sticking expanded polypropylene / EPS down to plywood

[thetyreman]

what glue would you use?

I have an acoustic diffuser for my studio, which will be going on the ceiling so it has to be strong enough to hold through the forces of gravity, luckily the diffuser is very lightweight made from a mix of expanded polypropylene / EPS, so this will stick down to the plywood which is 5mm thick.

I've attached a picture! to help you understand things.

cheers,

Ben.

 

[MikeG.]

I think I'd be trying a contact adhesive as my first stab. But I'd be guessing. I suppose ultimately I'd just work my way along the adhesives shelf the workshop until I found something that would work. Don't forget to try silicon: it's a much better glue than people give it credit for.

 

[thetyreman]

I think I'd be trying a contact adhesive as my first stab. But I'd be guessing. I suppose ultimately I'd just work my way along the adhesives shelf the workshop until I found something that would work. Don't forget to try silicon: it's a much better glue than people give it credit for.

I've got some pink grip left over form when I installed skirtings earlier this year, didn't think of that one, do you think that'll do?

 

[MikeG.]

I think that may be too dry, but it's certainly another one to add to the trial-pile.

 

[Beau]

Test contact adhesive on sample as I think it might melt EPS. I would try some PU first but as said silicon is pretty strong stuff.

 

[Racers]

I have stuck polystyrene to MDF with normal PVA.

Pete

 

[Gerry]

UHU POR is the glue you need. It will not eat the foam. Modellers use it for glueing expanded foam.

Gerry

 

[ED65]

PVA will work for this, as it does for a wide variety of materials it's commonly thought it isn't suitable for (including metal, q.v. the Weldbond marketing).

One downside to PVA for non-absorbent materials can be a very long setting time, but with ply being the other surface it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[AES]

+1 for UHU Por, AND for "ordinary" PVA (white or yellow wood glue). Like a previous poster I also used both in my aeromodelling days. Also +1 for a somewhat longer drying time with PVA than with a wood to wood joint, but fine unless you're gluing the EP to panels already mounted on the ceiling.

ON NO ACCOUNT should you use an "ordinary" contact adhesive such as Evostick (the brown, smelly stuff). It will "eat" EP foam.

Copydex also works quite well, and has a somewhat quicker drying time than PVA, but for best usage it needs to be thinned by adding about 10% water, then mixing very thoroughly - and I find it quite stinky!

HTH

 

[Boysie]

If you want speed, just use some decent double sided tape.
If you have some aready, gorilla glue will work well (the foaming kind) but it will take a while to cure.

 

[thetyreman]

thanks for all the suggestions, I will try PVA and see how it goes