Every project brings with it a host of decisions. For example, each job will have decisions that the owner of the home, business, or other facility must make. These are choices such as, what design style, which color palette, and the type of finish for the fixtures. But there are are also, decisions that you as the fabricator must make too. One such decision is what kind of adhesive to use for a given task. Each job might have several tasks that require an adhesive to be used. It can be tempting to choose one type of adhesive and use that product for all of the tasks. But that may not be the best choice for the owner. In this article we will take a brief look at some things to keep in mind when choosing adhesives for projects. We'll also take a look at why projects might require more than one type.
Many Glue Choices Available
You are no doubt aware that there are a significant number of adhesive types from which to choose. And depending on several factors, one adhesive will be a better option than another one. Some of the adhesives that are available include:
Epoxy
Polyester
VinylEster
Polyurethane
Methacrylate
Cyanoacrylate
Silicone
MS Polymer
PolyEpoxy
Polyaspartic
Cement
Latex Modified
Hybrid Polyester
As you can see, the selection is not small. While some of these types may be ones you have heard of, do you know which ones are well-suited for an outdoor kitchen? What about high temperatures?
Which adhesive will not yellow in direct sunlight? You get the idea. Not every adhesive is the same, because not every task is the same. That means, making the decision on which glue to use will require thinking about the job's needs. So, how do you go about choosing the best adhesive(s) for the job?
Research Adhesives to Determine What's Needed
Just as there are a number of tasks that are required in a project, there are many glue types (as we mentioned above). So, knowing a little bit about which kinds of adhesives perform the best for specific tasks will help you decide on the proper product. Some adhesives are available in different consistencies. Knife grade and flowing are two such consistencies. A knife grade adhesive is thicker and is often times well-suited for vertical applications since it does run as easily.
Even though knife grade consistency works well in on particular situation, that does not mean that it is the best option in every situation. The point here is, take some time to think through the project and get a good grasp of what is needed to give your customer the best results.
Get Informed From Adhesive Distributors and Manufacturers
Perhaps the best resource for getting information about a particular task is one or more manufacturers of adhesives. After all, manufacturers are the ones that craft, design, engineer, or whatever other term you want to use, the adhesives to work in very specific places, for very specific purposes. So, use that resource to gather information about your options when it comes to choosing adhesives for a given job.
Getting the information does not have to happen through a direct conversation. Often times suppliers' websites will offer tools to help you determine what products might work the best for your job. For example, a company might provide an adhesive product finder meant to help you filter out products that aren't the best for the task(s) you are dealing with. The concept here is to get the information from a trusted source.
Consult With Other Professionals
Finding out what products work the best in specific situations does not have to happen by learning from trial and error. There are other professionals that have tested new products from manufacturers and they can provide you with knowledge you would not otherwise get.
Another place that professionals pick up information and are able to test product performance is in training sessions that are designed to inform and demonstrate the proper way to use tools, supplies, and products. Safety seminars, workshops, and other events are a great opportunity to get the information you are looking for with regard to adhesives and other industry products.
In conclusion then, how to choose the right adhesive for a project involves three general actions:
Research Adhesives
Ask Suppliers for Advice
Get Practical Feedback From Other Professionals
The more of those actions you take, the better the results will be in the long run. You will not only get the best results from the glue you select for a project, but you will save the expense of fixing mistakes, and get better performance which ends up adding to your reputation as a high quality service provider.
