LoctiteŽ Rearview Mirror Adhesive

[rick-l]

Has anyone used this

http://www.henkelna.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_us/hs.xsl/7932_USE_HTML.htm?countryCode=us&BU=industrial&parentredDotUID=productfinder&redDotUID=0000000I0Y&param1=msdslanguage%3DUSA_/_English%7C

It says to break the vile and apply to the window but it doesn't say how. Can you just use a paper towel?

[DasBoot]

There's a sponge-tip in the end of the vial...looks kinda like a Sharpie.

[DanielDudley]

Works great. Must be clean, clean, clean.

[rick-l]

The glue came off the window with a razor blade. I lightly sanded the metal bracket.

What should do you think I should use to clean the window?
Brake cleaner?

[porsche4life]

Clean good with windex and then wipe with rubbing alcohol. It should have come with some type of primer. Do all those steps and that puppy will be on good.

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by rick-l

What should do you think I should use to clean the window? Brake cleaner?

Rubbing alcohol.

[Heel n Toe]

Or acetone if you don't have any rubbing alcohol.

I detest the mirror-bracket-glued-to-the-windshield thing. Whoever thought it up should be forced to work for minimum wage repairing/reinstalling 30 of them a day for a year or two.

I don't care if the bracket would have to be a foot long, I would much rather have one that is screwed to the interior windshield trim. I have knocked mine off in the Chevy several times just from bumping it slightly while cleaning the glass.

[widebody911]

I used this stuff several months ago to replace the mirror in the g/f's Bronco. So far, so good...

[rick-l]

CRAP It fell off.

I wonder if it has something to do with the base adheres to a painted outline instead of the glass. The old adhesive came off pretty easily with a razor blade.

[john walker's workshop]

this is what i got from the local glass shop.

[VINMAN]

The main thing with that stuff is the window and the metal piece being immaculately clean. Slightest bit of dirt or grease, it wont hold.

[sammyg2]

I've used products from the FLAPS to glue a mirror back onto the windshield before, on my 911. I can get decent temporary results but it still falls off if bumped.
For some reason it's never as strong as the original even though I've used several various very good solvents to clean the glass. Right now the mirror is off again due to my bumping it.
Maybe it's time to visit my local glass shop and stop screwing around.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

The main thing with that stuff is the window and the metal piece being immaculately clean. Slightest bit of dirt or grease, it wont hold.

I sanded the bracket piece to bare metal. Scraped the window with a blade. Washed and then alcohol on both pieces. I don't see it getting any cleaner.

[Heel n Toe]

Look back over the directions to make sure you didn't miss something. Usually they say only put one drop of the glue on the metal mount surface... that may be enough, but I always make sure there's a little more on there so I'm sure the whole surface is covered.

And if it says press it to the glass and hold it there for 3 minutes before letting go, I usually hold it for 4 minutes.

On mine, it's a little metal pad that I glue to the windscreen... not the whole mirror... and the directions say leave it alone overnight or something before mounting the mirror to it.

2 pages of directions here... http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/1272426.html ...read all of it carefully.

Are your directions similar?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Or acetone if you don't have any rubbing alcohol.
.

Acetone is not good enough, it will leave residue on the window. It's good for getting the grease off, but you then need high grade (90%) alcohol to remove the acetone residue. Fingernail polish is even worse.

isoprophanol/isopropyl alcohol, over 90% is the only way to get glass clean. That or a strong nitric acid bath followed by deionized water.

Rubbing alcohol is ethanol, which is not as clean as isopropyl, even when it's at a higher purity. If you can't get true 90+% isoprophanol from the hardware store, then make sure you get the isopropyl version of rubbing alcohol (sometimes it's available).

[rick-l]

This is what Henkel (Locktite) told me

ASL - Mike Smigel to me
show details Apr 25 (1 day ago) Reply



Rick, generally apply a thin film of activator to the window (no need to really coat both parts) and one drop of glue to the mirror (one only, more glue can affect the adhesion) and then assemble. This does take 24 hours to fully cure although you achieve fixture/handling strength in under one minute. If you abrade the surface, it's a good idea to clean with alcohol, abrade, then clean again, and then follow the earlier steps I mentioned for applying glue and cure time. This should adhere to the glass. Make sure the product you have is not old either, even if you just bought it. Ask the supplier when they received it from Loctite. It should have a one year shelf life from date of shipment.

Regards,

Mike Smigel


______________________________

Date of inquiry: 4/24/2009

Subject: Loctite Rearview Mirror Adhesive

Description / Application: I used the mirror adhesive on my car and it lasted from 4/02/2009 til today. What can I do to get a better bond?

I sanded the bracket piece to bare metal. Scraped the window with a blade. Washed and then alcohol on both pieces.

Does it have something to do with the base adheres to a painted outline on the window instead of the glass. The old adhesive came off pretty easily with a razor blade. (The windshield was replaced about a year ago)

Web Queue:

[masraum]

It's a crap shoot. I've had good luck with both the rearview mirror adhesive and super glue, but I've also had both fall off again too. I assume it's got to do with how clean you get everything

[Heel n Toe]

Rick, are you taking the coin-sized base plate out of the mirror "arm" and gluing it to the glass, letting it "cure" for 24 hours, and then mounting the mirror and "arm" to it?

[968rz]

I've tried so many different products and the thing keeps falling off that I've given up and tossed it in the glove box. Never had an issue with a US car but these German windshields just seem too made of silicone.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Rick, are you taking the coin-sized base plate out of the mirror "arm" and gluing it to the glass, letting it "cure" for 24 hours, and then mounting the mirror and "arm" to it?

That is the procedure. It seemed to last till the first really hot day when it sat in the sun.