Aluminum Epoxy - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

WarWagon · 05-01-2004, 11:50 PM

Will standard type epoxy bond relatively well to aluminum?

Brazing is out of the picture, and brass is too heavy for my application, so soldering is also out of the picture. It will be very thin aluminum tubing, approx 5/16 OD, and will be used to make a tube chassis for an RC drag car. I know I can make the chassis handle the stress, but I'm just concerned about how difficult it will be for the epoxy to bond aluminum to aluminum.

kazoo · 05-02-2004, 08:51 AM

Check out the online catalogs of McMaster-Carr www.mcmaster.com , and MSC Industrial Supply www.mscdirect.com. Both companies have a wide assortment of exotic epoxies, such that you're likely to find something that will work.

I recently read about this stuff: Pyro-Putty™ 657 is a stainless steel filled 1-1 mix, high performance epoxy good up to 400~450°F with a shear strength of 1860psi. Although designed for cast iron and steel, I'd imagine it would work on aluminum. See them www.aremco.com

WarWagon · 05-02-2004, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the links. I'll go ahead and give my epoxy a shot with a few scrap pieces, and if it doesnt hold to my satisfaction, I'll look into a specialty epoxy.

WarWagon · 05-03-2004, 10:30 PM

Well, the regular epoxy seemed to hold up well enough. Not the strongest bond, but strong enough to where the stresses the RC car is under won't do any damage. I have the main hoop, crossmember, and 4 link setup all set. I temporarily attached the front suspension to the front of the body (havent run the frame rails yet,) added a bit of ballast to the back to simulate where the battery pack will be located, and the sucker pulled a wheelie no problem. This is one badass Radio Shack special, thats for sure.

Gimli · 05-31-2004, 05:43 AM

The key to bond integrity is in preparation. Degrease, abrade, and degrease (with acetone or alcohol).

Many many aerospace panels are epoxy-bonded aluminum.

WarWagon · 05-31-2004, 07:18 AM

I didn't doubt that it would hold, the real issue at hand was that there was a very small contact area, seeing as the tubing is very small, and its shape creates an even smaller contact surface. What I did in some sections was flatten the ends out, and epoxy them as overlapping squares. The RC car is now finished, but I have yet to wire the board back up, as my damn battery pack died : (

Hanxter · 06-03-2004, 06:26 AM

i use it on the rivets of my deep V aluminum boat - works slick - gray is cheaper than the white

Cableguy · 06-03-2004, 08:10 AM

JB Weld could be another thing to try if the epoxy dosen't work to your satisfaction. You should be able to find it at any home depot/lowes etc. It's also a two part epoxy, but works better on metals than regular epoxy.

05-01-2004, 11:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	Aluminum Epoxy Will standard type epoxy bond relatively well to aluminum? Brazing is out of the picture, and brass is too heavy for my application, so soldering is also out of the picture. It will be very thin aluminum tubing, approx 5/16 OD, and will be used to make a tube chassis for an RC drag car. I know I can make the chassis handle the stress, but I'm just concerned about how difficult it will be for the epoxy to bond aluminum to aluminum.

05-02-2004, 08:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	Check out the online catalogs of McMaster-Carr www.mcmaster.com , and MSC Industrial Supply www.mscdirect.com. Both companies have a wide assortment of exotic epoxies, such that you're likely to find something that will work. I recently read about this stuff: Pyro-Putty™ 657 is a stainless steel filled 1-1 mix, high performance epoxy good up to 400~450°F with a shear strength of 1860psi. Although designed for cast iron and steel, I'd imagine it would work on aluminum. See them www.aremco.com __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy Last edited by kazoo; 05-02-2004 at 08:54 AM..

05-02-2004, 11:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	Thanks for the links. I'll go ahead and give my epoxy a shot with a few scrap pieces, and if it doesnt hold to my satisfaction, I'll look into a specialty epoxy.

05-03-2004, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	Well, the regular epoxy seemed to hold up well enough. Not the strongest bond, but strong enough to where the stresses the RC car is under won't do any damage. I have the main hoop, crossmember, and 4 link setup all set. I temporarily attached the front suspension to the front of the body (havent run the frame rails yet,) added a bit of ballast to the back to simulate where the battery pack will be located, and the sucker pulled a wheelie no problem. This is one badass Radio Shack special, thats for sure.

05-31-2004, 05:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gimli Loser	The key to bond integrity is in preparation. Degrease, abrade, and degrease (with acetone or alcohol). Many many aerospace panels are epoxy-bonded aluminum.

05-31-2004, 07:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	I didn't doubt that it would hold, the real issue at hand was that there was a very small contact area, seeing as the tubing is very small, and its shape creates an even smaller contact surface. What I did in some sections was flatten the ends out, and epoxy them as overlapping squares. The RC car is now finished, but I have yet to wire the board back up, as my damn battery pack died : (

06-03-2004, 06:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hanxter The Griffin	i use it on the rivets of my deep V aluminum boat - works slick - gray is cheaper than the white

06-03-2004, 08:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cableguy Upright Location: Hurlburt Field, FL	JB Weld could be another thing to try if the epoxy dosen't work to your satisfaction. You should be able to find it at any home depot/lowes etc. It's also a two part epoxy, but works better on metals than regular epoxy.