which adhesive

tuck · #1 10-20-2008

I use liquid nails for all my styrofoam projects. This year I built my columns and it worked pretty well. My columns have been built in two sections for easy storage. The top section was held in place to the bottom section by wood and liquid nails. Well as always the wind has picked up for the month of October and the liquid nails was not tough enough to hold the two sections together. So I was curious what adhesive others used to hold their styrofoam projects together.

tcarter · #2 10-20-2008

almost every body says "it's too expensive" but I think it's hard to beat polyurethane glue, (Gorilla Glue, Elmer's ultimate, etc.) for strong bonding of foam. you'd be surprised how far a small bottle will go. Actually the bond this glue offers is stronger than the foam itself.

tuck · #3 10-20-2008

I thought Gorilla Glue would melt the styrofoam. If not I will try it I think I even have some at home. Thanks for the tip.

dave the dead · #4 10-21-2008

no melting of the foam, and like Tcarter said, it is awesome for holding pieces together.

Bone Dancer · #5 10-21-2008

I have had pretty good luck with liquid nail for the past couple of years. I have had tombstones made from two inch foam snap in the wind but the 2x2 glued to the back to mount it to the stake was still there.
One suggestion. When putting together two pieces of foam that will be under stress add some tooth picks or even small (1/8) dowel rod between them along with the glue. This will help to spread the stress load out away from the glue point.
I also spread the glue over the whole area in a thin layer instead of a few thick bloobs. Its not the amount of glue, it the amount of surface area thats important.

dynoflyer · #6 10-21-2008

I've been using PL300 (it's blue and made for foam) from Home Depot on my last several foam projects. It's around $4/tube and cures faster than liquid nails IMO. Gorilla glue is great for smaller areas but it has to be clamped securely or it'll move as it foams up.

spideranne · #7 10-21-2008

Oh, which adhesive, not Witch Adhisive...

cindyt7 · #8 10-21-2008

Huh, I thought that Gorilla Glue would melt foam also. Good to know. I've been using liquid nails and wooden skewers for reinforcement. It's very windy here and my pillars def need something more to last year after year. I've also used Great Stuff foam, but of course with how much it expands it's not always a good choice.