All, I figured I would pass along my experience of trying to find a suitable adhesive to bond aluminum (non-anodized, the anodizing layer makes bonding easier) to itself and fiberglass (such as a hull) So far, the following have not worked adaquately without physically encapsulating a tab of the aluminum part in the adhesive (encapsulating a tab is probably the best way to do it, but it is too late now for my current project) Any store bought epoxy resin (meant for fiberglass work, such as west systems) even when coupled with fiberglass cloth, etc JBweld The following will work well, but I don't like to use it due to extremely long cure times 3M scotchweld DP460 (we use this stuff at work and it is really tough but it does take a long time to cure if you can't heat it to 50-80C or higher) the following seems to be better than JBweld or epoxy/glass but not as good as 460 3M Hysol 1C anyone else tried anything else?
I did find this product using my google-fu, the test results seem promising, for a whole lot of uses in our hobby. http://www.polywater.com/btlabreport.pdf
I use plumbers GOOP. The battery tray in Scharnhorst is made of 3/4 inch angle aluminum and has been inplace since 2007 without the need to regoop. I have aluminum gooped to aluminum and aluminum gooped to the fibreglass hull. If it needs to be removed, you just pry it off. Works very good, J
Goop is pretty good in my experience. Also, DAP. I haven't used it on Al, but I have with nearly everything else. Make sure you coat both sides and wait until it's nearly dry. Barely still tacky is perfect. Stick together. Be aware that you will not have a chance to move it afterward. It's a very firm bond.
I have used Devcon products great for adhesion and you can machine when cured. I have used it on some products at work and ran it thru a full mil qual vibration and temperature Tom
