Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

My build is coming along nicely and I am ready to attach the aluminum sides. I have decided to use the floating system with 4200 sealing/attachmrnt on the perimeter and exposed edges. How much did you use? A single bead, a 1"or so spread or more. How long an open time did you have you get the placement right? I am planning on securing the edges with screws on 2" spacing .Is that over kill or necessary? Any other hints you may have will be appreciated. Thanks

I don't know about the 4200, but I've used 5200 both slow and fast cure and just put down a small bead of it under the material. I'd imagine that their application is about the same, only the 4200 isn't as strong and can be taken apart once cured. It flows great once you put the screws to it. I used paint thinner/ or alcohol to clean up the squish on it. It's great stuff....made to be used under water.

A large bead will probably go wasted as it will really squish out on you and leave a crappy looking edge that will need a lot of clean up. Do up a test piece first.
Doug

Bear in mind that 5200 is a great adhesive and you'll probably never get the aluminum off, if you ever need to, without destroying it.

Cheers,

Gus

I used the 4200. Even in our heat it has substantial working time - I'd say 20 minutes plus. Around the perimeter I applied a single bead. On my roof aluminum, I had to have seams and I used 2-3 beads on the seam overlap. I also put some 4200 in disposable syringes to inject it into the screw holes. One thing about the 4200 or 5200, once you open the tube you have to use. A partial tube can cure overnight once opened.

aggie79 wrote:One thing about the 4200 or 5200, once you open the tube you have to use. A partial tube can cure overnight once opened.

I have found (to my wife's dismay) that if you put an open tube of 5200 in the freezer, it will last almost indefinitely. It may not last forever in there but I'm going on a couple of years with one tube!!!!! I let it warm up, use what I need, and put it back in the freezer.

Hope this helps and saves you money.

Cheers,

Gus

Thanks all. I'll be gluing Monday. I'll let you know how it works out.

I used about a half tube of 3m 4200 and vacuum sealed the rest until I was ready to use it again. About a couple weeks later when I needed it, it worked ok. I took the nozzle off and cleaned it and reapplied it when I was ready to use it again.

What a great idea! I never thought about vacuum sealing it. I always plug the end of the tube, then wrap it with tape. I've been able to get the 5200 to at least go 9 months. I do have to remove the tip, dig out the old stuff and pull the semi-dried plug out of the tube however. Never thought about vacuum sealing, DOH....Thanks! Doug

doug hodder wrote:What a great idea! I never thought about vacuum sealing it. I always plug the end of the tube, then wrap it with tape. I've been able to get the 5200 to at least go 9 months. I do have to remove the tip, dig out the old stuff and pull the semi-dried plug out of the tube however. Never thought about vacuum sealing, DOH....Thanks! Doug

I can just see it now...put tube in bag, attach to vacuum machine, phone rings, yadayadayada, turn around and vacuum machine has sucked all the caulk out of tube and into machine...well sealed machine
madjack

madjack wrote:

doug hodder wrote:What a great idea! I never thought about vacuum sealing it. I always plug the end of the tube, then wrap it with tape. I've been able to get the 5200 to at least go 9 months. I do have to remove the tip, dig out the old stuff and pull the semi-dried plug out of the tube however. Never thought about vacuum sealing, DOH....Thanks! Doug

I can just see it now...put tube in bag, attach to vacuum machine, phone rings, yadayadayada, turn around and vacuum machine has sucked all the caulk out of tube and into machine...well sealed machine
madjack

Hey MJ

How did you know that happened to me?

All kidding aside it seemed to work pretty good. I did have to dig about 1/4" out of the tip because it cured some there but other than that it was like I just opened the tube.

I like Gus's 5200 in the freezer trick...I suppose you could put your gooped up shirt and pants in the freezer with the open tube till you had time to clean them up...

madjack wrote:I can just see it now...put tube in bag, attach to vacuum machine, phone rings, yadayadayada, turn around and vacuum machine has sucked all the caulk out of tube and into machine...well sealed machine
madjack

Jack....no problem for me...I don't answer the phone anyway.....Doug

I'm using 3m 30NF commercial adhesive which is green certified water based and non flammable neoprene based contact cement to put my frp and aluminum skins on with. It's rather thin and using auto HVLP spray rig and it works really well and doesn't stink much at all. You'd have to get it from a commercial reseller as its not available over the counter anywhere.

Juneaudave wrote:I like Gus's 5200 in the freezer trick...I suppose you could put your gooped up shirt and pants in the freezer with the open tube till you had time to clean them up...

Actually, I do the same thing with paint brushes and rollers when using oil based paints (I like the good old stuff). At the end of the day I just wrap the roller and brushes I'm using in aluminum foil and put them in the freezer. They'll last at least a month w/o cleaning. Then just take em out, let em warm up a bit and you're painting. I only clean em at the end of a project or unless then get contaminated. Far less thinner required for cleaning! I also keep oil based paint in the freezer to prevent it from getting the skin on it.

Cheers,

Gus