Just a quickie Q for the collective 
Is there such a thing as a flexible epoxy glue? I am filling a plastic air filter frame and I would like it to remain slightly flexible so that it
stays put under a bit of flexing. I initially thought of Sikaflex but would really prefer a quick set version.
silkaflex shouldnt take too long to set
I have used it before in similar applications and at the thickness I want to build up, it is likely to 'flop' before it sets properly. An
epoxy solution would set almost immediately and I can file it back to a nice flat surface.
Just had a thought - maybe the hot glue gun would do the trick. When it goes off it is more like the plastic and it seems to stick pretty well to most
things.
[Edited on 26-1-11 by RazMan]
most rapid set adhesives are rigid. hot melt might be an option, perhaps you can fab from from some plastic profile?
Just don't get the ratios right when you mix it 
Used to use Eccobond 45 for flexible epoxy bonding in the Aerospace industry.
Data sheet
Hot glue will remelt if anywhere near an engine! So don't do that one.
If you need to fill in a big gap, cut a plate out of similar plastic to the rest of the filter (like a patch) and then sikaflex that to the housing.
If it's just a crack, then sikaflex on its own is fine.
could you not make something for the silkaset to lay in / on / against whilst it sets?
What about multiple layers of silka so each one can set before the next is applied & therefore you've not got too much to go floppy?
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
Just don't get the ratios right when you mix it
Hot melt glue worked on my air box, they don't get hot enough to remelt it on the end of the carb. It would boil the petrol in the float bowl first.
Used flexible low viscosity epoxy to fix a 40' long by 1" wide in places vertical crack right through the wall of a buttressed arch dam many
years ago - we plastered the face of the crack on both the upstream and downstream face of the dam with flexible 1/4" drain pipes every 5'
or so, poured the epoxy into the crack at the top, closed the drains as the crack filled so we knew it was filling properly and hey presto - an as new
50' high dam wall - and after 20 years its still sealed
One of my more fun jobs and designs.
So yes - flexible epoxy is available. (but not terribly flexible)
Thanks for all the suggestions guys - I think I will try the hot glue first. It is only touching the airfilter baseplate so shouldn't get too
hot. If it goes all gooey then I'll go to plan B, whatever that is
Ivan - sounds like quite a task .... but a bit bigger than the one I'm doing
[Edited on 27-1-11 by RazMan]