What bonding agent?

So, i have some repairs to make. One is the bumper covers on the challenge miata, and the other is the dash in my truck. Both are plastic. 

My plan is to glue .030 aluminium sheets to the backsides behind the damage to act as a permanent patch. My thought is that it will stabilize the piece, as well as preventing future cracking and spreading of the current cracks. Then do cosmetic work on the visible side. 

But what do i attach with? Liquid nails? Supeglue? Green locktite?

Is this even a good way to go about this?

Truck is getting a dash cap after the current part is stabilized. Miata is getting abused. 

I use the Loctite adhesive that comes in caulk-gun tubes from Lowes/ Home Depot.  Get the 8X strength stuff.  It's seriously strong and bonds to darn near anything.

Including your skin.  So, wear gloves.  

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/pl_ca_prem_adv/overview/Loctite-PL-Premium-FAST-GRAB-Polyurethane-Construction-Adhesive.htm

It says it may not work on some plastics, so may have to experiment.  

Fusor?

In reply to Ranger50 :

What is that?

Volvo: will swing by lowes and check out the locktite product 

Whatever you use "Don't get it on your hootus!"

I got icy hot on my hootus once. 

Much more careful these days, so no worries. 

Dusterbd13 said:

I got icy hot on my hootus once. 

 

 

 

Much more careful these days, so no worries. 

Once put some in all the underpants in my older brothers dresser. He cried when he unwittingly put on a pair.

Is plastic welding an option?

In reply to Apexcarver :

Tude tude, that was wrong! Plastic welding probably isn't an option do to help brittle and baked all the dash plastic is. There's also some chunks missing on the bumper covers that I'll need to blend in and I was going to use the aluminum as a backer while I did that

When I repair damaged race car bumpers I sand the back side down and make a fiberglass patch. Flexibility of the material is good.

West System 3000 epoxy and S-glass. E-glass is more common and also fine.

Dusterbd13 said:

In reply to Ranger50 :

What is that?

Volvo: will swing by lowes and check out the locktite product 

Fusor makes many kinds of adhesives and sealers, pretty good stuff, some at link below.

Fusor Link

I would be looking for a backer material that has the same coefficient of expansion and ideally the same U value.  That way it will move at the same rate over a given time period as temperatures change and will move the same amount.

In reply to dean1484 :

Suggestions? I had thin aluminium laying around, hence that plan. 

DaveEstey said:

When I repair damaged race car bumpers I sand the back side down and make a fiberglass patch. Flexibility of the material is good.

West System 3000 epoxy and S-glass. E-glass is more common and also fine.

I was going to suggest West or Total Boat (you can get that on amazon) the epoxies of either are great, have a long set up time, and if you get the filler powders, can be used to bridge gaps and reshape the bumpers.

If you go with the epoxies and fillers, get the mixture up to a peanut butter consistency and you can shape it as needed. Try not to get it on your skin. Limited times is ok if you do not make a habit of it, your body will eventually become intolerant of  the stuff.  Apple Cider Vinegar is great for getting it off of your skin

I second the Fusor line of products, but they are spendy.  The applicator gun hurts to purchase, but it works with all their products.  Ever glue a quarter panel on?  Remarkably little warpage.

James, James Bonding.......     I have been resisting putting this out there.

No direct experience but I've heard of people being happy with Sugru  when repairing plastics on motorcycles.

I've used an aerospace epoxy for exactly what your intending with good results.  I started using it when I was building scale RC helicopters.   Mine is a rebranded version I have left from my RC days, but it's basically Hysol 9462, also available as Loctite 9462.  It's a two part epoxy, and it's thixotropic so it stays where you put it.  It has a longer cure time, but it's very durable.

Loctite 9462 - Amazon

I used it with aluminum tabs to fix cracks in my NA Miata's dash.  Working great so far (1 year +)...