How strong is Sikaflex?

[Enoch]

Just trying to build my scuttle - I opted for a fabricated one. Being an electronics engineer sheet metal is not my strongest subject so please bear with me. I have made the framework - difficult but got there in the end. I am now attempting to skin it with aluminium, the frame work is all steel. I don't want rows of rivets showing so am thinking of sticking the alli to the steel with Sikaflex. I am struggling to get the alli to form around the frame though. My question is - would the sikaflex be so strong that I can bond the alli to the steel and then bend the alli round the steel without the sikaflex giving way? I am figuring that if I can stick it along the top then leave it to dry it should be much easier to form the alli - if I was using steel I could kind of stitch weld it as I go but I have already bought the alli.
Any advise would be very welcome at this stage - it's driving me quite mental.
Thanks in advance,
Dave.

[HandyAndy]

Hi Dave,

Sikaflex is very strong stuff indeed, but it has a curing time ( dependant on temp of the area), so it may not "hold" the ali in place during the curing period, maybe set it in place but use those cheap straps that you can get from motor factors etc to hold it all together whilst the sikaflex goes off, after it has then i,d think it,ll be a strong enough bond.

cheers
andy

ps.... don,t get the stuff on your hands ......takes ages to get off

[Enoch]

Thanks Andy, I didn't want to waste time by putting it on and then finding it does not hold. I like the idea of the straps to hold it - I would not have thought of that. Thanks again - you are a legend

[Bonzo]

Hi Enoch

Yes sikaflex is very, very strong once set

If you have ever tried to remove a bonded windscreen, you'll know what I mean
Winscreen bonding is a type of PU adhesive with added UV protection but basically the same as Sikaflex.

If you are going to paint the scuttle !! Perhaps you could give some thought into using some countersink pop rivets to hold the alloy into place whilst the adhesive sets .... slightly over countersink them, skim of filler over the tops & the job will be a good'un

[adrianreeve]

Sikaflex tis the Devil's work! It really will stick anything to anything, just make sure you don'e ever want to remove it! As Andy says, strap it down while cures, and it should be fine. I would try to give the ali some form of shape first though, rather than just bending it around the scuttle frame, bonding it and strapping it, as the skin will then always be trying to spring itself away from the frame.

Cheers

Adrian

[slimtater]

2 beads of it holding fibreglass wings to metal wing stays at *20mph (GPS speed) - I would say that is pretty strong!