Best stuff for sticking velcro to fibreglass/vinyl/wood?

[Meggy]

I'm using close cell foam camping matts from China with reflective foil on one side as removable and reversible insulation for my boat. They work amazingly well to insulate in winter. In summer I reverse the foil and they are great at keeping the boat cool.

I'm using velcro to stick them all over my boat. (They look like crap but I'll be draping blackout curtains over them.)

But I'm having a tough time getting my velcro fixed solidly. The sticky stuff that comes pre-backed onto velcro isn't strong enough. I used "Sticks Like Shit" last year but its coming apart now. VHB tape is too pricey and I can think of no practical way to clamp it for setting.  Epoxy is too strong and permanent as I might want to remove it someday...

I've got quite a lot of area to cover so expense is a factor. So could anyone suggest the best stuff for sticking velcro to fibreglass, vinyl and wood?

I'm running out of ideas...

[Henry Sands]

3M set some "permanent" sticky back velcro which is insanely strong, it's a bit pricey but you only need to buy it once. 

[JJ]

Good old-fashioned Evo-Stik impact adhesive?  Very strong bond but flexible, and there's a solvent to remove it (though it might not be vinyl compatible).

[Simon Howes]

Any contact glue will do the job.
But.... use it correctly. A lot of people will smear a bit on, then assemble, wait a bit and try it. This is wrong.

You want to sand and solvent-clean the surfaces you're sticking to first. Put a thin layer on each, wait until the layers are nearly dry (at least 5 minutes) then press together & weigh down with something heavy. Then leave for at least 24 hours. Even longer is better. Do not get impatient and mess with it before then - it weakens the bond.

I found doing the above contact glues went from being rather crap to actually pretty good :)

On 14 Jul 2015 11:06, "JJ" <jj.so...@gmail.com> wrote:

Good old-fashioned Evo-Stik impact adhesive?  Very strong bond but flexible, and there's a solvent to remove it (though it might not be vinyl compatible).

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[Meg Lee Chin]

The thing I'll have the tough time with is the heavy weights. Most of the locations are upside down or sideways. I sanded and used acetone on all the surfaces when I used the "Sticks Like Shit".

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[Tom Newsom]

Embed small disk-shaped magnets in the foam, then glue small steel tabs to the fibreglass?

[Philip Roy (cepmender)]

Try fish tank glue, it sets pretty fast , peels off when not wanted and gaffer tape is strong enough to hold the Velcro in place while it cures. (put a small bit of plywood on top of the Velcro and tape the block)

Phil

Ioannes 8:32

Embed small disk-shaped magnets in the foam, then glue small steel tabs to 
the fibreglass?

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[chrisbob12]

To press the adhesive surfaces together, you might get away with long springy strips of wood to brace things. It works for guitar builders, and a boat might have suitable dimensions to make it feasible.

[Adrian Godwin]

Car paint shops sell double-sided sticky tape that's amazingly strong. It's what they use to stick trim etc. on cars and lasts for years.

On Tue, Jul 14, 2015 at 10:25 PM, 'chrisbob12' via London Hackspace <london-h...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

To press the adhesive surfaces together, you might get away with long springy strips of wood to brace things. It works for guitar builders, and a  boat might have suitable dimensions to make it feasible.

[Meg Lee Chin]

Thanks all!

Adrian Re: the auto double sided sticky tape do you know if that is VHB tape? If so I find you need a good vice or weight to clamp it otherwise it is more or less useless. But I will ask my mate Gervais at Portobello Music about the guitar bracing.  

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[Meg Lee Chin]

Plywood and gaffer tape sounds like a good idea Phil.  RE: the fish tank glue, is there a specific brand you recommend?

 Most of them seem to be silicon based and I already tried the "Sticks Like Shit" which is about the strongest silicon based stuff I've come across.

[Adrian Godwin]

I've bought it as 'badge tape' but VHB does look similar.

[Ian Henderson]

What about hot melt glue and a glue gun?

[Catharina Cronenberger]

What's about electric staple gun or small screws, a washer and a nut on the other end? Good way for strong but temporary solution.

[Meg Lee Chin]

Ooooh the glue gun sounds intriguing.....never used one. Is it sturdy and waterproof?

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[Adrian Godwin]

Yes, but make sure the surfaces you put it on are warm (use a hot air gun on them). It won't stick properly if touching the surface cools and sets the glue too quickly.

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[Ian Henderson]

The hot glue gun is hugely underrated imo.

Cheap as chips, different types of glue and easy to adjust.

Pre heating with a hair drier or hot air gun is useful but not essential. Just pick a warm sunny day!

[Penguin]

Hi Meggy,

Been there done that.

If you go evo stick or contact cement the fumes are bad in enclosed spaces.

The auto body tape is available at Halfords as "registration plate tape" or maybe the Yankee version "license plate"

That will be a couple of feet in length that would be fine for an experiment to test suitability. Then you'll need to buy in car repair shop quantities.

One other idea which is how the insulation and headliner is in installed my boat. Long thin strips of wood (firring strips) glued to the fibreglass. The headliner is on thin plywood screwed into the strips.

Ahh "how is the strip glued to the fiberglass?" I hear you ask. No idea. They were on the boat from when it was built....But I think I know how you could do it.

Super glue with an accelerator. Many brands out there. The kind I most recently used is Geocel "Joiners Mate Mitre Bond Instant Bonding System" they call their whole line Joiners Mate so make sure you get the 2 part methyl acrylate and accelerator. You'll need to make sure the GRP is clean of amine blush (no need for acetone) soapy water and a rinse is fine (see link below). The green scrubby will scratch enough to give the adhesive some "tooth" to hold onto.

The product:
http://www.geocel.co.uk/catalogue/single-brand/mates/joiners-mate-mitre-bond-instant-bonding-system#

How to apply it:
The surfaces to be glued should be clean, free from dust, grease and TOTALLY DRY. Ensure surfaces are close fitting. Spray activator onto one surface only and allow to evaporate. Apply adhesive onto the other surface. Assemble and hold for 10 seconds, curing will be almost instantaneous so exercise care when aligning

EXTRA CAUTION: READ THAT LAST PHRASE and keep your fingertips out of the glue. It will bond you to the hull.😵

On Amine Blush:
http://www.yachtpaint.com/usa/diy/ask-the-experts/what-is-amine-blush.aspx


Fair winds.

Matt

[Meggy]

Lot's of great ideas. Thanks to everyone who replied. I've found a 12V glue gun on Ebay so will give that a shot.

I'm now looking for any excuse to use the embedded magnet idea for something... It's too good an idea not to use!

[Ian Henderson]

Let us know how you get on...