USING UHB OR VHB DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE?

[mcooley]

Curious if anyone has a particular brand and/or type of double-sided tape they use for quasi-structural applications? I think the UHB may be too permanent for my needs but in general I am looking for a double-sided tape to go between wood and drywall as an additional support. It will not be used as the primary method but extra assurance that there is no movement.

Thanks

 

[overanalyze]

I use 3m vhm for different applications quite a bit. For wood to drywall I use it in conjunction with caulking or construction adhesive. I view it as a clamp until the caulking/adhesive cures.

 

[FinishingCanuck]

3m vhb is stronger than any construction adhesive. The hotel in the picture is in Dubai. It glass panels on the exterior are installed using ONLY 3m vhb and it holds up to the most extreme desert sand storms. [attachimg=1]

 

[overanalyze]

3m vhb is stronger than any construction adhesive. The hotel in the picture is in Dubai. It glass panels on the exterior are installed using ONLY 3m vhb and it holds up to the most extreme desert sand storms. [attachimg=1]

I agree...for smooth substrates. Glass, aluminum, acrylics, etc. You will ruin the pieces trying to get them apart.

 

[wow]

This^^^

Most aluminum trailer skins are now attached using VHB because it's actually stronger than rivets.

**ALERT & Public Service Announcement** Be sure you purchase your VHB from a dealer that moves a lot of it. In use, VHB will last for years - perhaps decades. But just sitting on the shelf the adhesive can get old and cause the VHB not to adhere as it should. Be sure the stuff that you get is reasonably fresh.

And don't buy a lot more than you need as it WILL go bad after a few years of sitting around. I bought a case of the stuff to get a better price several years ago, and when I went to use it recently the adhesive failed. I called the 3M technical information line and they told me that it has a shelf life of a couple of years and after that they won't guarantee it.

BTW, did you know that this is also true for Belt Sander belts? I had several boxes of the expensive 'purple' sanding belts that I had sitting on the shelf for several years. I went to use them and they looked fine, but as soon as I set them down on the wood to be sanded they came apart at the seam. The seam was actually 'sticky' where they had been glued. A call to 3M again revealed that they have a 'use by' date of 2 years or the adhesive starts to break down. I then tried some other brands that i had (Diablo for one) with the same results, so it wasn't just 3M.

To be fair, these belts were MANY years old. But in my defense, I had NO IDEA that they went bad due to age - did you? Anyway, lesson learned - don't buy a whole bunch of belt sander belts that you aren't going to use for years as you may end up throwing them away.

 

[Sparktrician]

This^^^

Most aluminum trailer skins are now attached using VHB because it's actually stronger than rivets.

**ALERT & Public Service Announcement** Be sure you purchase your VHB from a dealer that moves a lot of it. In use, VHB will last for years - perhaps decades. But just sitting on the shelf the adhesive can get old and cause the VHB not to adhere as it should. Be sure the stuff that you get is reasonably fresh.

And don't buy a lot more than you need as it WILL go bad after a few years of sitting around. I bought a case of the stuff to get a better price several years ago, and when I went to use it recently the adhesive failed. I called the 3M technical information line and they told me that it has a shelf life of a couple of years and after that they won't guarantee it.

Makes me wonder how long the adhesive lasts once applied (as opposed to unused shelf life), as in trailer skins and hotel windows... 

BTW, did you know that this is also true for Belt Sander belts? I had several boxes of the expensive 'purple' sanding belts that I had sitting on the shelf for several years. I went to use them and they looked fine, but as soon as I set them down on the wood to be sanded they came apart at the seam. The seam was actually 'sticky' where they had been glued. A call to 3M again revealed that they have a 'use by' date of 2 years or the adhesive starts to break down. I then tired some other brands that i had (Diablo for one) with the same results, so it wasn't just 3M.

To be fair, these belts were MANY years old. But in my defense, I had NO IDEA that they went bad - did you? Anyway, lesson learned - don't buy a whole bunch of belt sander belts that you aren't going to use for years as you may end up throwing them away.

Had the same thing occur with the Klingspor belts.  Went to sand something and before I knew it, there were belt snakes all over the place.  The belts had been stored in a protected area, but the adhesive just gave up the ghost. 

 

[mcooley]

Thanks all for the input!