Metal bonding

Discussion in 'Screwfix' started by TheJay, Nov 19, 2019.

  1. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    I bought a metal drawer unit and one of the joins has come apart. I don't have welding equipment and wondered what glue/epoxy or other substance people would recommend to join it back together? It will be slightly weight bearing.

    I have been looking through Amazon and although there are products with good reviews, they also tend to have a lot of negative reviews leaving me confused and unable to decide what to use to bond the two pieces of metal back together?

    Can anyone please help?
     
  2. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Araldite would be good if the metal parts overlap.
     
  3. rogerk101

    rogerk101 Screwfix Select

    I've been amazed at how well Gorilla glue works on metal. In fact there doesn't seem to be anything that it won't stick. How well it will stick and for how long if there are many varying stresses on the joint is an open question, but all households should have a bottle of it anyway, so it's worth a try.
     
  4. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Could you reinforce the joint with a metal bracket of some sorts - loads of sizes and types available

    Either drill through and rivet or nut and bolt or self tapping screws - just depends on material thickness

    Could even put a block of wood on inside corner and screw through metal into wood block

    Several options (apart from gluing)
     
  5. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    I really believed that this would work. I applied some and then clamped it with mole grips and left it for over 24 hours. As soon as I tried to remove the grips, it was apparent it was not stuck together.

    I had sanded the surfaces beforehand as well.

    Now i've got to try and remove the glue and still figure out the best glue to use. I've read Araldite isn't the same anymore...

    I wanted to avoid a mechanical fixing because I don't want anything showing at the front. The metal is about 1mm thick.
     
  6. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    What did you use that failed as you do not say?
    Araldite Original, Araldite Rapid, Gorilla Glue?
     
  7. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Will be helpful if you post a picture or two of broken drawer and unit - may help us come up with some more options

    I’m guessing that this is a nice looking unit so can’t have an ‘industrial’ looking repair that shows ?

    Another option is to find a metal fabricator and look at having it welded. Often based on local industrial estates or even an independent car garage may do this for you

    Anyway .... pictures :)
     
  8. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    Gorilla Glue

    [​IMG]
     
  9. rogerk101

    rogerk101 Screwfix Select

    Gorilla glue needs humidity to set. If you haven't damped the parts before sticking them together, the glue will not set.
    With metal, glass or ceramics, you have to dampen the metal first.
    With wood, there is enough humidity in the wood to set the glue.
     
  10. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    So if I clean it and then add water, you are confident this will work?
     
  11. rogerk101

    rogerk101 Screwfix Select

    I'm confident enough to give it a try. I would not 'wet' it ... I'd just dampen both surfaces with a damp cloth before applying the glue to both faces.
     
  12. lacaivy

    lacaivy New Member

    I agree with this. It's magic.
     
  13. Hans_25

    Hans_25 Screwfix Select

    JB Weld might also work.
     
  14. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    I did try again and it didn't work. I gave up and reluctantly used a pop rivet, even though it's not the prettiest solution...
     
  15. Tony Goddard

    Tony Goddard Screwfix Select

    Its a Raaco cabinet, I have half a dozen in the workshop, they have been made for years and always pop at the bottom, all mine are rivetted. do the other side to, makes it look like its supposed to be that way.
     
  16. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    I was going to until it took me 20 minutes to drill one side!
     
  17. Dam0n

    Dam0n Screwfix Select

    What were you using? A sausage?
     
  18. Astramax

    Astramax Super Member

    Try using the pointed end! :oops:
     
  19. TheJay

    TheJay Member

    A HSS bit at low speed without cutting oil.
     
  20. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Wasn’t the same chap other day that was snapping HSS bits whilst trying to drill a small hole in pewter :confused:

    I mean yes, quality varies with drill bits as with everything in life but...... perhaps using a sausage would be better :)
     

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