How to glue bolts to fiberglass tail?

[rnln]

Hi guys,
My tail had some narrow/long bolts sticking out for the mesh. I install a big fan to it but it pulled some of the bolts off after a while. Anyone know what type of glue (or epoxy?) is best for this?
Thanks.

[DanielDudley]

There are tons of different epoxies that would work, but it seems to me that you should get some epoxy and fiberglass mesh in a kit, so you can bond the bolt in, and then bury the head under the mesh. If you use something like West System five minute epoxy, or Devcon, or JB Weld, then I would bond the bolt in, and then bond a washer over the top of that. You want to rough up everything, especially the bolts (and washers if you use them). JB Weld makes a nice material to work if you aren't bonding in additional fiberglass, because it is a bit thicker. West System epoxies are super good, and of course if you go to your friendly local auto parts store, they will have a kit from Bondo with resin and fabric together.

The point is, you may want to reinforce the bond, or increase the surface area of the bolts you are bonding. You might want to reinforce all the others while you are at it. If you use washers, you can cut or trim them to fit near an edge. Fender washers are big, and easily available.

[Otter74]

This may not offer the resolution you need in an answer for this case, but is a good resource for the general form of the question:

This to That (Glue Advice)

[aston@ultrasw.c]

3M 2216 is great for repairs, its similar to JB Weld but much better mechanical properties.

McMaster-Carr

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

There are tons of different epoxies that would work, but it seems to me that you should get some epoxy and fiberglass mesh in a kit, so you can bond the bolt in, and then bury the head under the mesh. If you use something like West System five minute epoxy, or Devcon, or JB Weld, then I would bond the bolt in, and then bond a washer over the top of that. You want to rough up everything, especially the bolts (and washers if you use them). JB Weld makes a nice material to work if you aren't bonding in additional fiberglass, because it is a bit thicker. West System epoxies are super good, and of course if you go to your friendly local auto parts store, they will have a kit from Bondo with resin and fabric together.

The point is, you may want to reinforce the bond, or increase the surface area of the bolts you are bonding. You might want to reinforce all the others while you are at it. If you use washers, you can cut or trim them to fit near an edge. Fender washers are big, and easily available.

+1 ^^^^

There really isn't a reliable way to glue metal to plastic unless you have a large surface area.

[SpyderMike]

Google clickbonds. I used them in my airplane build on fiberglass/composite and they worked great.

[rnln]

thanks guys.