Tips and Tricks: PRODUCT APPLICATION

APPLYING ADHESIVES

APPLICATION CONDITIONS

Introduction

For adhesive application to be successful, one must simply follow some basic rules.
  • Apply the adhesive when the weather allows it. Water-based adhesives contain water, so they can freeze. The ideal temperature would be between 15 °C and 30 °C (60 °F and 86 °F) at the time the adhesive is applied and for the next few days to allow the product to dry adequately.
     
  • Ventilate the room while applying solvent-based adhesives as well as when they dry.
     
  • Keep away from the work area any potential source of sparks, flames or intense heat.
     
  • Avoid using solvent-based adhesives in room where food is kept. The solvents released during the drying process could affect it.
     
  • Use the trowel recommended on the label of the adhesive you have selected. It is the only trowel which will ensure satisfactory results.
     
  • Follow recommendations about the adhesive’s drying speed during application (open time). You could reduce the product’s adhesive power if you exceed the recommended amount of time.
    •  Main recommended adhesives application methods



    Trowels – Notch Sizes (AxBxC)

    Example :
    Square notched trowel (AxBxC) : 5/32 in. x 3/8 in. x 3/16 in.

    Checklist

  • Adhesive
  • Trowel, caulking gun or paintbrush
    •  Methods

     Smooth Edge



    Used to create an extremely thin moisture barrier between materials or to smooth out a base surface. If the adhesive is used as a moisture barrier, it must be at least 1/8 in. (3 mm) thick. 

    Trowel
    Square notched V-notched
    Used to glue heavy materials on walls or materials with a non-linear back. Used to glue more or less linear materials on linear surfaces.

    Use the trowel against the surface at a 60° angle. If the angle is less than 60°, the amount of adhesive per square foot is reduced, which decreases the product’s adhesive power.

    Paintbrush

    Used to glue materials on a smooth surface or on structural members.

    Cartridge




    1. Cut the cartridge nozzle at a 90° angle, at a length that will allow you to lay strips of at least 1/4 in. (7 mm) in diameter.
    2. Pierce the aluminum membrane which isolates the cartridge content from the nozzle.
    3. Insert the cartridge in a caulking gun.
    4. Apply the adhesive with an even pressure. If materials is glued on a smooth surface, apply a strip along the perimeter of the materials to be glued, and every 8 inches (20 cm) on the surface to be glued, as shown in the diagrams below.


    Adhesive Beads

    Used to glue materials on non-linear surfaces, but only when the required adhesive power is minimal. This is the method that requires the least amount of adhesive.



    Apply adhesive beads on the surface every 12 in. (30 cm). The beads should be 1 1/4 in. (3 cm) in diameter and at least 1/4 in. (6 mm) thick. On uneven surfaces, the beads should be 1/2 in. (1 cm) thick.