Adhesives...

[Moze]

For installing dimensional letters, ADA signs, etc., I normally use clear silicone - usually GE ll, sometimes GE l.

GE l is just over $5 a tube, GE ll is just over $6 a tube. While I don't want to sacrifice using a quality product, I've been looking around to see what other options there are.

Gino had mentioned a while back that he uses Manus 75AM. The specs look pretty good.

There are 4-packs of Manus clear 100% RTV Silicone on Amazon for $21 shipped. RTV is usually $10 or more for a 10oz. tube.

Curious what else those of you who do these types of installs use?

 

[FS-Keith]

we use CR Laurence 33s clear silicone. I buy it by the case of 30 and it comes out to a little over 3 bucks a tube with shipping. It is just as good as the GE. Its commercial grade used in the glass industry.

 

[visual800]

thanks you FSKEITH! Ive been looking for less expensive items like this.

Like Moze I have been using the GE stuff for a longtime and it doesnt fail EXCEPT that one time they had bad batches. and that stuff is goiing up higher and higher. might look into this glass silicone. Great post.

As of yet I have found mothing beter than GE

 

[Moze]

I've looked at their products as well.

Sometimes it feels like the longer I'm in this business, the less I know. I was shopping around yesterday and figured silicone was silicone and that it would pretty much work on virtually any surface. Turns out (if I'm understanding it correctly) that acetoxy curing silicone (which includes some RTV silicones) will not adhere well to vinyl (windows, doors, siding), concrete, stone, brick, or most masonry and will corrode most metals or plastics. For those materials and surfaces, it's recommended that a alkoxy, or neutral curing silicone be used.

Who knew.