Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the links below to learn more about them:

 

1. General

     1.1  Aquarium Fish Safety

     1.2  Is Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue UL licensed?

     1.3  Get Stuck Repair Kits Instructions (Opens in New Window)

          1.3.1 Poly Tank Repair Kit

          1.3.2 Poly/Plastic Kayak Repair Kit

          1.3.3 Above Ground Vinyl Pool Repair Kit

          1.3.4 Fish Pond Liner Underwater Repair Kit

          1.3.5 Hyplaon Inflatable Boat Repair Kit

          1.3.6 In-Ground Pool Repair Kit

          1.3.7 PVC Inflatable Boat Repair Kit

          1.3.8 Spa Repair Kit

          1.3.9 Umbrella Repair Kit

          1.3.10 Appliance Repair Kit

          1.3.11 Boat Lift Pontoon Repair Kit

     1.4  Dispensing from the Manual-Mix Syringe

     1.5  Mr. Sticky's not tested for drinking water

     1.6  Warning! Pool Step Anti-Slip Tape Bonding Failures

     1.7  Will A Heat Gun Work With Poly-Bonder?

     1.8  How Do I load the Dispensing Gun?

     1.9  Will temperature affect curing times?

 

2. Product Information

     2.1 Properties

          2.1.1 Cold-Bond Properties

          2.1.2 Poly-Bonder Properties

          2.1.3 Tentacle Glue Properties

          2.1.4 Vibra-Bond Properties

          2.1.5 Underwater Glue Properties

     2.2 Uses

          2.2.1 Cold-Bond Uses

          2.2.2 Poly-Bonder Uses

          2.2.3 Tentacle Glue Uses

          2.2.4 Vibra-Bond Uses

          2.2.5 Underwater Glue Uses

     2.3 Shipping

          2.3.1 Are Mr. Sticky's Premium Adhesives Hazmat?

3. How-to...

     3.1 Bond Polyethylene

     3.2 Repair a Poly Kayak

     3.3 Repair a Pool Liner

     3.4 Repair an Inflatable Boat

     3.5 Bond Non-Skid Strips to Pool Steps

     3.6 Glue PVC Fittings to Iron Pipe!

     3.7 Bond Wood Steps Underwater!

     3.8 Repair Pool Plaster Holes Underwater

    

4. Troubleshooting

     4.1 Troubleshooting Bonding Problems

 

5. Tips and Tricks

     5.1  How to Speed Up Glue Curing Time

     5.2  How to Clean Uncured Glue

     5.3  How to Hold Parts while the Glue is Curing

 

 

1.1 Aquarium Fish Safety

Important Bulletin for Aquarium Owners

Due to the many variables possible with respect to the safety of aquatic life, there is no simple way to declare epoxy completely safe for all aquatic life. AAI does not warranty that your fish will remain healthy if you use our adhesive.

With respect to the question of fish safety, AAI hired a laboratory to conducted a test (DOHS (Title 22) Hazardous Waste Bioassay using Flathead Minnows ) which was passed that relates to the exposure of materials like our epoxy in a marine environment. Please note that it is important to fully mix the two parts of the epoxy above water per the directions supplied with the epoxy before applying underwater. The mixed solution's safety is what is reflected in the test.

Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue has passed the "DOHS (Title 22) Hazardous Waste Bioassay using Flathead Minnows test: This test is specified under the California Department of Fish and Game's regulations. Please review it and decide for yourself if it is sufficient to warrant usage in your situation.

Test Results

Acute Bioassay Report

Performed by Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratories, Inc. in Ventura, CA, on

May 25, 2005.

The test was conducted under the guidelines prescribed in “Static Acute Bioassay

Procedures for Hazardous Waste Samples” California Department of Fish and Game,

1998. The results were as follows:

Sample I.D.: Composite Hardener and Resin

DOHS (TITLE 22) HAZARDOUS WASTE BIOASSAY USING FATHEAD MINNOWS

96 HOUR LC50 = >750 mg/l

STATUS = Pass

WATER QUALITY

     Dilution Water: Reconst. Fresh           Aeration: Single Bubble Air     
Control Hardness Control Alkalinity
 Beg: 49 mg/l  End: 52 mg/l   Beg 37 mg/l  End: 39 mg/l 
Sample Hardness Sample Alkalinity
 Beg: 52 mg/l   End: 55 mg/l  Beg: 33mg/l   End: 33mg/l

 

ORGANISM INFORMATION

SPECIES:  Pimephales promelas  DATE REC'D:  5/6/2005
COMMON NAME:  Fathead Minnow  AVERAGE LENGTH:  39mm
SOURCE:  Thomas Fish Co. AVERAGE WT:  .77 gm
CARRIER:  California Overnight NO. FISH/TANK:  10

 

TEST DATA

  INITIAL 24 HOURS
DATE  5/25/2005 5/26/2005 
TIME  1700  1400
Conc.  Dis. Oxy. Temp (C.)  pH   Dis. Oxy. Temp (C.)  pH  # fish dead 
0 (con.)  8.9 20.9   7.5  7.2   20.4  8   0 
400 mg/l    8.9 20.9  7.9  8.0 19.8  7.3  0
400 mg/l  8.9 20.9 7.9 8.1 19.6  7.4  0
750 mg/l  8.9 20.9 7.9 7.9 19.6  7.4  0
750 mg/l  8.9 20.9 7.9 7.8 19.7  7.3  0

