OAUSA Net - JUly 12, 2018 - Trail and Home Repair Products - Adhesives, Thread Lockers, and More

[DaveK]

Trail and Home Repair Products - Adhesives, Thread Lockers, and More

When you're on the trail and miles from the nearest repair facility, it's nice to know that you took the time to bring enough gear to make necessary repairs. The secret, however, is to know what to bring and how to use it. The extent to which you are well prepared will depend on how much thought your have given to your vehicles likely problems, how extensive your repair kit is, and your knowledge on how to make repairs. This means that getting the right stuff is critical. Equally important is spending necessary time preparing your vehicle for the trail.

This topic is huge, and to get the most information possible in one net, we have broken it down to a discussion of products that generally can be described as adhesives, thread lockers, repair solutions/materials, gaskets, tapes, etc.

Our speaker will be Kevin Paulsen KK6DGL. Kevin's knowledge of this subject is extensive and whether you are getting ready for a trail run or just doing work at home, this net is not be missed. Join us.

[KAP]

Tonight's Net will focus on what I consider to be the most useful adhesives, sealants and repair materials to have on hand when making repairs, either in the field, on the trail or while preparing for your next adventure.

Just like so much else that we do, you will want this to be your own custom kit or kits based on the activities and equipment subject to your expected repairs. I put my own kit together which represent the items I feel are most useful.

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These Altoid Tins make great little containers but we will get to this later....

[KAP]

Topics covered will include:

Safety gear and surface preparation items you should have on hand.
Solvent based adhesives
Cyanoacrylates(super glues)
Epoxy glues and putties
Reactive repair tapes
Threadlockers vs traditional locking devices
Liquid gaskets and sealants

Safety should be the number one consideration when working on a vehicle, preparing a surface for repair and selecting and using the correct adhesive to complete the repair.

I consider the following items to be essential in your vehicle repair kit to handle most repairs:

Eye protection
Gloves, both leather and latex/nitryl
N95 mask
Ear plugs
Long sleeve shirt

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Next we consider repair materials:

Alcohol wipes
Sand paper
Cordage, Duct Tape
Strapping
Patching Material
Canned air is a nice to have

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[KAP]

Solvent Based Adhesives:

1. Ideal for flexible substrates. Neoprene or fabric seat covers, rubber bumpers and safety stops on vehicles, tents and ground sheets, air mattresses, fishing waders, pop up tents can all be repaired with great success.
2. Work well on shoe soles. May need to be clamped or taped in place.
3. Surfaces must be clean and dry.
4. These products dry through evaporation of various solvents. Best applied in thin layers. May be built up in successive layers.
5. Use in well ventilated areas. Many are flammable and give off strong fumes.

The versatility of solvent based adhesives is unsurpassed and one should be included in your kit.

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A shoe sole repair with multiple coats of solvent based adhesive.

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Tent Floor repaired with contact cement.

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Tent side wall hole repairs: Large holes with a patch and small holes or abrasions with the adhesive only.

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Expanded view of tent side wall patch.

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This is a Mesh Repair made with found material.

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Basic Tire Repair kit from Harbor Freight.

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[KAP]

Cyanoacrylates( super glues)

1. Almost instant cure on most surfaces.
2. Super glues will not bond glass.
3. Uses latent moisture on parts to neutralize the acid stabilizer glue.
4. Cleaned parts must be allowed to regain humidity in the air for best bond. The easiest way to do this is to breathe on the parts.
5. Require a very thin gap and bond line. Do not over apply the adhesive.
6. Creates a rigid joint with very high tensile strength.
7. Thicker adhesives are designed for porous surfaces.
8. You may use baking soda or powdered metals along with a very thin(low viscosity) glue as a filler. Makes a very hard, durable repair that may be drilled. Fills huge gaps.
9. Repairs and bonds rubber weather strip, metals and plastics.

Super glue should be applied in very small amounts. The pen mark shows how much.

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Baking Soda is an excellent repair medium for creating a built up surface with "Water Thin" Super Glue. This is because baking soda is hydrophilic. Its tendency to absorb water and the ultra small particle size provide a surface area that is conducive to creating a structural repair.

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An alternative to having baking soda and super glue is a commercial product called Rapid Fix. It is essentially the same as using baking soda and super glue.

