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What's the best contact cement
rdagger:
I bought a can of Weldwood neoprene contact cement. It is the non-flammable water-based type. After laminating a few practice pieces, I am not very happy with the stuff. It take a lot longer to dry then the 30-40 minutes claimed. Also the laminate tends to come apart unless you hold it down for a while. Also it tends to have an inconsistent holding strength. As far as being water-based I've already ruined to paint brushes.
Does the flammable stuff work better?
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: rdagger on August 01, 2004, 08:49:10 pm ---I bought a can of Weldwood neoprene contact cement. It is the non-flammable water-based type. After laminating a few practice pieces, I am not very happy with the stuff. It take a lot longer to dry then the 30-40 minutes claimed. Also the laminate tends to come apart unless you hold it down for a while. Also it tends to have an inconsistent holding strength. As far as being water-based I've already ruined to paint brushes.
--- End quote ---
First things first, are you putting the cement on both pieces? It sounds like a stupid question, but I gotta ask just in case.
--- Quote ---Does the flammable stuff work better?
--- End quote ---
It definitely works better IMO, but since you've got the stuff already, give it a go with a foam roller. They may have said to use a brush, but you get less consistent coverage with one. Another thing, are you working inside or outside, and is it damp? Those factors will change your "open" times and how long it takes for a good bond to set up.
One last thing, did you pick up a J-roller? If you have a rolling pin at home you can use that instead, but after putting the two pieces together, it's a good practice to go over the entire piece you laminated to ensure a good bond. Just putting a stack of books on the piece may work, but then again, it may not. It'll be a hit or miss proposition that way.
Hope that all helped, or post more questions.
rdagger:
--- Quote from: DrewKaree on August 01, 2004, 11:29:41 pm ---It definitely works better IMO, but since you've got the stuff already, give it a go with a foam roller. They may have said to use a brush, but you get less consistent coverage with one. Another thing, are you working inside or outside, and is it damp? Those factors will change your "open" times and how long it takes for a good bond to set up.
One last thing, did you pick up a J-roller? If you have a rolling pin at home you can use that instead, but after putting the two pieces together, it's a good practice to go over the entire piece you laminated to ensure a good bond. Just putting a stack of books on the piece may work, but then again, it may not. It'll be a hit or miss proposition that way.
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I put it on both sides with a brush. I had trouble applying the cement because if I took too long the cement would start to peel up into little balls. Despite all the problems it looks like the laminate is holding. I think I will get a can of the flammable stuff before I do the actual sides, because I don't want to take any chances of ruining the laminate.
Xphile:
agree with what DrewKaree said.. I use contact cement at work occasionally (cabinet making:-) and the waterbased is just a real PITA to work with.. get a small 3" short nap roller
http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=198041
and after you pour the contact cement on the surface, try not to roll it so much as push it around with the roller at first - roll it for the even-spreading pass, but the more times you pass the roller over a surface that already has CC on it the more it will ball up on you..
use a little more than enough and you can always squeegee it off the edge onto a rag with the roller, but if you use too little you'll end up adding CC after the primary application is begining to set up and it'll ball up on ya.
Make sure you have good ventilation..that stuff takes brain cells quick..:-)
Ken Layton:
Get the 3M brand contact cement. It has the best qauality and strong bonding.