 

48 HOURS 72 HOURS
 DATE 5/27/2005   5/28/2005
 TIME  1800  1500
Dis. Oxy.  Temp (C.)    pH    # fish dead   Dis. Oxy.  Temp (C.)    pH    # fish dead 
7  19.9   7.3   0 7   19.7    7.3   0
7.8 19.4  7.1  0 7.7  19.6  7.1  0
7.6 19.3  7.1  0 7.8  19.6  7.1  0
7.7 19.3 7  0 7.8  19.6  7.1  0
7.3 19.5 7  0 7.7  19.6  7.1  0

 

96 HOURS
5/29/2005
1600
 Dis. Oxy   Temp (C.)    pH   # fish Dead 
6.8 19.5 7.3  0 
7.6  19.7  7.1  0 
7.5  19.7  7.1  0 
7.5  19.7  7.1  0 
7.5  19.7  7.1  0 

 

FINAL DATA

  TOTAL MORTALITIES  
0 (Con.) 0
400 mg/l 0
400 mg/l 0
750 mg/l 0
750 mg/l 0

 

FINAL RESULTS

FINAL RESULTS
96 HOUR LC50 >750 mg/l
STATUS= PASS
  CALCULATION METHOD=     Binominal Test  

 

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1.2 Important Bulletin concerning UL Certification

Due to the high cost of licensing through UL (Underwriter's Laboratory) Mr. Sticky's Premium Adhesives have not been tested or licensed by UL. This means that if a user of Mr. Sticky's Adhesives requires a licensed glue, they should not select ours. 

We have recieved questions regarding sealing underwater pool lense covers. Users report that they have sucessfully made repairs on pool light lenses to help prevent the incursion of water. Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue is sticky underwater, bonds well to plastics and can, if properly applied, help provide a water-tight seal on plastics enclosures. Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue is intended as a "permanent" repair, so removing the glue after bonding requires significant effort (we want our glues to hold securely).

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1.4 Manual Mix Syringe

Proper Dispensing Method for the 30 gram manual mix syringe

The 30 gram manual mix dispenser is easy to use. Please use the following techniques for optimal performance.

  1. Find cap mounted between the syringe plungers. Break it off and have it ready to use to seal the syringe once done.
  2. Using a knife, cut off the syringe approximately 1/4" from the tip, exposing 3/16" dispensing tunnels. If you cut the tip off too close to the end, you will have only 1/16" dispensing holes and the glue will not dispense properly.
  3. Prepare a surface to dispense the glue onto for mixing. This could be a plactic cup, or cardboard or wood surface etc. Depress the plunger, squeezing out twin lines of hardener and resin. Be sure that you have approximately equal amounts of hardener and resin. At times one or the other may dispense out of proportion if the amount is very small. Do not dispense and mix more than 1/2 of the tube at once.
  4. Mix the two parts for 1-2 minutes. The glue will appear mixed after a few seconds of mixing, but will not be mixed!
  5. Apply the glue to your project.
  6. Replace the cap, noting that there is a square and round shape to the inside of the cap. These must be properly aligned to fit onto the syringe. The side of the cap with the small rods is designed to go onto the syringe. The cap should slide on approximately 1/4" when properly fitted.
  7. Store in a cool location, the glue will be useful longer if stored at cool or cold temperatures.

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1.5 Not tested for drinking water

Can I use Mr. Sticky's Adhesibes for Drinking Water Pipes?  The U.S. government requires that all products which will come in contact with drinking water pipes, tanks, or other objects will be tested for potability ratings. Due to the high costs of these yearly tests, Mr. Sticky's products have not been tested for use with potable water. Therefore we cannot state that the products have been rated as safe by the U.S. Government for use with potable water systems.

 
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1.6 Warning! Pool Step Anti-Slip Tape Failures Using Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue

 
Using Mr. Sticky's Underwater Glue on anti-slip tape with pre-applied with adhesives can cause the bond to fail due to two different types of glue attempting to bond to each other. Please try to obtain non-skid strips without any pre-applied glue. If you cannot find non-skid strips without pre-applied glue, either try to remove the glue using acetate, or score the glue on the strip with a sharp blade to expose the non-slip tape underneath. Mr. Sticky's does not guarantee this will work, procede at your own risk.
 
 

1.7 Will A Heat Gun Work With Poly-Bonder?

How to Properly Heat Treat Polyethylene:

Many of our customers are searching for the easiest way to pre-treat Polyethylene to allow it to have strong bonds with our adhesive: Mr. Sticky's Poly-Bonder. We are often asked if, instead of flame treating, that some other method of heating could be used. Ideas such as heat guns, ovens, microwaves or solar ovens have been proposed. Unfortunately, we have tested all of these methods and they do not create a bond-able surface on the Polyethylene. 

When one uses a flame to treat the surface, even though the surface barely warms (if our flame treating directions are followed properly the surface temperature of the poly is similar to human body temperature after flame treating), the flame is delicately burning the surface and this prepares the surface for structural bonds. 

