best epoxy for metal

[Ramblin Man]

I want to epoxy some sheet metal together and I don't ever want it to come apart. What brand epoxy should I use.

Rad, TWN and Skoot please get the welder/welding coments in early so we can be done with those.

 

[twowheelnut]

Oooooh, k. I'd try some of that sheet metal epoxy, iffin' I were you.

By the way... you need to start including odot in the wizeazzery. Verd.

- Der Commidant

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

why don't you weld metal?

...and from nowhere O'vale comes in to be a wise ***!

zoooooom!

 

[radman]

JB Weld comes to mind, but I know there's better stuff out there-auto manufacturers are glueing rather than welding a lot of panels now. Here is an older article on structural adhesives to get you started. And here is an outfit that supplies metal adhesives, as well as instructional briefs. Oh, and now for the requisite smarmy suggestion, why don't ya just tape it?

 

[ionbeam]

Don't know what your glued metal sheets are supposed to do once bonded. When selecting an adhesive for your application be aware that some adhesives work differently in sheer or peel or pull. Some can be brittle and fracture with vibrations, some can remain resilient and there is an array that can take different environmental conditions such as moisture and/or heat.

 

[odot]

Pop rivets, dude.....that's how we keep airplane wings on the fuselage....that and 200 mile and hour tape.

 

[dcarver]

SuperGlue it!

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

ionbeam +1

Rivets can't go wrong.

 

[Ramblin Man]

I just want to say that I love all you guys. Really. Radman, thanks for the links. I know you guys will have the answers I need which is why I post in the first place.

I'm doing some body work on one of my projects. It has some areas that have rusted through the body sheet metal. A few silver dollar size holes and a few places that have some other odd shaped holes.

My first choice would be to replace the entire panel, but like the article Rad posted eluded to, rust has eaten through on both sides of the weld and left the weld.

Anyway I've stopped the rust for now and I need decide whether it would be easier and cheaper in the long run to patch the areas and save the panel or replace the panel. Either way, I will have to patch at least some of the areas.

These areas were previously bondo's over by a P.O. and the rust continued to eat away. I plan on DA'ing it all down, treating it, then patching from the inside and filling on the exterior.

The patch panels I plan on making would be suitable for welding, but I don't weld, don't have a welder, and don't want anyone else welding on it.

This is one of those "if I can't do it then it won't be done" projects.

The patches will need to offer no more strength than what is needed to finish them. A little filler around the seems and pressure of block sanding initially, and the normal stresses and vibration of driving.

I figuerd using the bedliner in a can on the back side to seal it, then a shot of body color to make the repair "invisable". These are in the trunk area near the tail lights, so you'd have to look hard for the repairs in the first place, but they are very prominent from the outside.

I figure the right glue would do double duty by adding some sealing to the metal further reducing the chance of rust returning.

Anyway, thats my story.

 

[Groo]

Good for you Ramblin... Git 'er dun!