How to Glue Aluminum to MDF
Among the three top choices for gluing aluminum to MDF, the best adhesives include polyurethane adhesive, silicone adhesive, and epoxy resin. Each of these adhesives can be used on both metal and wood and provide the most reliable bond of any type of adhesive.
Aluminum and MFD surfaces will require some preparation, and clamping them together will be needed if the adhesive isn’t bonding right away. With the need for faster bonding, only one of these adhesives won’t need clamping.
When it comes to budget considerations, some adhesives will be pricier than others since they have specific bonding properties. This allows budget projects to have effective results using a cheaper adhesive that requires a little bit more curing time.
What Glue Can You Use for Aluminum To MDF?
For permanent bonds between aluminum and MDF, any of the following glues will work:
Polyurethane Adhesive
Polyurethane adhesive is a unique adhesive that uses a bond that is similar to contact cement but is activated through pressure. The ideal products that can be found at any hobby store or hardware outlet include Liquid Nails Heavy Duty and Liquid Nails Original. Materials such as aluminum and MDF will not need much preparation aside from general needs that help the adhesion to bond better.
Silicone Adhesive
Silicone adhesive comes in small squeeze packages or larger caulking tubes but should be listed as 100% silicone adhesive that is used for construction applications. Brands including DAP or GE silicone carry brands that are specifically used for their adhesive quality and aren’t a general silicone caulking. Aside from minimal preparation, the silicone adhesive will need adequate time to cure completely.
Epoxy Resin
The epoxy resin which is used to bond aluminum to MDF will best be applied to each other using a fast-set epoxy kit such as Loctite metal concrete. Longer setting epoxy kits will need minimal bonding or clamping with some prepping involved. Because the epoxy resin cures at different rates, there are some considerations to help epoxy cure faster using the right temperature conditions.
How to Prepare Aluminum To MDF Before Gluing
Both surfaces can better be prepared with 60 to 80-grit sandpaper with a bit of scuffing. Aluminum doesn’t need to be overly sanded since this is a soft metal, so light scratches are all that’s needed. MDF sands very easily but needs to have any kind of dust or leftover particles removed with a tack cloth. Aluminum needs to be wiped clean using a simple paper towel and a small amount of acetone or 99% alcohol.
How to Apply Glue for Aluminum to MDF
Silicone is very thick and paste-like so a small flat object such as a pop stick or plastic spreader is good for large surfaces. Epoxy resin can be applied with a small acid brush spatula or glove-covered fingers. Polyurethane adhesive will be runnier and comes from a squeeze bottle, so applying it will be simple with a few drops of thin strips. There is no preference as to which side should be coated first when adding these adhesives.
An adhesive that is applied will need clamping or masking tape added to the edges of aluminum pieces to keep them from slipping or moving around while they cure.
How to Cure Aluminum to MDF Glue
Silicone adhesive takes time to cure and will take up to 3 to 6 hours to totally cure under normal room temperature. Warmer temperatures will help dry silicone when the temperature is above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Epoxy will cure through a chemical reaction and can take between 5 minutes up to 1-hour to set. Polyurethane adhesive is pressure-sensitive and bonds when the two pieces are pressed together. PU glue still needs a post-cure also.
A warm room is helpful for any of these adhesives to cure faster yet allow at least 12 to 24 hours for a total cure to provide the strongest bond.
Which Is the Best Glue to Use?
The best budget-friendly glue is an epoxy resin that can be purchased in small portable 2-part kits. The setting time will range from fast to slow formulas, so this might be good for projects that are time-sensitive or urgent. PU glue is a bit pricier because it bonds quickly but does need a post-cure setting time of at least 5 hours or more. Silicone adhesive is best used when time isn’t a concern.
We hope you found this guide on how to glue aluminum to MDF helpful and we hope to create the video guide for this query very soon.