In our testing, High Density Polyethylene which is not treated and is bonded with Poly-Bonder exhibits a shear test strength of approximately 100 Psi lap shear. If flame treated properly, the same Poly will achieve bonds in the range of 2,000 Psi lap shear. See our flame treating video for more information.
 
View Our Instructional Video On Flame Treating Polyethelyne, Polypropylene, and UHMW
 
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1.8 How do I Load The Dispensing Gun?

How To Load The Dispensing Gun:
1. On the top of the gun, bull up on the black clip and rotate it down approximately 180˚.
2. Slide the gray plunger into the gun.. a. Hold the plunder with the teeth down. b. slide the rounded part of the plunger into the slot on the end of the gun where you rotated down the black clip. c. Slide it all of the way in. 
3. Load the syringe into the black clip .. a. rotate the black clip 1/2 way back so that the part that clips is pointing upwards. b. insert the syringe into the large hole rimmed by black plastic beneath the clip. c. rotate the clip holding the glue back to its original position and snap it closed. 
4. Remove the cap on the syringe and replace it with the mixing tip.
5. Squeeze the trigger to dispense the glue.

Note: If the syringe is below about 80˚F, soak it for a few minutes in hot water (about 100˚F) to make the glue flow easily. The glue can be dispensed at lower temperatures but is more difficult to push through the mixer. 
 
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1.9 Will Temperature Affect Curing Times?

All times are based on a 7oz sample size1(Post Mix)
 
 Temperature   Working Time2  
  Handling Time   Cure Time 
104°F (40°C) 7 min 30 min 6 hrs
86°F (30°C) 15 min 1 hr 12 hrs
68°F (20°C) 30 min 2 hrs 24 hrs
50°F (10°C) 60 min 4 hrs 48 hrs
32°F (0°C) 120 min 8 hrs 96 hrs
1: Larger mixtures will increase times due to the epoxy's exothermic reaction (heat generated from chemical reaction)2: The glue will not instantly harden once working time is exceeded. It will slowly harden.
 
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2.1.1 Mr. Sticky's Cold-Bond Properties

Technical Bulletin Date Issued: 04/01/04 iPropBulColdBondMr. Sticky’s® Cold-Bond® Patent Pending
 
Description Mr. Sticky’s® Cold-Bond® is a flexible, toughened, non-corrosive, structural adhesive specially designed for various applications and substrates, including bonding of ABS, PVC, ceramics metal, wood and cement. It has been formulated for application in cold temperatures while preserving superior exterior performance, gap filling, impact and fatigue resistance. It’s toughness, imparted by flexibility, causes the energy required to break a bond to be significantly higher than brittle epoxies. Lap Shear Psi, plus high break-energy Psi afford bonds strength/resiliency.
 
Typical Properties
Mixed Color White
Thixotrophy Non-sagging gel
Elongation (%) 100+%
Solids (by Volume) 100
Viscosity (@ R.T., cps) (Resin 245,000) (Hardener178,000) cps
Density (gr./cc)
Resin 1.25
Hardener 0.99
Mixing Ratio(PBW) 1.27:1
(PBV) 1:1
Working Time (7 gr. Min) 15-30 Cure Cycle (at 23°C)
Handling Time 1-2 hours
Functional Cure 24 hours
Full Cure 7 days
Tensile Strength (Psi) 1,150+
Lap Shear (Psi)
ABS 800+
Aluminum 1,000+
Ceramic (compressive shear) 1,500+
Cold Rolled Steel 1,500+
Concrete (compressive shear) 2,000+
Copper 1,000+
Fiberglass gel coat 1,000+
PVC 1,400+
Wood (Douglas fir) (.005”gap 620 S.F.) (.020” gap 447 S.F.)
Wood (Red Oak) (.005”gap 690 C.F./ S.F.) (.020” gap 728 C.F./ S.F.)
Wood (Hard Maple) (.005”gap 1,001) (.020” gap 1,008)
Flexural Modulus (Psi) 8,000+ 
 
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2.1.2 Poly-Bonder Properties

 
Technical Bulletin Date Issued: 04/01/04 iPropBulPolyBonderMr. Sticky’s® Poly-Bonder® Patent Pending
 
Description Mr. Sticky’s® PolyBonder® is a flexible, toughened, non-corrosive, structural adhesive specially designed for various applications and substrates, including bonding of Polyethylene*, Polyproplyene*, ABS, PVC, ceramics and cement. It has been formulated for superior exterior performance, gap filling, impact and fatigue resistance. It’s toughness, imparted by flexibility, causes the energy required to break a bond to be significantly higher than brittle epoxies. Lap Shear Psi, plus high break-energy Psi afford bonds strength/resiliency. *Bond results to Polyethylene and Polypropylene after executing AAI’s flame-treating instructions.
 
