Jim,
Read your post on Sika-Flex and though I could help by giving you my
observation.
There are sealants and adhesives. You do not want to use one for the other
although they may cross over. Sika-Flex is a super adhesive and sealant,
be sure you want both for your application.
If you use an adhesive as a sealant, it may seal but it may also do other
undesireable things as well. I was introduced to Sika-Flex through the
abulance building industry, you can actually bond the aluminum panels of an
ambulance box to the frame without the use of screws or rivets!! Very
strong stuff and the bond will not leak.
I had a customer though use Sika-Flex to seal the side top rails on his
coach, well actually a GMC restoration shop used it there, he had no idea.
They did not do a thorough job of sealing the rail and it leaked. I was
contracted to paint the coach and as a matter of prep. I went to reseal the
rails brfore painting it. Not only did the rails not want to come off for
the reseal process, I turned them into 20' long pretzils when they were
finally extracted! In this case, you DO NOT want to use and adhesive under
the rail, that area calls for a sealant like butyl rubber.
Sealers will allow the area to be removed safely while adhesives do their
job and will not allow the joint to be opened.
Sika-Flex is a super adhesive as well as a great sealant but be aware that
there are times for sealants only. Pay attention to your application. I
do use Sika-Flex now when the application calls for it, but I also use
S5200, butyl rubber, silocone, acrilic, eurthane, plumbers putty, dubble
bubble, and trident winter green!!! But seriously, there is alote of good
stuff out there, you just need to match the product with the application.
Jim Bounds
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>Emery........You're right. Polyurethene type Sika-Flex is the way to go
>for sealing leaks. We're on the Oregon Coast, so I always ask the
>commercial fisherman what they use to cure their problems. For hull leaks
>and cabin leaks, they all go for Sika-Flex. The stuff is water cure and
>self leveling, so that helps. I have some around the flashing on my wood
>stove chimney that has been up there for seven years. The stuff is still
>flexible and the white color is still white after all these years. It's
>spendy, but well worth it. Almost any boat place has it in several
>different colors........Jim Davis
>
>
>
Jim Bounds/Co-op Motor Works Orlando
www.gmccoop.com
