5 ms·

Can you imagine the infomercial mileage they'd get out of that?

WalterBright 6y ago
Full Disclosure: I have no financial interest in flex-seal. My general experience with glues is I'll use bolts. I can't get superglue to stick anything together other than my fingers. My rear view mirror fell off again, the third time I glued it on with superglue.
- sverhagen 6y ago
  I now imagine how you went with bolts then, having drilled holes through the roof of your car!
- a9h74j 6y ago
  I hate glue for almost everything, but as proof-of-principle check out VHB acrylic adhesive tape[1], or Gorilla double-sided[2]. VHB adhesive is also available on mushroom-head dual-lock fastener, in rolls.[3] (Also no financial interest.) [1] https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/vhb-tapes-us/ https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/vhb-tapes-us/ [2] https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-double-sided-tape/ https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-double-sided-ta... [3] https://www.itapestore.com/3M-DualLock https://www.itapestore.com/3M-DualLock
  - ethbr0 6y ago
    Side note: there also exist more temperature-tolerant duct tapes. I used some of this [0] in a last ditch effort to patch a small tear in a Miata canopy (rubber-coated canvas?). Everything else fell off. It's still happily holding, past 3x summers and winters. [0] https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotch-1-88-in-x-35-yds-Tough-Extreme-Hold-Duct-Tape-2835-B/206740026 https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotch-1-88-in-x-35-yds-Tough...
- pasabagi 6y ago
  The trick with superglue is to make sure you have a really good contact between two clean surfaces. If you don't have that, superglue will do nothing for you and you're better off with something else. If you do, it's quite strong. The annoying thing is, glues work best when you use them in the exact situation (material, pressure, etc) they are designed for, but manufacturers are really vague about active ingredients or fillers, so you end up having to buy broad-spectrum glues that are not particularly good at anything.
  - ethbr0 6y ago
    I've had good luck with super glue when roughing and recleaning the interface surfaces. That said, cyanoacrylate (?) does seem to have sudden fracture failure, e.g. cracking. When in doubt, I'm a firm believer in two part epoxy [0]. Fiberglass impregnated when necessary. Also stores easier! And where water is involved (e.g. fiberglass shower tubs), marine epoxy like PC-11 [1]. Can attest it works fine as a multi-year shower patch. [0] https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/know-how/build-things/epoxy.html https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/know-how/build-things/epo... [1] https://www.pcepoxy.com/products/permanent-repair/pc-11-paste-epoxy/ https://www.pcepoxy.com/products/permanent-repair/pc-11-past...
- dotancohen 6y ago
  Superglue is horrible for rear view mirrors, for a few reasons none of which I remember offhand. There exists special rear-view mirror glue, which is easy to use and is a permanent fix.
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    I used superglue because the special rearview mirror glue was pretty expensive. And the latter failed anyway, which is why I was looking to glue it back on. I was also suspicious of the special rearview mirror glue being special. For example, I have a VHS head cleaner tape that comes with magic head cleaner fluid, refills cost $$$$. One sniff told me what it was - alcohol. I use alcohol with it, and it works just great. I also remember years ago you could buy special vinyl record cleaning fluid for $$$$. It's just vinyl. I use liquid dish detergent, which does a superb job. Doesn't hurt the vinyl one bit, and all the grease, dirt, hair, and who-knows-what-that-is is all gone. (I buy old records at the thrift store because I like the easy listening style from the 60s and 70s.)

Full Disclosure: I have no financial interest in flex-seal. My general experience with glues is I'll use bolts. I can't get superglue to stick anything together other than my fingers. My rear view mirror fell off again, the third time I glued it on with superglue.

sverhagen 6y ago
I now imagine how you went with bolts then, having drilled holes through the roof of your car!
a9h74j 6y ago
I hate glue for almost everything, but as proof-of-principle check out VHB acrylic adhesive tape[1], or Gorilla double-sided[2]. VHB adhesive is also available on mushroom-head dual-lock fastener, in rolls.[3] (Also no financial interest.) [1] https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/vhb-tapes-us/ https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/vhb-tapes-us/ [2] https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-double-sided-tape/ https://www.gorillatough.com/product/gorilla-double-sided-ta... [3] https://www.itapestore.com/3M-DualLock https://www.itapestore.com/3M-DualLock
- ethbr0 6y ago
  Side note: there also exist more temperature-tolerant duct tapes. I used some of this [0] in a last ditch effort to patch a small tear in a Miata canopy (rubber-coated canvas?). Everything else fell off. It's still happily holding, past 3x summers and winters. [0] https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotch-1-88-in-x-35-yds-Tough-Extreme-Hold-Duct-Tape-2835-B/206740026 https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scotch-1-88-in-x-35-yds-Tough...
pasabagi 6y ago
The trick with superglue is to make sure you have a really good contact between two clean surfaces. If you don't have that, superglue will do nothing for you and you're better off with something else. If you do, it's quite strong. The annoying thing is, glues work best when you use them in the exact situation (material, pressure, etc) they are designed for, but manufacturers are really vague about active ingredients or fillers, so you end up having to buy broad-spectrum glues that are not particularly good at anything.
- ethbr0 6y ago
  I've had good luck with super glue when roughing and recleaning the interface surfaces. That said, cyanoacrylate (?) does seem to have sudden fracture failure, e.g. cracking. When in doubt, I'm a firm believer in two part epoxy [0]. Fiberglass impregnated when necessary. Also stores easier! And where water is involved (e.g. fiberglass shower tubs), marine epoxy like PC-11 [1]. Can attest it works fine as a multi-year shower patch. [0] https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/know-how/build-things/epoxy.html https://www.loctiteproducts.com/en/know-how/build-things/epo... [1] https://www.pcepoxy.com/products/permanent-repair/pc-11-paste-epoxy/ https://www.pcepoxy.com/products/permanent-repair/pc-11-past...
dotancohen 6y ago
Superglue is horrible for rear view mirrors, for a few reasons none of which I remember offhand. There exists special rear-view mirror glue, which is easy to use and is a permanent fix.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  I used superglue because the special rearview mirror glue was pretty expensive. And the latter failed anyway, which is why I was looking to glue it back on. I was also suspicious of the special rearview mirror glue being special. For example, I have a VHS head cleaner tape that comes with magic head cleaner fluid, refills cost $$$$. One sniff told me what it was - alcohol. I use alcohol with it, and it works just great. I also remember years ago you could buy special vinyl record cleaning fluid for $$$$. It's just vinyl. I use liquid dish detergent, which does a superb job. Doesn't hurt the vinyl one bit, and all the grease, dirt, hair, and who-knows-what-that-is is all gone. (I buy old records at the thrift store because I like the easy listening style from the 60s and 70s.)