Typical Properties
Mixed Color White
Thixotrophy
Non-sagging gelElongation (%) 100+%
Solids (by Volume) 100
Viscosity (@ R.T., cps) (Resin 245,000) (Hardener178,000) cps
Density (gr./cc)
Resin 1.25
Hardener 0.99
Mixing Ratio(PBW) 1.27:1
(PBV) 1:1
Working Time (7 gr. Min) 15-3
0Cure Cycle (at 23°C)
Handling Time 1-2 hours
Functional Cure 24 hours
Full Cure 7 days
Tensile Strength (Psi) 1,150+
Lap Shear (Psi)
ABS 800+
Aluminum 1,000+
Ceramic (compressive shear) 1,500+
Cold Rolled Steel 1,500+
Concrete (compressive shear) 2,000+
Copper 1,000+
Fiberglass gel coat 1,000+
Low Density Polyethylene (PE) 500+
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) 2,000+
Polypropylene 1,500+PVC 1,400+
Flexural Modulus (Psi) 8,000+
 
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2.1.3 Mr. Sticky's Tentacle Glue Properties

Technical Bulletin Date Issued: 04/01/04 iPropBulTentacleMr. Sticky’s® Tentacle Glue® Patent Pending
 
Description Mr. Sticky’s® Tentacle Glue® is a flexible, toughened, non-corrosive, structural adhesive specially designed for various applications and substrates, including exterior or interior wet or dry bonding of wood, metals ABS, PVC, ceramics and cement. It has been formulated for superior exterior performance, gap filling, impact and fatigue resistance. It’s toughness, imparted by flexibility, causes the energy required to break a bond to be significantly higher than brittle epoxies. Lap Shear Psi, plus high break-energy Psi afford bonds strength/resiliency.
 
Typical Properties
Mixed Color White
Thixotrophy Non-sagging gel
Elongation (%) 100+%
Solids (by Volume) 100
Viscosity (@ R.T., cps) (Resin 245,000) (Hardener178,000) cps
Density (gr./cc)
Resin 1.25
Hardener 0.99
Mixing Ratio(PBW) 1.27:1
(PBV) 1:1
Working Time (7 gr. Min) 15-30
Cure Cycle (at 23°C)
Handling Time 1-2 hours
Functional Cure 24 hours
Full Cure 7 days
Tensile Strength (Psi) 1,000+
Lap Shear (Psi)
ABS 750+
Aluminum 1,000+
Ceramic (compressive shear) 1,500+
Cold Rolled Steel 1,500+
Concrete (compressive shear) 2,000+
Copper 1,000+
Fiberglass gel coat 1,000+
Glass (compressive shear) 1,500+
PVC 1,000+
Wood (Douglas fir) (.005”gap 620 S.F.) (.020” gap 447 S.F.)
Wood (Red Oak) (.005”gap 690 C.F./ S.F.) (.020” gap 728 C.F./ S.F.)
Wood (Hard Maple) (.005”gap 1,001) (.020” gap 1,008)
Flexural Modulus (Psi) 8,000+
 
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2.1.4 Vibra-Bond Properties

Technical Bulletin Date Issued: 04/01/04 iPropBulVibraBond Mr. Sticky’s® Vibra-Bond Patent Pending
 
Description Mr. Sticky’s® Vibra-Bond is a flexible, toughened, non-corrosive, structural adhesive specially designed for various applications and substrates, including bonding of plastics, metals, rubber, ceramics and cement. It has been formulated for superior exterior performance, gap filling, impact and fatigue resistance. It’s toughness, imparted by flexibility, causes the energy required to break a bond to be significantly higher than brittle epoxies. Excellent bond resistance to vibration, shrinkage/expansion, bending and shock.
 
Typical Properties Mixed Color White
Thixotrophy
Non-sagging gel
Elongation (%) 100+%
Solids (by Volume) 100
Viscosity (@ R.T., cps) (Resin 245,000) (Hardener178,000) cps
Density (gr./cc)
Resin 1.25
Hardener 0.99
Mixing Ratio
(PBW) 1.27:1
(PBV) 1:1
Working Time (7 gr. Min) 15-30
Cure Cycle (at 23°C)
Handling Time 1-2 hours
Functional Cure 24 hours
Full Cure 7 days
Tensile Strength (Psi) 1,000+
Lap Shear (Psi)
ABS 800+
Aluminum 1,000+
Ceramic (compressive shear) 1,500+
Cold Rolled Steel 1,500+
Concrete (compressive shear) 2,000+
Copper 1,000+
Fiberglass gel coat 1,000+
PVC 1,400+
Flexural Modulus (Psi) 8,200+
 
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2.1.5 Mr. Sticky’s® Underwater Glue Properties

Technical Bulletin Date Issued: 04/01/04 iPropBulUnderwaterGlue Mr. Sticky’s® Vibra-Bond Patent Pending
 
 
Description Mr. Sticky’s® Underwater Glue is a flexible, toughened, non-corrosive, structural adhesive specially designed for various applications and substrates, including wet or dry bonding of ABS, PVC, flexible PVC, CRS, composites, wood and cement. It has been formulated for superior peel, impact and fatigue resistance. It’s toughness, imparted by flexibility, causes the energy required to break a bond to be significantly higher than brittle epoxies. Lap Shear Psi, plus high break-energy Psi afford bonds strength/resiliency.
 
