Description
Two-component epoxy glue for manufacturing and repairing bows, and more.
Epoxy glue is a high tenacity adhesive that yields excellent results on various materials: Metals, ceramics, marble, glass, cement, wood, and some plastics (Polyester, ABS, rigid PVC). It is not suitable for soft materials. Since laminated bows with fiberglass have been made, it has become the go-to choice for every bow maker.
It consists of two components, an adhesive, which is white, and a Hardener, which is honey-colored. The two components should be stored separately in a cool, dry place and can be kept for a long time if well-sealed (1 – 2 years). Be careful not to use the same tool to extract material from both jars if you want to keep the remaining glue usuable in the future! To use them, it is necessary to mix the two substances well in the ratio of ONE part hardener (honey-colored) to TWO parts Adhesive (white), considering the weight. For example, 50g of hardener with 100g of Adhesive, 23g of hardener with 46g of Adhesive, and so on. It is better to use an electronic scale, available in any hardware store, zero it with the cup we intend to use, put the hardener up to one-third of the total dose we want, and then add double the Adhesive. The doses are already in the right ratio if you intend to use all the glue. Mix thoroughly but slowly to avoid trapping too much air. The hardening process begins immediately and is slower at low temperatures, so we will have more time if we work in the cold. The working time at room temperature (18 – 22 degrees) is 90 – 150 minutes. More than enough to assemble a bow but I recommend preparing everything you need on the table and simulating a dry assembly before mixing the two components. Once the glue has begun its hardening process, it’s irreversible.
Once assembled, the hardening is faster and makes the glue more resistant by raising the temperature. If the glue is used on resistant materials, it can be hardened even at 100 – 130 degrees, but in the case of wood, the temperature considered optimal for bow production is 50 – 70 degrees. If you don’t have a suitable oven, you can leave everything in a car under the summer sun.
You can avoid gluing parts that will not be part of the bow (press form or clamps) by covering them with common shiny packing tape or wetting them with oil. The surfaces to be glued must be as dry, clean, and rough as possible. The glue should be spread with a spatula on both surfaces to be glued.
Once all the glue is warmed, it takes several hours to complete the curing process. To ensure that the epoxy glue has done its job, just try to scratch one of the drops that have leaked out of the mold. If it is completely hard and does not scratch, it means you are good to go.
Once removed from the oven, I recommend letting the bow cool as slowly as possible and letting it rest in its form for at least a day. It would be better to turn off the oven and let it cool inside. Now you can work on it, but I advise against loading it immediately; it is better to wait a few days after hardening. The glue completely hardens after 6 -7 days at room temperature.
The cured product has a resistance that decreases with increasing temperature. Always avoid exposing finished bows to high temperatures and, if they do become hot, avoid loading and using them until they return to room temperature.
Any excess adhesive on tables or tools should be removed before it hardens with acetone or a suitable solvent. Water and soap also have a good effect. Once hardened, the epoxy glue must be removed mechanically.
The product before hardening is irritating to the skin and harmful to the environment. Avoid contact with skin and eyes, keep out of reach of children. In case of skin contact, wash with water and soap. For eyes, rinse immediately with fresh water and consult a doctor. Avoid setting the product on fire, both before and after hardening. Burning epoxy resin produces irritating and toxic fumes. Do not disperse in the environment.
For more details on how to build your next bow you cen check out this article in the TOPICS section.
