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J-B-Weld (or alternatives) - seeking advice

L

Lars Hansen

Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
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Location
Funen, Denmark
Hi.
The J-B Weld product line isn't very common on this side of The Pond, and I have no experience with it, nor do I know anyone near me who has.
So I would be very thankful for advice regarding the choice of products for two separate projects.

1) My Vicmarc tool rest has been upgraded with drill rod on top. The rod seems to have been "glued" to the cast iron part.
Is there one of the JBW products you would recommend for trying something similar? Have my eyes on the "Original" after comparing strength figures, but...?

Tool-rest-w.-drill-rod.JPG


2) The tang of my Thompson scraper has had a cast (?) cylindrical "sleeve" molded around it, making it fit in my 5/8" tool handle.

Tang-to-cylinder.JPG

The JBW product description that seems to fit the task is the putty-like "SteelStik" ( https://www.jb-weld.co.uk/steelstikep )?

Hints and advice highly welcomed.

Thanks, Lars
 
Last edited:
You can look around for the Belzona product line they are used a lot in the industrial world for demanding applications. They sell their products worldwide and have products designed for just about every industry.
 
Mike, thank you for the hint. Sadly, the Belzona line is very expensive here, the cheapest product is around 70-80$ - not a substance you experiment much with for hobby purposes.
Lars
 
Lars,

You could try the J-B Weld the critical step is prepping the surface areas that are being joined together, Heavy coarse scratches in the surface of the materials being joined provide a larger surface area for the epoxy to bond to. A smooth hard surface like metal runs a risk of de-bonding over time with vibration subjected to the piece.
 
I wish I could remember. I ran a test on several epoxies when I knocked the hardened bar off of my Robust tool rest. I know I could have sent it back to Brent but I was in a hurry and had the epoxies. One of the epoxies I had was designed for gluing plastics and it was stronger. Unfortunately I didn't write it down and that was about a year ago and I can't even remember what I had for breakfast. So I wish I could answer your question. I know one time when I had a question on glues I called the folks at Loctite. Man was that guy helpful. You might give them a call. They have a huge variety of adhesives.
 
Another possibility would be Eclectic E6000 adhesive, this product adheres to just about any surface and does not become brittle after it cures. A tool rest is subjected to constant vibration and impacts from the tool being in contact with the rotating piece, this energy will cause failure with various types of adhesives over time. The E6000 may be able to absorb the vibrations and impacts without incurring micro fractures in the adhesive like the hard setting epoxies will incur. The other option would be brazing the two metals together which would require preheating the two metals with a torch while applying a metal brazing alloy across the mating surfaces of the two pieces. Depending on the two metals a welding shop might be able to weld the two pieces together.
 
@ Mike: Thanks, I didn't know that product and it serms to be available around here.

@ Gerald: Thank you. I have never heard of that website before. Seems very useful. The JB products recommended for steel-to-steel seem to be just the ones I had in mind

@ John: Service and help come in many shapes. I have had super replies (and fine products) from people like Doug Thompson, Reed Gray and Don Doyle while large companies tend to completely ignore questions from private costumers in small, faraway countries.

Thank you for all answers, will order some E6000 and the two JB products and start experimenting.

Lars
 
@ George: No trouble finding people who can weld or braze, but what I have in mind is a DIY project/experiment and I have zero skills when it comes to welding.
 
I tried some of the JB Weld for steel on that Cushman scooter years ago to hold a broken bracket for the kick starter. Lasted for a while but then cracked off and I had it welded. Just a thought. Geo.
 
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