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5 minute epoxy: Get it glued, fast

5 min read
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When you need something glued in a strong way, a 5 minute epoxy is the go-to product to include in your workshop.

5 minute epoxy: Why you need it

In an ideal world, time wouldn’t matter. Reality looks different though. This is where 5 minute epoxy glue comes to the rescue. Like all epoxy glues, it still consists of a resin and a hardener that, when mixed together, forms incredibly strong and durable bonds. As the name suggests, however, it sets in just five minutes and reaches handling strength less than an hour – perfect for when you need something repaired rapidly.

A hand holds a two-chamber syringe to the fractured site of the seat of a plastic chair.
By combining a resin and a hardener, 5 minute epoxy glue forms the strongest of bonds fast

How to use 5 minute epoxy

Broken dining chair but having a dinner party in just a few hours? Then reach for a 5 minute 2 part epoxy and follow these simple steps:

  1. Prepare. To create the strongest bond achievable, use sandpaper to roughen the surfaces of the pieces you are going to apply the 5 minute epoxy resin to. Wipe away any dust, then dry. Always wear gloves when applying epoxy.
  2. Prime. If you are using a 5 minute epoxy with an instant mix dispenser, remove the plug at the top of the product’s cylinders, attach the end syringe and turn to lock it into place. Hold the dispenser syringe end up and slowly depress the plunger to squeeze out any air bubbles.
  3. Apply. Again, slowly depress the plunger to dispense a thin line of the ready-mixed quick set epoxy adhesive to one of the surfaces you are gluing, and press into place against the other. If you have manually mixed the epoxy, use the disposable spatula to apply it.
  4. Secure. Given that this is a fast drying epoxy glue, you can either hold the two surfaces together, or use masking tape, elastic bands or clamps to keep them in place. After just five minutes the epoxy will have set enough to hold the two surfaces together; check the product’s instructions to see how long it will take to reach handling strength.
  5. Clean. If any excess five minute epoxy glue seeps out when you press the pieces together, wipe it away immediately with a cloth moistened with acetone or white vinegar. Attention: Always apply acetone on a hidden spot before you use it for cleaning to see if it damages the surface.
A hand holds a two-chamber syringe against the break in a stone lampshade.
5 minute epoxy glue bonds a wide variety of materials, whether stone, wood, plastic, glass, ceramic and many more

The best 5 minute epoxy glue

If you need something glued fast, Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix 5 Minute not only sets in five minutes, it also reaches handling strength in just an hour. Its instant mix dispenser with plunger and syringe delivers a uniform mixture of resin and hardener to create a high strength bond. The syringe is provided with two mixers and therefore can be used twice. This 5 minute epoxy is also a versatile all-rounder that can be used indoors and outdoors on wood, metal, glass, ceramic, stone, tiles and most plastics. Resistant to water and most solvents once cured, it does not shrink and can even be drilled.

Products used

  • Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix 5min

    Direct application with no measuring or mixing via self-mixing nozzles (included). 5-min. set.

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