Gluing aluminum

Paul K. Dickman · 2007-09-29T21:08:53+00:00

I have long been of the opinion that, if you have to rely on glue forattaching something to aluminum, you should rethink your design.I am changing my mind.A little over a year ago, an artist friend of mine asked me to help her out.She had been having photographs printed large (24"x32"), having them mountedto a sheet of aluminum. and attaching a frame made of 1" sq alum tube to theback to act as a stand off when hung on a wall.The outfit she had been using in Milwaukee to do the work, got shut down onan OSHA beef and she wanted me to do the final assembly.She tells me she has that she has bought the special glue and dispenser thatthey were using."Wait a minute!" I sez, "Aluminum and glue don't mix"But somebody else has already done it and this isn't a life safetyapplication. So, I call an engineer at Lord Adhesives to ask him aboutapplication techniques.I ask him if I have to sand the metal, or etch, or use some special primer,and he sez "No,"."This stuff is specially designed to work with dirty metal. That's why itworks well on aluminum. You don't need any special surface prep. You don'twant chunks of dirt or dripping oil, but finger prints and light oxides arenot a problem."Well it worked a treat.Months later I have another aluminum job. This one needs me to rivet theshort edge of some 1/2"x 1.25" anodized alum glass channel to 6 ft long1.75" anodized aluminum angles. The channels are attached perpendicular tothe angle and I used the adhesive to glue them temporarily to the anglewhile I drilled the rivet holes.There was only a 1/2"x1" glue surface on each one (2 per angle, 144 angles)but despite rough handling not a single one got knocked off.Last week I had another aluminum job.A small museum without a lot of money, needs some stands made. Aftertalking the designer out of some grandiose ideas, I point to the aluminumangle falloff from the other job, and say, "I can make you some out of thatreal cheap.".The design we ended up with was a bunch of simple, flat,...

Sep 29, 2007 64 Replies

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cavelamb himself 18 years ago

Rotax 503 - 2 stroke 50 horse - air cooled - with electric start. Bare engine is 67 pounds - figure about 80 all up.

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For guys 250 pounds, consider a 582. 64 horesies at about 96 pounds.

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It's heavier with water cooling, but the extra power helps. The temps are better regulated for long runs at high power.

AND, they sound and feel like turbines, are geared for a LONG (72 or better) propeller.

I'd not go for an automatic oiler. Mix the oil in the gas like any self respecting weed eater.

As for them being two stroke engines - yes they are. Turbine like smooth operation and power.

But the really big issue is weight. That 2180 VW weighed in at a bit over 200 pounds and cost over $4000 to build.

Yes, it had electric start and alternator - but 200 pounds for what is essentially a 40 horse engine - even with the initial big engine attitude - seems excessive to me.

Richard

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cavelamb himself 18 years ago

No, they were trying to escape the Japaneese.

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cavelamb himself 18 years ago

Sure, but none of that really means anything unless you know WHY.

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Ed Huntress 18 years ago

Thanks, Richard. That seems to be the opinion of a lot of people.

-- Ed Huntress

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cavelamb himself 18 years ago

You are welcome, Ed.

Thanks for your interest.

Richard

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