# Waterproof adhesive for attaching neoprene to steel **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260 "2012-06-15T17:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/1 "2012-06-15T17:26:35Z")
I need to bond hard neoprene (not wetsuit material) to steel. This adhesive needs to be impact resistant. Can anyone recommend a good adhesive for this? I’ve got Gorilla glue lying around. Will this work well enough? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/2 "2012-06-15T17:30:44Z")
First [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=655357), now this. I want to party with you, cowboy. If the two of us together, forget it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/3 "2012-06-15T17:33:56Z")
It is very difficult to glue metal. Silcone adhesives may be best for impact resistance. Since they reman resilent and ‘sticky’ after setting. Epoxy would provide a stronger bond, but you’d have to carefully prepare the metal surface by etching it, or mechanically scratching it to increase the bonding surface area, and then get it scrupulously clean using acetone or solvent. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/4 "2012-06-15T19:45:56Z")
+1 Get a Dremel. Get a small diamond-dust coated pear shaped grinder tool. Carefully mark out the area you wish to adhere the neoprene to. Use a Sharpie®, alcohol will take the lines off after. Grind the fuck out of it. Not deeply, but scoring the surface will create a surface that a glue or epoxy will be much happier grabbing ahold of. And yeah, acetone just before you glue the two bits together. Let the acetone dry, but use it prior to get any oils off of the surface. And…uh… do this outside with a breeze blowing by. Acetone is good for a whiff of brain damage. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/5 "2012-06-15T20:45:04Z")
Gorilla Glue would probably be OK for this, paired with appropriate surface prep. In the past, I have had excellent results in bonding steel to particle board with PL Premium construction adhesive. Like Gorilla Glue, it’s a urethane adhesive, so watch the squeeze-out as it will foam up and expand. My particular application was bonding a 6-foot length of 1-1/2" angle stock to the underside of a sheet of particle board to eliminate sagging. I buzzed the steel with medium sandpaper to make sure there wasn’t any loose scale, the applied the adhesive, clamped it up and the next day, it was there for keeps. You may want to do a test run with a scrap of the neoprene material to ensure it is copacetic with the idea of being glued to something. I wouldn’t expect problems, but some rubbers and plastics just don’t like to be glued. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/6 "2012-06-15T21:03:42Z")
And some adhesives may dissolve neoprene. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/7 "2012-06-15T21:52:14Z")
Is the steel very big? There are adhesives made specifically to do this but you have to be able to heat the steel to about 350° at a constant temperature and apply pressure. Can you do that? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/8 "2012-06-15T23:06:59Z")
Thanks for the replies. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > First [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=655357), now this. > > I want to party with you, cowboy. If the two of us together, forget it. Come on out to Burning Man and you can actually experience it! > [@The\_Surb](#): > > Is the steel very big? There are adhesives made specifically to do this but you have to be able to heat the steel to about 350° at a constant temperature and apply pressure. > Can you do that? It’s a sledgehammer and I have a barbeque! The Gorilla Glue seems like an easy solution. I’ll try it on one and see how it works out. I’m actually not adamant about using neoprene. I was thinking of using hockey pucks just to add to the absurdity of the whole thing. I need some sort of padding as to not break the bowling balls that I’m striking. I ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/9 "2012-06-15T23:08:32Z")
Okay I’m in as well. Hockey Pucks. Stainless steel. Crushing bowling balls. If we can add a bit of meat cooked over a pit, it’s paradise. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/10 "2012-06-15T23:14:40Z")
Neoprenes work with adhesive fairly well. EPDM’s actively **hate** adhesives. Don’t use EPDM. Gorilla glue would probably work. Prep both surfaces with alcohol. Prep yourself with some alcohol, too. then go to town. If it needs to be permanent, weatherstrip adhesive and a primer from the auto parts store will work. That’s what holds body cladding to your car. I’ll bring some beer. Left Hand Brewery makes a good milk stout. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/11 "2012-06-15T23:40:37Z")
Let me guess, mega-croquet on the playa? Rennies can make croquet almost unrecognizeable with just the normal balls and mallets. And some Guinness. I can only imagine what burners would do. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/12 "2012-06-16T00:28:09Z")
As stated prior…Gorilla Glue. I jut finished a project were I had to glue up layers of extruded polystyrene sheets. GG worked like a charm. Fast, waterproof (in fact, water activated), easy to apply and hard as a rock when dry. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waterproof-adhesive-for-attaching-neoprene-to-steel/625260/13 "2012-06-16T01:12:12Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Let me guess, mega-croquet on the playa? You got it babe! Rebar hoops and a boatload of EL wire.