Not really art, but closely related to crafts I suppose. Maybe somebody knows the answer.
There are lots of glues and adhesives out there, so getting the best one for what I need has not been easy to determine. I’m putting up a new curbside mailbox, which is metal painted with shiny enamel (think standard mailbox from Lowe’s). I want to put numbers on it. I don’t care for the looks of most of the “stick-on” numbers I’ve seen, and handpainting or using stencils is just too much trouble and messy (that was my initial idea, but abandoned that one). The best numbers I’ve seen are those generally metal ones which are normally nailed on. I’m considering using one of those types, but I would need to glue them on.
Any advice on the perfect glue for that situation?
Thanks for the reply, Nuvue. I can’t even begin to name the number to items I’ve fixed with JB Weld over the years, all the way from gluing a stripped spark plug into the engine of a worn out Chevrolet Corvair to most recently gluing a broken handle back on my hair brush. But unfortunately it does have limitations. Generally it will not work well where the item is slick and smooth. That is unless you can rough it up a little or maybe drill a few holes for the stuff to flow into and grab hold. I already thought of trying JB Weld on the mailbox, and so experimented by putting a dab underneath it on the bottom - which is also smooth painted metal like the other parts. After letting it cure for about 24 hours, at first it appeared to be sticking, but then I was able to just pop the now hardened piece right off. So it didn’t work. I need something that’s going to grab onto that smooth slippery painted metal and not come off.
Get some GOOP™ brand all purpose contact adhesive and sealant. It is waterproof and flexible and won’t break or crack under pressure like super glues will, and it will hold and seal well on aluminum, brass, copper, PVC, ABS and ceramics.
Thanks, Brebro. Goop is one I’ve considered trying. I’m also thinking of trying a polyurethane glue such as Loctite Sumo, Rhino Ultra, or Gorilla glue. Ever try any of those?
I’ve used Gorilla Glue. It holds to some things well but it expands also and I don’t know how flush you want the numbers to be, but they might get raised off the surface some using that.
I’ve used Gorilla Glue. It holds to some things well but it expands also and I don’t know how flush you want the numbers to be, but they might get raised off the surface some using that.
Early, late, guess it depends on your perspective. 1:00 in the morning is not early for me - it’s LATE. I normally fall asleep in front of the TV around 9:30 - 10:00.
I saw Loctite Sumo glue at Lowe’s, and it’s supposed to be much less expanding than Gorilla glue. I might try that. http://www.sumoglue.com/html/features
I sent my wife to the store to get some E6000. She came back with the glue, but while she was there she found some really nice vinyl stick-on letters and numbers. These looked better than any I’d seen before. So I decided to forget the gluing on of numbers thing, and try the stick-ons. It was difficult and time consuming to get them on perfectly straight, but I managed to do it, and it looks really good, imo. I had messed up on one, not quite straight enough to suit me, and had to pull it back off to replace it. It was very difficult to pull off, so I know the numbers and letters will definitely stay on without a problem. From a distance, it looks like they were professionally painted on, so I’m satisfied with it.
