Glues - NOT epoxy!

matherp · Post by **matherp** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:35 pm

My immune system has decided that I can no longer use epoxy to build. I need to glue 4 off 8' x 4' sheets of 3/32" mahogony ply onto the wing structures of the Wittman Tailwind I'm building (www.tailwindbuild.blogspot.com). The skins need to be stuck to the ribs, spars, and leading and trailing edges. What is the best non-epoxy glue to use to do this.? I need to spread the glue onto all the various bits and position the skins before the glue sets. The assumption is that I will use staples through scrap strips to hold the skin while the glue dries.

Thanks

Peter

Nigel Ramsay · Post by **Nigel Ramsay** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:54 pm

Aerodux or similar?

G.Dawes · Post by **G.Dawes** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:38 pm

Either Aerodux or aerolite are good but aerodux can also cause a reaction in those with an immune system sensitivity.
I found a slight heaviness in my chest when using it for large areas.
Regards
Graham

alant · Post by **alant** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:38 pm

Aerolite is good if you have a near perfect fit Aerodux has much better gap filling properties. I use both and have had no problems.
Alan Turney

mike newall · Post by **mike newall** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:45 pm

Peter,

Get a mate to do it for you..........

Epoxy is the future !

Mike

ColinC · Post by **ColinC** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:45 pm

I was told that Aerodux is better for this sort of work as Aerolite shrinks and leaves panelled areas with some distortion.

regards

matherp · Post by **matherp** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:44 pm

Thanks all

Looks like Aerodux is the way to go.

Mike, if you really think epoxy is the future google "epoxy allergy". I suspect it won't be long before it's on the EU hit list.

It seems that using epoxy the issue will not be "if" you become allergic but "when" and the range of symptoms is pretty frightening. Professional users seem to end up having to use full bodysuits and forced air breathing. I got contact dermatitis when building the RV and despite using longsleeves, gloves, mask etc. when gluing up the tailwind wings have had an immediate flair-up.

Take care when using this stuff and particularly read up on the dangers of acetone when coupled with epoxy.

Best Regards

Peter

Adrian Hatton · Post by **Adrian Hatton** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:54 pm

Not wishing to tempt fate but there seem to be many glider repairers who have made it a ripe old age and with many years of using epoxy resins on a regular basis with no reported problems.

It would seem to be largely amatuer users that suffer, any ideas why?
(Genuine question, I am concerned that as a regular user I want to know how and why it affects some people and not others).

Adrian
Sherwood Sailplanes

mike newall · Post by **mike newall** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:54 pm

Peter,

I use West all the time. I built 80% of a One Design using West, however, I do take very careful precautions. No contact, latex gloves, I do sniff the acetone - reminds me of my model building days - balsa cement - sure I used a product called Joy but can't find it - Humbrol was crap !

I guess sensitivity is a variable thing and I do sympathise with your predicament.

colinb · Post by **colinb** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 2:09 am

Epoxy is the future, its used in nearly all the latest high tech aircraft, F1, space stuff etc

however they do tend to use the much safer prepreg systems, and when trimming and sanding the comonents are fully cured as they are cooked in a clave,

however with bucket and brush you do have to be carefull when laminating, and also and probably most important when SANDING, especially if the part is still "green" as room temp epoxys take a few weeks to fully cure

bertdeleporte · Post by **bertdeleporte** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:27 am

matherp wrote:Thanks all

Mike, if you really think epoxy is the future google "epoxy allergy". I suspect it won't be long before it's on the EU hit list.

It seems that using epoxy the issue will not be "if" you become allergic but "when" and the range of symptoms is pretty frightening. Professional users seem to end up having to use full bodysuits and forced air breathing.

Hi all,

I confirm, I work in shipbuilding industry. We use very large amount of epoxy fillers, primers and paints. The main pollution is from the dust we make when we sand paper the coats between each coat. We get our painters to be fully suited, with nitrile gloves, special masks (I will check the class they belong to). We work on the air system of the work halls/tents, dust trap systems, collection at source (read "sandpaper machines with vacuum systems", painters dont like them, too heavy, less agility, but this is definitely future).

The problem is, once you are allergic, you cannot recover, you are allergic for life. I recommand to take very conservative approch of the use of epoxies: OK, you look like an astronaut, OK, you dispose worksuite, gloves and mask cartridge every day, but health has no price. Once you start spraying epoxy dust everywhere through your hair, clothes, shoes in your car, washing machine, tableware, bed linen, then you are in deep trouble and are exposed H24 to the toxicity of the chimical compound.

The allergy is directely linked to the duration of exposure, some of us are more sensitive than others, but it is like casino, the bank always win at the end. A few years ago, painters were working bare arms/chests, due to the temp in the painting tents. Dust is thinner than skin holes, all of them ended allergic, we had to convert them to other specialities. Consider the product as toxic as shit, it will help to set the standard for proper clothing/cleaning.

Don't gamble with epoxies, I fear in a few years it will be considered as dangerous as asbestos.

Bertrand