If I want to stick something, plastic or metal, onto the outside of an anodized aluminum flashlight permanently, what type of glue is best?
And what type is best for sticking to unanodized aluminum?
I'm a great fan of epoxy as it sticks to just about everything and when properly applied makes very strong joints. As with all glues, the secret is preparation of the surfaces to be bonded.
In both cases, after appropriate surface treatment (remove grease and dirt s, roughen up surface to improve bonding), some kind of epoxy. There are many different products, transparent and not, depending on what you need. Generally, JB Weld ("Autoweld") is regarded to be very good. It's grey colour and takes 24 h to cure, but very tough and chemically resistant. Does not work for some plastics though. What do you want to stick to you flashlight if you don't mind me asking"
Edit: Don was faster (and less verbose ;) )
Thanks guys. I'm not sure what I'm going to use the glue for yet--I was just thinking that there are some lights that lack certain features; e.g. some lights like the Dry are too slippery and would benefit from something being added. I had thought about rubber strips or bands (but not just simply regular rubber bands) for example. I imagine rubber might be very difficult to glue though, so maybe something metal or plastic might work in that case. I saw that one guy used vinyl strips I think--that should work well. don't know if those were self-adhesive strips or not.
And I wonder what was the glue on the threads of my Nextorch myTorch 3xAAA. The switch looks like it needs to be changed. I used everything but the ring doesn't move one bit. Should I boil - freeze - boil?
As don already mentioned, epoxy is the way to go.
In europe one of the strongest epoxy glues you can get in about every hardware store is UHU Endfest 300, I dont know if you can get it in the states, but if not, there will be a similar epoxy available.
Especially if you want to glue metal on metal, it is possible to harden the glue in the oven, in order to obtain maximum strenght (the UHU website has a chart stating temperatures/times and the resulting strength of the bond).
You can have a look at the chart here (in German, but the charts are easy to understand).
if you want to stick rubber to the dry, you might try the adhesive that ? re-vulcanizes the rubber - ie the stuff you apply to tire plugs
If you want to stick something like Rubber, Plastic, etc., to metal, one of the best ways is 3M "VHB" tape. It will make a permanent bond and is very useful for what you seem to be asking for.
I use many adhesives and glues, and epoxy is great, but... If the material you are putting on is going to be used as a grip, then the tape would work out better. Epoxy bonds well, but it will harden the rubber. Epoxy also needs to be bonded under pressure to make a proper bond. When two pieces of metal are bonded with epoxy, it's best to use a very thin layer and then clamp them in a vise to put pressure on them. With rubber, that would not be the best idea. With the tape, you can clean the aluminum (it has to be smooth as well) and apply the tape to the aluminum. Then apply the plastic, rubber, etc. onto the tape and press firmly and evenly. It will hold very well. See the video in the link I gave you. It may help to explain.
Think of all the molding on cars, it's pressed on with 3M VHB tape and it lasts for a long time in very poor conditions, water, heat, cold, etc.
Another possibility would be 3M 77 Adhesive. (Contact Cement). It would make a semi-permanent hold, if you weren't sure if you wanted to take it off later. It is used in things like headliners in cars.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
UHU Endfest 3000 ?!?
That sounds like an "adult" party !
I used the 3M tape to apply house numbers to brick, and it has lasted 14 years in Chicago weather.
The Super77 is the best spray adhesive for foam rubber ever made, IMO. I have made a bunch of camping mats and dog beds, using it to laminate layers of foam.
7' camp mats and 5' dog beds aren't easy to find lol
I've made all sorts of things from foam pool noodles. Properly applied, the bond from that spray adhesive is stronger than the foam itself.
LOL, yes it does sound strange.
'Endfest' translates roughly to 'ultimate strength'.
Yeah, people from Germany and Austria have something going with words beginning with "End" :>