Thread: Problem with glues holding

Not sure how well it would work, but could you sandwich the tarp between between two small wooden offcuts with a couple of nails or so and then attach the velcro to the wood?

I'm surprised Araldite does not work. I use 2 part epoxy for everything and i have never had a problem. Even keeps the Commodore together!

Graham

What about getting the velco stitched to the tarp???

Originally Posted by marshy1888

What about getting the velco stitched to the tarp???

+1 for this recommendation, only thing that worked for me. Use heavy duty cotton.

Your average poly tarp is made from what is called a 'low surface energy' substance. Teflon also has a low surface energy.

Basically, gluing to a low surface energy substance will require pretreatment for any chance of success (typically flame treating the surface shortly before gluing), and even that isn't guaranteed.

Low energy substances tend to hold together by van der Waals forces (that's how gecko feet stick) while high energy substances hold together by metallic/ionic bonding (think your average piece of metal), so there's no really solid surface on low energy substances to actually glue to.

Tip. If water beads on a surface and doesn't wet it out, it'll probably be hard to glue.

Bulk the tarp up with canvas/old denim, does not matter. Put the whole thing together with pop rivets. I have a substantial inventory of carving wood. Mostly western red cedar in shake block sizes, some 4'-8' log pieces and a pile of alder logs. Cheap tarp, old shoe leather facing & pop rivets.
My temperature swings run from +35C to -30C. Wind speeds from zero to 90kph.
Not a problem.

Thanks for all the responses. The explanation as to why it doesn't stick well was very interesting.

The suggestion of a couple of thin bits of woods screwed together and then sticking the Velcro to the wood was a great one. Simple, quick as, easy to do.... and the glue is now drying.

But the wind in the Southern Blow(High)lands today is not pleasant.

I hung my washing on the line and ten minutes later had to leave home to go to Wollongong to collect it.

What about fixing it with those brass eylets at each end of the velcro (just in from the end.
Use the hole cutter to punch a hole thru it all and then the big brass eyelets to hold it together.
Means if the velcro lets go you can always thread a bungee cord thru the eyelets and put on hooks on shed wall like a ute tarp.

Some tarps come with brass eyelets. I bought the kit and added many more. They tear out in the wind. Old shoe leather and pop rivets do not come apart. Leather does not melt in the sun. I can't imagine a glue that works over 70C range in the wind.
You see, some nights here, there's a 50kph wind, gusting to 80. The temp is -25C and it is snowing like hello from right to left. I have no appetite at all to go outdoors in the dark and mend a tarp that's flapping in the breeze.

Have you thought of trying Quick Grip type products??
This Selley's one seem to suggest that it should work!!
Selleys Kwik Grip Advanced - Flooring Adhestives | Selleys Australia

Originally Posted by sjt

+1 for this recommendation, only thing that worked for me. Use heavy duty cotton.

+1 again for stitching

Have a search of this site - somewhere on it there is mention of a product that'll glue it quite well - but it's not sold retail, you have to bludge some off the local 'makes tarps for truck sides' person - I think it is applied then heated with an iron to set the bond.

Ohh - found it - DIY PVC Buoyancy bags for Kayaks and Boats [Archive] - Woodwork Forums

Bostik Unigrip 999 or possibly found as
Bostik 1669 Heat-Activated Contact Adhesive

One last fix that I've used:
The tarp will be roped down, maybe to cement blocks.
Wrap an old golf ball or a smooth river stone in a corner of the tarp.
Tie one end of the rope around the neck of that.
That does not come apart unless you make it so.

I don't know how long your tarp is but if you put a batten either side of the tarp and nailed or screwed them together ,you could then either glue tabs to it and or drill holes through the battens and use rope to anchor it down.