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We are in the process of doing three signs with cutout letters which will be mounted to poured concrete walls.
The letters are plasma cut 3/8" steel which will be allowed to oxidise to a rusty finish naturally. The letting is two feet tall and heavy! I welded 350 5" x 3/8" black steel bolts to the backside of the letters to insert into drilled holes 3" deep in the concrete retaining wall. Each letter has at least 3 mounting points - some more depending on the letter. I know to use a piece of tubing to blow out the holes from Raymond's tip here on the BB a couple of weeks ago. Thanks Raymond!
The letters are for a subdivision entrance. Its across the street from a public park and so the letters need to be really secure and permanent so they are not stolen or vandalized. Some of them are fairly close to the ground unfortunately.
My question is what type of glue would be the best to use.
The cutting, grinding and welding is done and the weatherman says tomorrow is going to be a great day to work outsided in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
[ March 24, 2009, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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believe or not I have used jb weld on situations like this and unless your equipped with a crowbar they are NOT coming off east. I dont know if anyhting is "vandal proof" if someone really wants it but Im telling you i went back out there one day and tried my best to "manually" pull them off with my hands and it was a no go.
im sure there are other products out there but this was just a whim i had and i used it. i did this at a local dragstip on the preformed wall, it was only a strip of 1/4"aluminum that was supplied to me.
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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I suspect I have enough Magic Smooth to do this project on hand. I did consider Magic Smooth and may still use it, but something that comes in a tube I could put in a caulking gun would be easier to dispense with a lot less mess!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Dan, there is a product(s) out there that is a hard set cement mix, used to set anchor bolts in cement porches for the railings.
My welder had left some with me a year ago to use on just such type of job. When at work tomorrow I will get the name.
He told me at the time, "make sure you know where you want it the first time" and he was right. the stuff is amazing.
Edited to say; Dan are you using core-ten for the steel? Just curious, working on a project here that is calling for it.
[ March 24, 2009, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: Sam Staffan ]
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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HI Dan, I bought some glue the other day that should work, sumo glue, for gluing concrete and metal as well as other things. Suppose to be better than gorilla glue. Hope that help, Oh you can get it at ace hardware stores. Graham
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Whatever you use needs to be so thick that it won't run out- I'd be going for a concrete/mortar type mix, I think.
I have a Ramset epoxy here, made for adhering to cement, and it'd good stuff, but it would still droop out of your holes even if thickened substantially.
Can you lie the wall down horizontally, and set the letters in, then stand it up when all's set & done, at all?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Simpson Makes a 2 part epoxy in a Tube with a static mixer that you put in your caulk gun. They have different curing lines.. We use the 15 minute. Works like a dream.. If you have a bunch I would get the slower setting time,
I will post a part number for you when I get to work in the morning.. you can get it at Fastenall.
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Just a tip - to clear out the drilled holes of dust, we picked up one of those battery-powered tire inflators (Canadian Tire I think) - saves a lot of puff when there's a load of holes to clear!
-------------------- Graham Parsons Signs 'n Such Ltd Swift Current Saskatchewan Canada. www.signsnsuch.com
"Saskatchewan - hard to pronounce, easy to draw" Posts: 710 | From: Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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I use this for every dimensional lettering job except letters 2" or less. Unitex Pro-Poxy 300 FAST (A/B). Its the same as William Debekker stated it uses a two part epoxy that that comes wrapped together that you load into a very cool double barrel caulk gun. I suggest if you buy one go top notch to save your fingers and also make sure you buy a couple extra mixing tube nozzles if you have a large job. You can buy this at Fastnal too. It's made in Kansas City, MO. Unitex Phone: 816-231-7700
-------------------- Jonathan Harvey Harvey's Signs and Designs 214 N. Main Newton,KS 67114 316-283-2424 (no telemarketers) Posts: 63 | From: Newton, KS | Registered: May 2006
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I did consider Magic Smooth and may still use it, but something that comes in a tube I could put in a caulking gun would be easier to dispense with a lot less mess!
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