Is there anyway to reattach Pelican Pick-N-Pluck foam?

[grouchyturtle]

TSA decided to just jam my gear back in my case last month, with absolutely zero consideration for it's worth or potentially damaging it. In the process they broke a bunch of the foam apart.

I seem to remember Pelican suggesting rubber cement, but I tried that in the past and it didn't really work to well.

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Maybe try crazy glue or Gorilla Glue!

[Damselfish]

Crazy glue needs well fitting surfaces, not something porous like foam. Gorilla glue handles lots of things but the way it expands some it might make a mess. and it will be hard and ugly when it's dried. (If you try Gorilla Glue the clear stuff seems to expand less, but also doesn't seem to work as well as the original stuff.)

I would check a fabric/craft store, there are all sorts of special purpose glues and you should be able to find something that is appropriate for foam and stays flexible. Look for the Aleene's glues. Maybe something like Foamtastic Glue (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/foamtastic.html) or Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue (http://www.save-on-crafts.com/flexibleglue1.html) would work.

[HenrikBP]

3M spray adhesive is recommended to repair latex foam for mattresses and such - might work for this?

Henrik

[Cave Diver]

3M spray adhesive is recommended to repair latex foam for mattresses and such - might work for this?

Henrik

Headliner adhesive might work as well.

[grouchyturtle]

3M spray adhesive is recommended to repair latex foam for mattresses and such - might work for this?Problem is it's messy and stays tacky. You'd have to mask everything to avoid over spraying.


Headliner adhesive might work as well.As in boat/RV headliner? Just did a quick search and looks like it's mostly a spray adhesive. I think it may have the same problem as the 3M.


Actually got a response on Wetpixel from someone who says they've used a hot glue gun. I think that may be the way to go. Less mess than the sprays, and they also said it makes a really strong bond.

[Cave Diver]

As in boat/RV headliner? Just did a quick search and looks like it's mostly a spray adhesive. I think it may have the same problem as the 3M.


Yes. Headliners are a cloth material with spongy foam backing that is glued to a styrofoam type soundboard.

Hot glue might work, but might be a little "stiffer." Dunno if that matters or not. Either way, I'd try one or two small pieces before doing the whole thing.

[grouchyturtle]

Ii don't think it would, since it's only going to be stiff where it's glued, and overall that foam is really soft.

[Cave Diver]

Ii don't think it would, since it's only going to be stiff where it's glued, and overall that foam is really soft.

Good luck with it. Let us know what you try and how it works out!

[grouchyturtle]

Will do, but it may be a while. No trips planned any time soon, and lots of boat work to do.

[grouchyturtle]

I'm not done yet, but the hot glue gun does the trick. It's little tough to work with in some of the tight places I need to hit, but it makes a very strong bond.

[diversteve]

You could also buy replacement foam - not too bad pricewise unless your case is bigger than a 1600.
http://www.foamerica.com/default.asp

Amazon.com sells a lot of sizes also. Search Pelican replacement foam - there's about 5 pages of listings. Probably cheaper than the link above.

[grouchyturtle]

Those prices aren't that bad. But still easier to glue than to have to start from scratch and redo the entire case.

[Andyblue]

silicone fixes everything lol

[DA Aquamaster]

3M spray adhesive does work well on open cell foam. I have not noted a tendency for it to stay tacky after it dries. If you cant to maks it off anyway, just use two pieces of cardboard (like the backs of note pads) and sandwich the foam in the middle.

[grouchyturtle]

silicone fixes everything lolActually silicone is a horrible adhesive.

There are some adhesives that contain silicone that are nearly impossible to remove. 3M 5200 and 4200 for example. But they're also very messy.

Silicone its self, though is only good as a sealant, and even then really only when it's being compressed. Otherwise it eventually starts pealing.

[DaisySibyl]

How did everything go?

[grouchyturtle]

Seemed to work good, but I can't tell you if it really held up. I sold the case shortly after this.

[beautybelow]

Actually silicone is a horrible adhesive.

There are some adhesives that contain silicone that are nearly impossible to remove. 3M 5200 and 4200 for example. But they're also very messy.

Silicone its self, though is only good as a sealant, and even then really only when it's being compressed. Otherwise it eventually starts pealing.

Is 5200 considered a silicone adhesive? just asking....I thought it contained much more chemicals than silicone. It's actually a polyurethane if I remember right. A whole different ball game than silicone. I have "worn" it for days....haha

[grouchyturtle]

Is 5200 considered a silicone adhesive? just asking....I thought it contained much more chemicals than silicone. It's actually a polyurethane if I remember right. A whole different ball game than silicone. I have "worn" it for days....hahaIsn't that stuff GREAT! Only comes off with a grinder. I think you're right, but I'm pretty sure most of the 3M stuff contains silicone. Much different than just silicone, though...obviously.

[beautybelow]

Isn't that stuff GREAT! Only comes off with a grinder. I think you're right, but I'm pretty sure most of the 3M stuff contains silicone. Much different than just silicone, though...obviously.

Well, whatever it is it's not the right adhesive for your job. I have used literally hundreds of tubes of this stuff and it, as you said, not right for this job.

I would have to look but I bet there is no silicone in it. That would be my guess anyway.

[grouchyturtle]

Turns out you're right.
http://www.shopmaninc.com/pdf/adhesives/3m5200.pdf

I'll have to let the genius on Cruisers Forum who claimed this, that he's wrong.

[beautybelow]

Turns out you're right.
http://www.shopmaninc.com/pdf/adhesives/3m5200.pdf

I'll have to let the genius on Cruisers Forum who claimed this, that he's wrong.

Thanks for taking the time to look it up...it's only from years of using the stuff that I know it had no silicone in it. WD 40 will clean it off your hands usually the best (or usually the easiest thing you have around).

In this part of the world we don't have that...we have a product called Sikaflex. Same animal basically and I would put it up against 5200 any time.

But my wouldn't I like to have back a dollar on every tube of 5200 I have used....

Off subject, but if you are building anything out of wood for a boat I would use liquid nails rather than 5200 when I did my joints or laid a deck. Much cheaper and works better for that type of application. I would never screw or nail anything down without it.

[grouchyturtle]

For building stuff I usually use epoxy.

[beautybelow]

For building stuff I usually use epoxy.

Liquid nails remains just a little bit flexible...it's a trick I learned from Johnny Morgan, a boat builder from Naples.