Typical Properties 
Mixed Color White
Thixotrophy Non-sagging gel
Elongation (%) 100+
% Solids (by Volume) 100
Viscosity (@ R.T., cps)
(Resin 245,000)
(Hardener178,000) cps
Density (gr./cc)
Resin 1.25
Hardener 0.99
Mixing Ratio(PBW) 1.27:1
(PBV) 1:1
Working Time (7 gr. Min) 15-30
Cure Cycle (at 23°C)
Handling Time 1-2 hours
Functional Cure 24 hours
Full Cure 7 days
Tensile Strength (Psi) 1,200+
Lap Shear (Psi)
ABS 800+
Abraded ABS 800+
Acrylic 450+
Aluminum 1,000+
Ceramic (compressive shear) 1,600+
CRS 1,500+
Concrete (compressive shear) 2,000+
Copper 1,200+
Fiberglass gel coat 1,000+
Fiberglass resin 1,500+
Glass (compressive shear) 1,600+
PETG 600+
PVC 1,100+
Flexural Modulus (Psi) 8,800+
 
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2.2.1 Mr. Sticky's Cold-Bond Uses

APPLICATIONS:
Pipes, Gutters, Concrete, Wood, Metal, Plastic, Ceramic. Tank Repair including gray water, irrigation, septic, boat, RV, farm. Irrigation line, sprinkler lines, parts on Boats, Jet Skis, Kayaks, Wind-Surf-Boards, Motorcycles, Canoes, Spas, Pool Equipment, Furniture, Tractors, Trucks, Drains.Most people want to know what is different about this adhesive versus existing glues:Bonding in Low Temperatures: Creating successful bonds below 55˚Farenheit is not possible with most adhesives. Cold-Bond allows application in temperatures from 20˚ - 60˚ Farenheit.
 
Procedure:
a. Dispense and mix the adhesive for at least 2 minutes at room temperature (70˚F) or above per the instructions on the syringe label.
b. Clean the materials to be bonded by cleaning with solvents (non oily solvents such as MEK, Acetone or Denatured Alcohol).
c. Roughen parts to be bonded with 80 grit sandpaper.
d. Clean the materials to be bonded again by cleaning with solvents (non oily solvents such as MEK, Acetone or Denatured Alcohol).
e. Using the adhesive that was mixed at room temperature, apply it to the cold parts to be bonded and assemble the parts. You may have to act quickly, as the adhesive will become very viscous (thick) when it is cooled. One can bond a cold part to a warm one.
f. Allow Adhesive to cure. The initial cure can take 48-96 hours.
g. If cured at 20˚ F for 96 hours, Cold-Bond tested to a shear strength of 650 Psi when applied to Cold Rolled Steel in our laboratory.
h. If cured at 36˚ F for 48 hours, Cold-Bond tested to a shear strength of 1,100 Psi when applied to Cold Rolled Steel in our laboratory. 
 
In addition to bonding at low temperatures, this adhesive offers the following advantages over many traditional epoxies:
 
Toughened: Resilient grip to substrate, bends instead of breaking, resists shock and vibration.
 
Memory: Post-deflection adhesive returns to original shape. Exterior Waterproof Cold-Bond is Waterproof and Exterior rated. It can also be applied to wet or dry substrates. Note: many adhesives are “water resistant’ not “waterproof”, cannot be applied or maintain bonds in wet or exterior environments.
 
Non-Sag formula: Cold-Bond is made “to stay where you put it”. This highly thixotropic (non-sag) formula resists sagging during application and curing. A 1/4” diameter bead of glue, applied horizontally on a vertical surface, will not run, but will cure in place. This means that it will also stay in place when applied to your project.
 
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2.2.2 Poly-Bonder Uses

Applications:
Tank Repair including gray water, irrigation, chemical, septic, boat, RV, farm. Irrigation line, sprinkler lines, parts on Boats, Jet Skis, Kayaks, Wind-Surf-Boards, Motorcycles, Canoes, Spas, Pool Equipment, Furniture, Tractors, Trucks, Starboard.
 
Most buyers want to know what is different about this adhesive versus existing glues:
 
Bonding Polyethylene:
Polyethylene is designed to be difficult to bond. As a non-stick, easy-to-clean surface it is superb. This same feature challenges adhesive bonding as well. Some of the strongest adhesive bonds are chemical bonds. Chemical bonds are formed when the adhesive and substrate share electrons. Because Polyethylene has no electrons to share, chemical bonds with typical adhesives are normally unsuccessful.Poly-Bondertm combines its unique affinity for plastics bonding with quick flame-treating to accomplish a structural bond to most polyethylene substrates. This chemical bond is often as strong as the polyethylene itself.Most plastics require some form of surface preparation before bonding. Typically this is done with a solvent to remove any impediments to good bonds. For Polyethylene (PE) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) no solvent is used, just a quick flame-treatment!
 
To flame-treat an off-the-shelf propane torch with a flame spreader is the tool of choice. This tool, when run near max flame, offers a two-part flame. Adjust the torch so that the hottest portion of the flame near the torch nozzle that is very blue remains within the confines of the flame spreader attachment. The secondary flame, which is the "oxidizing flame" should now extend beyond the flame spreader approximately 1-1/2”-2" (the secondary flame is difficult to see unless in a darkened room).The idea behind the flame treatment is to make electrons available for sharing in a chemical bond. This is accomplished by oxidizing the surface. This is not detrimental to the PE or HDPE structurally and does not change the color. The only noticeable change is a slight difference in the gloss of the surface between the oxidized and non-oxidized portions of the PE or HDPE. We tested several exposure rates and determined that approximately 2-3 seconds of exposure seems best. We executed this exposure by making 5 gentle passes across the area to be bonded.The verifiability that the flame-treatment has been successful is simple. Just wet the surface of the HDPE and examine the surface immediately after wetting. If the water beads up and runs off normally (instantly), then the flame treating has not been effective. If the water sheets, then runs off slowly, the flame treating has been effective. After a few attempts, it becomes second nature to identify by the amount of gloss-change on the surface if your surface treatment has been proper. We recommend bonding within one hour after surface treatment.Flame treating is not recommended for use on any project that may be associated with flammable materials. Flame-treating of items such as fuel tanks, chemical tanks, pipelines or other flammable containers is not recommended due to danger of explosion or fire. For Flame Treating Instructions, click on the "Bonding Polyethylene" Article on this website.
 
