Howdy. LONG ago (maybe 20 years) I bought a 2 part epoxy panel adhesive sold by The Eastwood Company. It used a gizmo like a caulking gun to expel the 2 parts out of their tubes, through a mixing tube, and onto the panel being worked. It was a 1:1 mix, and worked well.

I looked on their website, and can't find the gun-device. I found several types of panel bonding cement made by 3M.

What do you guys use for bonding cement when replacing panels, or parts of panels?

Thanks for any helpful contributions.

 

My Daughters shop uses 3M products but I don't have the number.

 

Lord fusor is good stuff. I believe it's what they use in the auto manufacturing plants to bond panels. Different types for different applications.

 

SEM also make an adhesive and a funny looking double barrel caulking gun

 

I used a 2-part Norton body panel structural adhesive I bought at NAPA to reattach my front wheel well to the fender. I don't recall exactly which one I used but it worked great, STRONG and had just the right amount of working time before it set like rock.

Norton SpeedGrip body panel adhesives
NAPA Online body panel adhesives

The adhesive I used was black, I think is was #97120.

 

Not sure if these dispensors are interchangeable, but you could always call the company and ask...

3M Manual 200 mL Cartridge Applicator Gun

https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.co...n-P132633.aspx

Lord Fusor Manual 300/225 ml Dispensing Gun

https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.co...un-P16130.aspx

For large jobs, there is also a pneumatic gun available, but it is not inexpensive. If you find a shop that has one, they may be willing to rent or loan it out.

The shop I worked with used LORD Fusor products exclusively and never had any issues. Just be sure you get the product designed for the materials you are bonding.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

I didn't buy a dual plunger dispensing gun. I made an adapter for my usual (but high end) caulking gun using 2 pieces of dowel glued and screwed to a cross-piece to push both dowels at the same time. The Norton catalog I linked above includes special dispensers too.

 

Great idea, I hadn't thought of that. How did it work?

Which bonding adhesive did you go with and what did you think of it?

opps, I see you went with the Norton...

GUSTO

 

I used Lord Fusor to attach my new front clip. I have the manual gun if you need one. Working under a time frame for the clip I decided to use a pneumatic gun. It worked great since I did not have to pump it to death.
RVZIO

 

You can use with one of the guns mentioned above (3M Manual 200 mL Cartridge Applicator Gun 08571) with this adhesive. I have used this before on my 82, works great and is about as strong as steel when cured. 3M 08115 Panel Bonding Adhesive. A body man friend of mine let me barrow it for a job I needed to do. Good luck with your project.

 

Visit any local body shop supply house in your area and ask for advice. Most counter men at these shops are car-nuts and are more than willing to pass on their knowledge to a DIYer.

 

Ecklers used to sell the closest stuff I ever saw to the original bonding agent. Came in quart size and maybe gallon size cans. Worked great for me. The gun application stuff I used to replace and bond header bars to older surround panels.

 

Really need a better description on what you are wanting to bond.

There are different types of adhesives for different bonding scenarios.

EXAMPLE: To bond steel to your SMC or fiberglass It takes the cartridge type two-part adhesive MADE for that purpose.

When bonding SMC to SMC....or SMC to fiberglass. This depends on WHERE you are using the adhesive.

Because...these two-part cartridge type adhesives....if being used in a repair..and the adhesive is exposed....and solvents from primer, etc can get to it. It will swell.

So...not that how I do things or what I think matters...I will only give you my experiences.

I DO use the two-part adhesives...but ONLY in the area that GM used them in...such as the 1984 and later Corvettes where this type of adhesive is used and is UNDER the panel and is never exposed to any solvents so my paint can not swell.

Or if it is on a Corvette earlier than 1984...I will use it where it was used...or when bonding panels in such as the rear splash shield behind the rear tires. Most of the time I use the EVERCOAT #994 or #870 or #880. What that also depends on what I am doing and what material I am trying to bond.

So knowing that GM never used a two-part cartridge type adhesive as like what is being discussed here in the assembly of the Corvette WHERE bonding seams are involved and body work required...and paint being applied over them.. I choose not to use that type of two-part cartridge type adhesive because I want the adhesive I use to be the same type as what I am using to fill in the seam and do my body work. Keep in mind this is only my opinion and how I choose to do it...if it differs from what you did or what you want to do...that is/was your choice and not for me to worry about. And the only reason I am taking the time to type this....is because I HAVE SEEN problems where the two-part cartridge type adhesive did coem back and cause for problems...BUT..I also know some of that could have been due to variables that we can only guess caused the problem....becasue the 'problem' i was looking at was done by someone else and I was asked to find out what caused the 'problem'.

From what I was told by a very good friend who worked for SEM...that if you choose to use the SEM adhesive...the SEM rep in your area should have an applicator gun available so you can use it and return it....so I was told. I could give you part numbers for the SEM stuff...but I do not know what you are actually doing.

DUB