Looking for the strongest bond available in an adhesive? An epoxy bond is the answer. Here’s important info on the strength of two-part epoxy, application basics, and a glimpse into the different types of specialty epoxies.
Epoxy is a strong and versatile adhesive that’s formed by mixing equal parts of epoxy resin and hardener. It’s used across a range of industries as a filler, sealant, and adhesive. Epoxy can be used to make or seal furniture, jewelry, or to bond a variety of materials like marine equipment, pipes, metal, cement, plastics, and much more.
An epoxy adhesive creates a strong bond that’s virtually unbreakable. Individual strength profiles will vary across different products, so check the label. But all epoxies produce a bond that can be drilled, sanded, and filed down.
Due to the vast number of specialty epoxies on the market, always check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific application information. Here are basic instructions on how to use epoxy to bond two surfaces.
- Use sandpaper, roughen the surfaces you want to bond.
- Clean both surfaces after, adhesives have trouble binding to dirt, grease, and grime.
- Wear gloves to protect your skin.
- Dispense equal parts of resin and hardener onto a disposable surface like a cup.
- Mix the resin and hardener for 1-2 minutes, until completely blended.
- Apply a small amount of epoxy to both surfaces you’re bonding and press together firmly.
- Quickly remove excess epoxy with acetone and a cloth. Take care that the acetone doesn't damage the surface by checking on a hidden area first.
Loctite has a full line of multi-purpose epoxies, that work for a variety of around the house projects. Their functionality is similar, yet differ in set times, viscosity, and color. If you don’t want to fuss with tinting the color to match your surface, we recommend Loctite Epoxy Clear Multi-Purpose. This epoxy dries clear, sets in 5 minutes, and is gap filling. It’s also waterproof and won’t shrink or crack under the elements.
Plastics are some of the most difficult materials to bond. Not anymore! Loctite Plastic Bonder is the strongest epoxy plastic bonder on the market. Its tough rigid bond is impact and water resistant, making it ideal for outdoor applications like patio furniture, or broken plastic mailboxes. It bonds most plastics, except polyethylene and polypropylene.