Versatile: bond PE, HDPE, Starboard, PVC, ABS, Rubber, Metals, Fiberglass, Glass, and more.Tough: Resilient grip to substrate, bends instead of breaking, resists shock and vibration.
 
Memory: Post-deflection adhesive returns to original shape.Exterior Waterproof Poly-Bonder is Waterproof and Exterior rated. It can also be applied to wet or dry substrates. Note: many adhesives are “water resistant’ not “waterproof”, cannot be applied or maintain bonds in wet or exterior environments.
 
Non-Sag formula: Poly-Bondertm is made “to stay where you put it”. This highly thixotropic (non-sag) formula resists sagging during application and curing. A 1/4” diameter bead of glue, applied horizontally on a vertical surface, will not run, but will cure in place. This means that it will also stay in place when applied to your project.
 
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2.2.3 Tentacle Glue® Uses

APPLICATIONS: All exterior woodwork including Gates, Doors, Furniture, Trim, Marine, Hot-Tub. Interior applications including chairs, furniture, odd-angled joints, wood-metal or plastic, veneer (like bonding wood veneer to a PVC pipe for a hollow post), attachments like corner details that have small surface area to attach, but must be able to take shock, knot filling, Wooden Boat mfg & repair, Wooden aircraft, model boats.
 
Most people want to know what is different about this adhesive versus existing glues:
No-Clamp Glue Joints: Bond odd-angled or curved joints with ease using no clamps! Prepare a loose fitting spline, or standard butt joint. Apply glue into the joint, assemble with spline or push together butt-joint. Secure with duct tape. Remove tape when adhesive is cured! NOTE: Traditional wood glues cannot bond loose fitting joints.
 
Flexible Toughness: Wood expands and contracts in response to changes in humidity and temperature. Tentacle Glue®, with its integrated elasticity, moves with the wood, avoiding joint failure or wood damage. Tentacle Glue’s® memory assists the return of joints to their original shape. Note: Typical white glue, polyurethanes and epoxies are very brittle, stretching only 1-4%. Tentacle Glue® can stretch over 100%!Bonds wood, steel, plastics and more: Tentacle Glue® can bond to most substrates including metals, ceramics, rubber, masonry, glass, PVC, ABS, polyurethanes and fiberglass. Note: Wood Glue bonds only to wood.
 
Strong, Gap-Filled Bonds: Tentacle Glue’s® inherently high tensile strength is ideal for repairs such as chair legs or backs, looks mortises, or joints that have developed gaps. Note: Most white or polyurethane glues have little or no tensile strength, so can’t gap-fill. Compare technical data on our website with other glue websites. Most provide little data, relying on testimonials.Exterior Waterproof Tentacle Glue® is Waterproof and Exterior rated. It can also be applied to wet or dry substrates. Note: most woodworking glues are “water resistant’ not “waterproof”, cannot be applied or maintain bonds in wet or exterior environments.
 
Non-Sag formula: Tentacle Glue® is made “to stay where you put it”. This highly thixotropic (non-sag) formula resists sagging during application and curing. A 1/4” diameter bead of glue, applied horizontally on a vertical surface, will not run, but will cure in place. This means that it will also stay in place when applied to your project.
 
Sandable, Paintable: Tentacle Glue® is easily sanded and painted! The less-hard nature of this formula makes working it with a sander, chisel or saw very enjoyable. Typical hard epoxies/adhesives tend to be brittle and can negatively affect a sharp tool edge. This epoxy offers strong, resilient bonds, but is soft enough to shape! Paint or dye this product to match your joint. Use RIT dye from fabric stores @ less than 5% by volume to color the epoxy as needed. Paints and marker stick well for touch-up.
 
APPLICATIONS: All exterior woodwork including Gates, Doors, Furniture, Trim, Marine, Hot-Tub. Interior applications including chairs, furniture, odd-angled joints, wood-metal or plastic, veneer (like bonding wood veneer to a PVC pipe for a hollow post), attachments like corner details that have small surface area to attach, but must be able to take shock, knot filling, Wooden Boat mfg & repair, Wooden aircraft, model boats.
 
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2.2.4 Vibra-Bond Uses

APPLICATIONS: Appliance repair, Machinery Repair, Automotive Repair, Marine Repair, Farm equipment Repair, HVAC Repair, Refrigeration Repair, RV Repair.Many people ask how Vibra-Bond is different from other glues. Three breakthrough properties make the difference!
 
