Things You'll Need
Large sheets of paper
Cleaning cloth
Sand paper
Gloves
Epoxy glue
Application brush
Clamps
Gluing plastic to metal is required in areas such as construction, manufacturing, computer hardware and home projects. Since gluing metal to plastic takes a considerable amount of time, it is good to be well prepared. Plastic and metal surfaces are of different physical and chemical properties. Hence, finding the right glue to make the surfaces stick can be tricky.
Step 1
Place large sheets of paper on the area where the project will be done to avoid creating an accident with the glue. Place the metal and plastic object in the work area. Clean the plastic and metal objects thoroughly using a cleaning cloth in order to improve the adhesiveness of the glue. You may also want to use a strong cleaning agent or sandpaper to remove rust on the metal.
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Step 2
Roughen the surfaces of the metal and plastic objects using sand paper in order to create more surface for the glue to stick to. Care should be taken not to overdo the sanding as it might destroy the surface of the objects.
Step 3
Mix the two parts of the epoxy glue. Mix the portions in the right proportions specified by the adhesive manufacturer. Epoxy glues are durable and water-resistant, but are not meant for flexible surfaces.
Step 4
Apply the mixture to the surfaces that are to be glued together using a brush. Normally, epoxy adhesives take at least two hours to set. Clamp the objects together while the adhesive sets. The different types of clamps that can be used are normal pins for small-sized objects, and rubber tubing or bands for irregularly shaped objects.
Step 5
Remove the clamps once the setting time is over. If the objects are glued to each other, use a cleaning cloth to remove any extra glue from the edges and surfaces. If the adhesive did not set, redo the application part and apply more pressure during the setting period.
Tip
Make sure the clamps remain on the object throughout the setting period.
Warning
Do not cover the object with a plastic sheet during the setting period as the joints require air circulation
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