Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Terbs on 21 September 2015, 22:11:04

Title: Silkaflex
Post by: Terbs on 21 September 2015, 22:11:04
After reading johnnydog's thread on his spoiler, could you use this Silkaflex stuff to stick on new wheel arches then skim then over. Obviously to save welding. :)
Title: Re: Silkaflex
Post by: Broomies Mate on 21 September 2015, 22:17:46
A version of it is used in the Automotive industry and has been for bloody ages.

Accompanied by spot welding, it is a very cheap, easy and weight saving way of creating an extremely strong and durable joint between panels.

As for a DIY aplication..... I'd sure like to see some spot-welds to assist (especially during the curing phase of the adhesive), but in terms of using it for non structural components, I don't see any reason why not.

I'd think you'd struggle a bit to get sufficient sikaflex to make a decent 'joint' without overspill.  Overspill would be bad from a 'finishing' point of view as it'd be a bloody nightmare to sand down and to paint.
Title: Re: Silkaflex
Post by: Terbs on 21 September 2015, 22:23:09
Thanks, BM....for the sake of what it costs, I think I will get a tube and try some off-car practising. I have plenty of metal here to try on. Appreciated :y
Title: Re: Silkaflex
Post by: henryd on 22 September 2015, 08:11:05
The only snag I see is that sikaflex is semi flexible when cured so any filler that's laid over the joint is liable to crack.
Title: Re: Silkaflex
Post by: Nick W on 22 September 2015, 08:54:44
After reading johnnydog's thread on his spoiler, could you use this Silkaflex stuff to stick on new wheel arches then skim then over. Obviously to save welding. :)

Sikaflex isn't meant for this, and is unlikely to make a decent permanent repair.

But you can buy 2pack structural adhesive(google 3m structural adhesive) that is designed for the job and would be a better bet. I've never used it so can't add much except that it isn't cheap
Title: Re: Silkaflex
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 September 2015, 10:14:47
I have used 3M 609 in the past and it was superb, I did add a few plug welds to get it firmly positioned but the final result was a joint far superior to a welded one.