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[KAP]

Epoxy glues:

1. Usually two part.
2. Must mix in the correct ratio. Must mix thoroughly. Reaction is exothermic and produces heat which cures product.
3. Epoxies prefer a thicker bond line. Don't squeeze parts too tight.
4. Tends to be rigid although tougher, flexible versions are available.
5. Bonds many substrates.
6. Special putty formulations can seal fuel and other fluid tanks.
7. Specialized fillers can match the properties of the parent substrates. Titanium, aluminum, etc.
8. Most can be sanded, drilled or tapped depending on their physical properties.
9. Gloves should be worn as epoxies can cause skin reactions.

Epoxy is commonly characterized by its application of two parts: Resin and the Hardener.

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An easy to use applicator that mixes on the fly.

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How to mix epoxy for best results. In order for the hardener to have its best effect, epoxies must be thoroughly mixed and once mixed should not exhibit any streaking or variations in color. The hardener must be mixed into the resin so that it completely cures.

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Epoxy Putty (one example is Metal Magic but is not usually commercially available but other epoxy putty is available at Lowe's or Home Depot). Most can be drilled and tapped, used on wet surfaces or even cure under water.

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Cord whipping. This technique is used to reinforce and strengthen a repair. It acts like rebar reinforced concrete.

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Epoxy coated whipping.

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Pole Repair.

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Epoxy Threads: This is an example of making your own thread adapter from 1/2 in. NPT to Acme Threads out of a fast setting epoxy.

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[KAP]

Reactive Tapes

Silicone Tape is a reactive type tape and only sticks to itself.

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Silicone tapes can be used on their own to build up a surface, to seal a leaking pipe or tube in low pressure applications. They can also be used to secure a glue joint while it is curing.

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Gorilla Glue is an example of a moisture reactive polyurethane. It is best for bonding wood or other porous surfaces. It also foams and expands and produces a hard rigid surface but it is unsuitable for applications where flexibility is expected or desired.

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Acrylic Mounting Tape can be used to create a structural bond between surfaces. it continues to gain strength over several days until it becomes permanent.

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Water cured repair tape.

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Can be used to create a cast like repair of pipe or anything that it can be wrapped around.

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Example of a repair made with water cured tape.

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[KAP]

Key points of fasteners and threadlockers

1. A standard threaded assembly has about 15% metal to metal contact between the threads. By filling the void with a hard plastic, you increase the friction to prevent vibrational loosening with the added benefit of sealing the threads.
2. No traditional locking device works in this way or offers the added benefits of a liquid threadlocker.
3. It takes as little as 100 vibration cycles to start a fastener failure.
4. Fastener failure means loss of clamp load. It is the air space between imperfectly fitted parts along with the loss of clamp load that causes squeaks, rattles, and wear on mechanisms and fittings.
5. Fill the air space, remove the gap and you will reduce failure.
6. 2-3 free falling drops on a fastener is enough to fill the air space.

Cut Away:

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Strengths and colors of threadlockers:
Purple- low strength, small fasteners under 1/4".
Blue- medium strength, removable with the same tool you put it on with. This is your go-to strength.
Red- high strength, remove with heat(500* F for 5 minutes). The right choice for high vibration, high shockload components such as drive train or suspension. Also for tamper or theft resistance.
Green- wicking grade or post assembly, apply after assembly to ensure proper line up of component parts.

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Blind Hole.

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Rust Prevention.

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[KAP]

Gasket makers and Sealants:

1. RTV silicones are particularly suited to sealing gaps up to 1/4". RTV( room temperature vulcanization) cures at room temperature with the aid of moisture in the air.
2. All manufacturers make multiple formulas, colors. Color is not a good indicator of type.
3. Acetoxy silicones smell like acetic acid(vinegar). Thetend to be corrosive while they are curing and can rust or corrode metal and electrical parts.
4. Oxime silicones smell like new tennis shoes and use a non corrosive alcohol cure.
5. Always look for, High Performance or Non Corrosive on the label. These types offer additional benefits and will work on oily surfaces.
6. Temperature rating can be over 1000*F.

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Additional Adhesives and Sealants.
Dielectric grease is designed to displace moisture and remove airspace to prevent corrosion on electrical connections.

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Hybrid Adhesives are a new combination of adhesives.
Super Glue and Epoxy or Super Glue and Acrylic.
They exhibit the best properties of their component adhesives and will bond most anything but glass.

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Light Cured Adhesives are superglues or acrylics with a photosensitive curing agent.

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Bonus Section:

Using an Altoid Tin full of adhesive goodies.

A completed Altoid Kit with essential repair items:

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Contents for the Altoid Kit.

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[Jeff-OAUSA]

Early Check In. Thanks.

WD6USA
Jeff