gap fill properties.
- Has high initial grab meaning temporary supports may not be required while the adhesive cures. Adiseal Hi-Grab has even higher grab than the standard product.
- Is suitable for use on all metals.
Strength demonstration of Adiseal on metal
To demonstrate the strength of Adiseal, we bonded 2 steel hook plates together with the metal glue. They were then used to tow a 2.7 tonne van once the metal glue adhesive had cured.
Problems with epoxy adhesives
Listed below are the some of the problems of epoxy adhesives.
- Although epoxy adhesives will provide a strong bond when attaching metal to metal, epoxy adhesives are not flexible. This will make the bond become weaker over time. Air temperature changes cause items to expand & contract putting extra forces on the adhesive or glue. If the adhesive or glue is not flexible, it will become weak & brittle then eventually break.
- Most epoxy adhesives come in 2 separate parts which require mixing. To achieve optimum epoxy adhesive properties, the 2 components need to be the correct ratio therefore require careful measuring. They also need to be mixed thoroughly together. If these 2 are not done then the optimum properties of the epoxy may not be achieved.
- Epoxy adhesives have lower initial grab than Adiseal, meaning temporary supports will usually be required whilst the epoxy adhesive cures. The temporary supports will need to be removed one the epoxy adhesive dries. This increases time & money with extra labour cost.
Problems with contact adhesives
Contact adhesives may be suitable in sticking light sheets to a surface but won’t not suitable for more heavy duty applications. There are a number of problems with contact adhesives.
- Contact adhesives have low initial grab meaning temporary supports will be required until the adhesive has cured.
- Contact adhesives also has low gap fill. This means if there is a gap in certain places between the 2 surfaces of the items being bonded, the contact adhesive will not stretch between the 2 surfaces. This will create a much weaker bond as only in a few places where the surfaces are very close together will the adhesive successfully bond.
Problems with using superglue
Glues are generally suitable at sticking small light items to smooth surfaces but not for more heavy duty applications. For more heavy duty applications, a construction adhesive like Adiseal will be required. Glues have lower gap fill, initial grab & flexibility compared with Adiseal adhesive & sealant when trying to stick metal.
How to stick metal with a metal glue adhesive
How to stick metal with a metal glue adhesive
- Prepare metal surface
When attaching metal to metal with glue or adhesive, preparing the metal surface where the adhesive will be applied is vital to achieving a good strong long lasting bond.
To prepare the metal surface, make sure the surface is clean of any dust, grease, oil, paint, rust & any other dirt. UltraLube is an ideal penetrating oil & lubricant that can help remove rust. Adisolve is the ideal product at removing oil & grease. - Remove gaps
Try to make sure there are no big gaps between the surfaces where the adhesive will be applied. If there are any big gaps, then either cut or file down the surface of the metal so that they match closely when both metals are put together.
- Apply the metal glue or adhesive
Apply the metal glue adhesive to 1 surface. Try to cover as much surface area as possible. This will provide a stronger bond.
- Temporary supports
With Adiseal, simply apply the adhesive to the metal and push them together. As Adiseal has high grab, temporary supports should not be required but if the item does start to slide down then place temporary supports to hold the items in place until the adhesive has cured. Adiseal usually takes 24 hours to 48 hours to fully cure, with curing times increasing in colder temperatures.
- Moisture to cure
Adiseal requires moisture to cure & also cures from outside in, meaning it will skin over first then cure inwards. If Adiseal is applied between 2 non porous materials like metal, there is a chance the adhesive will cure at the edge and create a barrier not allowing any moisture to get to the middle of the adhesive. This might increase the cure time a lot to the adhesive in the middle. When using Adiseal between 2 non porous materials, it is recommended to spray some water on each surface before applying the product.
Tip: If bonding metal where there is a chance of water running between the 2 items stuck together, apply the adhesive in thin vertical strips. This allows any water to run down between the strips instead of building up on top of the adhesive. If there is a build up of water between the 2 items stuck together, in cold temperatures the water will turn to ice which expands putting additional forces on the adhesive.
Bonding other items to metal with Adiseal
Read the individual section for more details.
Using Adiglue to glue metal to metal
It is also possible to glue metal to metal using our Adiglue. Although Adiglue is less brittle than super glues, it is still not as flexible as Adiseal adhesive & sealant.
Benefits of Adiseal
- Works in dry, wet, even underwater
- Best grab
- Waterproof adhesive & sealant
- Fast power grab & grip
- Gap filler adhesive
- Resists mould
- Over paintable
- Non brittle
- UV resistant
- Virtually odourless
- Isocyanate free
- Solvent free
- No shrinkage or cracking
- Flexible adhesive
- Prevent fungal growth
- Prevent bacteria growth
- Good resistance to chemicals
- EC1 Plus certified
- ISEGA certified – safe for use in food preparation areas
- Suitable for interior & exterior use
The standard adhesive drying time for Adiseal is 24 – 48 hours to fully cure. Curing times can increase in colder temperatures.
Where to buy
In the UK, Adiseal products can be purchased from Adiseal stockists. For other countries visit www.guglue.com
Frequently asked questions about bonding metal
It is possible to attach metal to metal without welding by using mechanical fasteners, rivets, glue or adhesive. Adiseal is the strongest adhesive in an independent test at bonding metal. To glue the metal together with an adhesive, make sure both surfaces are thoroughly clean. Sometimes oil or grease is applied to metal to stop it corroding or rusting. This needs to be removed first before applying the adhesive. Once the surfaces are clean, apply the adhesive, then push both metal together. Hold them until the adhesive has dried. Temporary supports might be required until the adhesive fully dries.
Adiseal is the strongest adhesive in an independent test. It was strongest in the metal to metal glue adhesive strength test. It was also over 3 times stronger than anything product in the wood to metal glue adhesive strength test.
To bond metal together, first remove any big gaps between the 2 surfaces where the adhesive will be applied. Then make sure any oil, grease, dust, paint or any other dirt is removed before applying the adhesive. Firmly push both items together and hold them in place until the glue or adhesive dries.
The strongest adhesive in an independent metal to metal glue adhesive strength test was Adiseal. It also was strongest in the wood to metal glue adhesive strength test.
Suhail Matadar
Suhail Matadar has extensive experience in the construction industry as an electrician, involved in installing, inspecting, and testing electrical systems in various projects. He excelled in sales, working for a major UK wholesaler, selling construction products to professionals and the DIY market. Suhail's background includes working at a leading home emergency repair company dealing with trades people. With a BEng (Hons) degree in Electronic Engineering, Suhail has worked with PLCs in the nuclear fuel manufacturing industry. During his studies, he gained practical experience at a chemical manufacturing company known for producing award-winning cleaning, hygiene, and livestock protection products for over a century. Currently, Suhail runs a global business specialising in supplying, researching, testing, and distributing chemical construction products like adhesives and sealants.