Shake: Resists de-bonding due to vibration. Most structural adhesives, including most epoxies, are extremely brittle. Many adhesives can only stretch 1-4%, while Vibra-Bond can stretch over 100%. This translates into bond resiliency and increases the overall amount of energy required to break a bond. Many bonds which seem fine when first made fail later due to a lack of toughness. What actually happens in many cases is that typical adhesives remain bonded to both substrates, but crack down the middle due to vibration, causing a failed bond. Vibra-Bond keeps its flexibility over time, so is much more successful in vibrating/shaking-bond environments.
 
Rattle: Vibra-Bond is very useful in the bonding of joints that are subject to rattling. Because of its’ soft formulation, Vibra-Bond damps vibration, limiting rattling, squeaks, shrieks, and other offensive acoustics. Most adhesives are brittle and therefore transmit sound. Use Vibra-Bond for speaker cases when you want the speaker (not the case) to create the sound! Vibra-Also limits sound in bonds on Appliances, Machinery, and Transportation applications.
 
Roll: Vibra-Bond offers many solutions for use in transport applications. Its’ unique toughness, imparted by flexibility and softness, cause the energy required to break a bond to be significantly greater than traditional structural adhesives.When testing a typical brittle epoxy vs. Vibra-Bond on a tensile lap-shear test machine for toughness, one generates a stress-strain graph. The vertical axis is represented by the load or force, and the horizontal axis represents the stretch or elongation. A typical brittle epoxy has a very vertical curve, since it does not stretch very much, whereas Vibra-Bond displays more of a 45˚ curve, stretching as it is pulled. The area under the graphed curve represents the amount of energy that is required to break a bond.The amount of area under the Vibra-Bond curve is usually several times that of the typical brittle epoxy. This means that total energy trying to de-bond the joint can actually be much greater than typical brittle epoxy and not fail.
 
Soft, flexible: Vibra-Bond also distributes the load better across the bond surface! Vibra-Bond is an adhesive with significant toughness!Bonds wood, steel, plastics and more: Vibra-Bond can bond to most substrates including steel, aluminum, stainless, brass, copper, ceramics, rubber, masonry, glass, PVC, ABS, polyurethanes and fiberglass. Note: Most brittle adhesives cannot effectively bond to plastics.
 
Strong, Gap-Filled Bonds: Vibra-Bond has properties that promote gap-filling while retaining bond strength. Its softer, flexible formulation allows distribution of force across a gap fill, so your parts don’t need to fit perfectly. Vibra-Bond works best with gaps of .005-.020” Note: Many adhesives have little or no tensile strength, so can’t gap-fill. Compare technical data on our website with other glue websites. Most provide little data, relying on testimonials.
 
Exterior Waterproof: Vibra-Bond is Waterproof and Exterior rated. It can also be applied to wet or dry substrates. Note: many adhesives are “water resistant’ not “waterproof”, cannot be applied or maintain bonds in wet or exterior environments.
 
Non-Sag formula: Vibra-bond is made “to stay where you put it”. This highly thixotropic (non-sag) formula resists sagging during application and curing. A 1/4” diameter bead of glue, applied horizontally on a vertical surface, will not run, but will cure in place. This means that it will also stay in place when applied to your project.
 
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2.2.5 Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue Uses

APPLICATIONS: GLUE PVC FITTINGS ONTO IRON PIPE, FLEX OR TUBING; REPLACE TILE UNDERWATER; REPAIR ABOVE GROUND POOL LINERS; FIX POOL PLASTER FLAKES, MAIN DRAIN COVERS;SEAL PINHOLES IN STAINLESS FILTER TANKS; FIX POOL COVERS; REPAIR PIPE UNION COLLARS; FILL CRACKS IN PLASTER, CONCRETE, ACRYLIC, FIBERGLASS; REPAIR SPAS OR HOT TUBS; FIX PUMP HOUSINGS; FIX PIPE LEAKS; FIX PLASTIC, WOOD OR METAL PATIO FURNITURE, REPAIR INFLATABLE BOATS OR POOL TOYS, ABS DRAINS.
 
Most people want to know what is different about this adhesive versus existing glues.
 
Three breakthroughs are most amazing:
 
First, Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue actually bonds strongly to PVC. This is very unusual. If a buyer seems to miss the significance of this, simply ask him how he would repair vinyl lawn furniture. The answer is generally that there is no adhesive which can do it. He then realizes that bonding to PVC is a unique property! PVC is a good example because there are so many PVC items to be repaired. We took a PVC pipe union collar from a pool filter, sawed it in half, then repaired it and could not break it!!! Other products may mention that they stick to PVC, but how well? (Adhesive tape sticks to PVC but it can be easily separated, so the question is one of bond strength.) Use Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue for most materials except surfaces which contain teflon, silicone, polypropylene or polyethylene.
 
Second, Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue can be easily applied and bonded underwater. This major advance means that the glue is sticky underwater! The reason that it works is that the glue has an inter-molecular interaction force which sweeps the water molecules away much like similar pole magnets. The attraction between the glue and the bonded surface is stronger than the force between the water and the bonded surface so the glue sticks! This force dramatically increases as the glue cures and accounts for the amazing improvement in strength as the 24 hour curing time is reached, so be sure to advise customers to allow the full cure time for maximum bond strength. Do not allow pressure in a pipe until the glue is fully cured. Note: Most epoxies aren't sticky underwater.
 
