Subject: plastic to wood

From: [email-masked] (CMETRUCK)
Date: 10 Feb 1997 20:32:55 GMT

question;
               what is the best way to adhere plastic to wood, need help
                                           
                                          thanx

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From: StanR <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 02:41:06 -0800

>                what is the best way to adhere plastic to wood, need help

A vague question. If you mean sheets of plastic to wood bases, like
plywood, then use contact cement on both pieces. If you mean small parts
to each other, then use two-part epoxy.

Stan

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From: [email-masked] (Philip Procter)
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 21:11:50 GMT

>               what is the best way to adhere plastic to wood, need help

An epoxy.

You MUST clean the plastic well first though. I suggest a 220 grit
sandpaper to roughen the surface followed by a rub with solvent to
remove any surface waxes (these are added to the plastic to make it
release from the processing equipment). The solvent used will depend
on the plastic type (some solvents dissolve some plastics!). In most
cases alchol or mineral spirits are your best bets. Acetone is good
too but it's quite strong and flammable, while methylene chloride and
trichlor are an enviromental disaster area.  

TEST FIRST!! Test by rubbing a scrap piece of the plastic with a rag
wet with the solvent. If the plastic surface softens or seems to flow
the plastic is soluble. If only a superficial or mild effect, and
you're not going to see the inside of the joint anyway, it is OK to
use it anyway.

Make sure to mix the epoxy according to the ratio indicated and mix it
thoroughly. Spread a THIN but complete layer on both surfaces (if only
one is accesable, spread the epoxy on the plastic surface-it's the
tougher surface to bond to) and clamp for the full time indicated at
the proper temperature. Epoxies bond by chemical reaction between the
two parts, not solvent evaporation. Most publicly available epoxies
cure at room temperature (20-25C) fully in a day. Try to cure outside
in winter and they may take weeks (if at all- it's about -5C outside
today,  Brrrr!).

Good luck!

Philip

God first,
then your neighbors and yourself,
all else is commentary.

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From: Termite <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 17:31:33 -0500

>                what is the best way to adhere plastic to wood, need help
Chuck,
Try gorillia glue or one of the new poloyurthene (sic) glues. They are
advertised as bonding anything to anything. I been using these on wood
projects that are exposed to heay abuse with good success. I don't know
how well they'll work on plastic, but I've never really liked epoxies.
Not that they don't work but they're kinda a pain.

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From: Termite <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 17:45:21 -0500

Termite wrote:
snip 

OBTW - I should've told you that the gorillia glue is supposed to adhere
to all kinds of stuff. It's big claim is how well it bonds exotic (sic?)
woods. These woods have a lot of oils and stuff in them making them hard
to glue up - whites and yellows hold for some time but will let go after
a period.

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From: Jeff Edwards <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 16:21:51 +0800

Luthiers (musical instrument makers) use a great deal of plastic edging
to protect the end grain of the fine timbers they use. 
The recommendations from this industry is to use an acetone based
adhesive, such as model plane glue. I tend to use "balsa" wood glue as
it dries very clear, can be smothered over everything, but will cut back
extremly easily with a scraper. 
It also dries quickly and can be clamped inot position using masking
tape. Have a go...It works for me. JEFF