Third, A very significant but often overlooked property of Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue is that it remains flexible. Epoxies have long been known to be extremely brittle. If you stretch other epoxies (also called elongation) they will fail at 1-4% increases from their original size. This means that as bonded joints shrink and expand (especially with dissimilar materials such as metal to glass) that the bonds may fail. This is one reason why epoxies have not been used for plumbing solutions (pipes shrink and expand too much due to temperature change). Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue has an elongation of 108%!!!!! This means that it can stretch 108% without separating. It also causes the bond joint to act as a damper for vibration, further insuring bond integrity. To prove the shock damping we dropped a butt-jointed (end to end) PVC pipe from 3 stories onto concrete. The pipe bounced until the PVC shattered with the glue bond remaining intact. If you try that with other epoxies, most may fail on the first shock due to brittleness. This glue is so flexible that it can even be used for repairs on vinyl, PVC, hypalon® or polyurethane inflatable boats!
 
General Comparisons to other types of products on the market:
Epoxy puttys or pastes: These are often used for mechanical, not adhesive joints. These perform well if they can surround an object, and fasten to it by mechanical shape. The products that we tested are not sticky and therefore have weak initial grip. Just look at the sales models and see how the glue is gooped in and around objects to make a bond solid. (Our glue can bond surface-to surface without surrounding the object.) These products are very brittle after curing, so often crack when stresses occur to the bond.PVC cement melts pipe and fittings together and has some disadvantages. It may not bond well in wet conditions, it is not recommended for gap filling, and can not bond other materials to PVC.. Due to VOC content, users are exposed to highly flammable and unhealthy solvent vapors. Mr. Sticky's® Underwater Glue contains no VOC's.
 
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2.3.1 Are Mr. Sticky's® Premium Adhesives Hazmat?

All of Mr. Sticky's Premium Adhesives are considered Non-Regulated for shipping. Please see our MSDS page for the testing certificate that deems our adhesives non-corrosive and non-regulated for shipping. 
 
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3.1 Directions for Bonding Polyethylene using Mr Sticky's Poly-Bonder.

View our Complete Kits

Flame Treat:
  1. Fit a propane torch with a flame spreader.
  2. Following the operating cautions of the propane torch, ignite the flame.
  3. Observe the flame in a darkened room, noting the primary (bright blue) and secondary (faint yellow) portions of the flame.
  4. Adjust the flame so that the primary flame is contained within the spreader, and the secondary flame is 1-1/2" beyond the spreader.
  5. Treat the polyethylene to be bonded with the tip of the secondary flame by passing it over the polyethylene in 5 gentle strokes. Total exposure to the flame should be 2-3 seconds (.5 seconds per stroke). This light exposure should not deform or melt the polyethylene in any way.
  6. Test the polyethylene for bond readiness by wetting it with water. If the water runs off immediately, the treatment was not effective. If the water sheets-up on the surface, the surface is ready for bonding. If unsure, compare the water's action on the treated area with an untreated area.
  7. Bond joints within 1 hour after treating. Always prepare test bonds to be certain that flame treating is effective with your material.

View Our Instructional Video On Flame Treating Polyethelyne, Polypropylene, and UHMW:

 
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4.1 Troubleshooting Bonding Problems

Most bonds for Mr. Sticky's® Premium Adhesives are no problem. Should you experience low bond strength, the most likely difficulties are:
  1. The materials aren't clean or roughened (generally clean with denatured alcohol or acetone or MEK) to properly clean and roughen. Always: Step 1 - Clean, Step 2 - Roughen, Step 3 - Clean again.
  2. The Materials are contaminated with Silicone residue or mold release from production. Mold releases are specifically designed to resist bonding. This prevents unwanted adhesion to foreign objects and promotes clean surfaces. Unfortunately, it also prevents bonding to epoxy. Try deep abrasion or cleaning with silicone remover.
  3. The Plastic is a copolymer which includes significant amounts of Polyethylene, Polypropylene or Teflon. For Polyethylene or Polyproylene use Poly-Bonder, following pre-treatment instructions. Poly-Bonder has no significant bond strength to Teflon.
  4. Plaster or tile has been coated with a silane or other type of sealer which resists bonding. Remove the sealer.
If the above does not take care of the problem and you can be more specific about the nature of the materials and application, contact us and we will try to help you further. 
 
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5.1 How to Speed Up Clue Curing Time


The speed of glue curing is regulated by the temperature at the joint. The warmer that the joint and glue are, the faster it will cure. Each 15˚F of increased temperature will take 1/2 the cure time. Each 30˚F of increased temperature will take 1/4 the cure time. 

There are many ways to increase the temperature of a glue joint during curing:

a. Wrap the joint with a hand or foot warming packet.
b. Enclose the joint in a small area and add a heat source such as a light bulb. Be careful to protect against any risk of fire.
c. Immerse the parts and glue in warm water or surround the glue with warm water packets (100-120˚F)

The above suggestions are intended as indications of how one might improve cure speed of our glue. Advanced Adhesion will be unable 
to review the safety precautions of client measures, so Advanced Adhesion does not warrant, take any responsibility for the efficacy or safety
of client actions in any way.

 

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