Adhesive To Stick Individual Brass Letters Into Sandstone

[Robert Lambie]

I could be wrong here on what I suggest, but will give you food for thought regardless…. Well… I hope! Lol
Personally mate, and just my opinion. But those who planned this out really should have a game plan from start to finish. (so to speak).
This is not a one step job, pass to next man, pass to next… those who provided the letters for the concrete setting, should also have provided the brass letters and also the solution for bonding.
Maybe they have and im missing something… anyway…
Assuming you have the set concrete, the brass letter that will fit as inserts…
What about BIG HEAD fixings with pins and adhesive? These work easily, they are strong, reliable and expansion etc should not be a problem. [off top my head head] template might be an issue due to the recessed nature of the stone. Saying that, it can be cut round and inserted, drilled and your sorted.back to intial thought. I hope you have the original file for creating the concrte recesses?

Anyway… just chucking an option in the pot mate.
http://www.bighead.co.uk/English/produc … heads.html
p.s. Big head are a very reputable long term server to the sign trade, however…
(only blaming factory/picking staff here)… check the adhesive tubes are not past their shelf live expiry date. I haven’t bought much from them simply because I don’t do allot of work their fixings are needed, but when I have… well…
that aside, give them a call. Ide think it could be a solution.

[Peter Normington]

I am assuming that the letters are inset rather than stand offs, and will need setting into a preformed recess
so a good quality flexible adhesive, would be the best bet
this one comes in various colours and does not stain
http://www.absealants.co.uk/product_18- … IX-ALL.htm
Peter

[Graeme Harrold]

Treat the bare stone with epoxy resin to seal, then use an exterior grade silicone adhesive to hold the letters in place. This will give ample surface area with adhesive to hold in place.

The down side of the the whole project will be the polishing required to keep the brass looking good (this will also blacken the surrounding stone)…….even lacquered will go off after a while.

I would suggest a nice gold leaf finish for everlasting shine…… :lol1:

[John Hughes]

An idea
Solder some threaded brass pins say 5mm dia x 25mm lenght on to back of letters –
drill corresponding holes, 8mm dia in to sandstone letter recess –
fill holes with adhesive and position.

john

[Peter Normington]

quote John Hughes:

An idea
Solder some threaded brass pins say 5mm dia x 25mm lenght on to back of letters –
drill corresponding holes, 8mm dia in to sandstone letter recess –
fill holes with adhesive and position.

john

John and Rob
I think you have both mis read the post, the letters need to be set in a recess that has only 1.5mm clearance around the letters, so big head and brass rods etc would not be the solution, the gap under and around the letters needs to be adjustable, so a base of adhesive should be laid before the letters are positioned flush with the surface, the gap can then be adjusted and filled with the same adhesive.
quick drawing to show

Peter

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Attachments:

[Carl Maguire]

quote Peter Normington:

quote John Hughes:

An idea
Solder some threaded brass pins say 5mm dia x 25mm lenght on to back of letters –
drill corresponding holes, 8mm dia in to sandstone letter recess –
fill holes with adhesive and position.

john

John and Rob
I think you have both mis read the post, the letters need to be set in a recess that has only 1.5mm clearance around the letters, so big head and brass rods etc would not be the solution, the gap under and around the letters needs to be adjustable, so a base of adhesive should be laid before the letters are positioned flush with the surface, the gap can then be adjusted and filled with the same adhesive.Peter

Thanks for the suggestions guys
Peter you have interpreted exactly
Right the letters must finish flush as per
Your drawing and hopefully the adhesive
When bedded down will just squeeze
Out enough to seal the slight clearancround the
Insert letters and the material they have
To be set into is sandstone as I. Natural
York stone so there is no cast or template to work
From as the letters seating as you might call
Them have been routed out with
A special stone router my one other thought
To prevent spillage of the adhesive
Onto the stone was to make a temporary mask
Round the letters from sandblasting rubber
Then find a decent either pu type adhesive
Or some sort of cartridge gun applied adhesive
But was hoping for a lead on the adhesive if any one had ever used anything before for this
As sometimes experience can save
A few hours of trials and errors

quick drawing to show

[Kevin Flowers]

Try giving Eurobond Adhesives a call, very knowledgeable i’m sure they will have an answer

http://www.eurobond-adhesives.co.uk/

Kev

[John Hughes]

Peter, sos but perhaps I didn’t explain my thinking very well.

see attached pic

john

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Attachments:

[Graeme Harrold]

Although the pin method looks good, I believe it is unnecessary and over-engineering. Adhesives work on bonded contact areas hence why adhesives have a far higher bond to weight ratio over other fixing methods.

a light coat of epoxy to seal the stone, followed by a flexible adhesive will be more than sufficient to hold the letters.

[Peter Normington]

I concur with the Honorable Mr Harrold

Peter

[Robert Lambie]

What is the depth of the recess that has been milled out?
i saw that there is a 1mm – 1.5mm clearance around the letters, but no indication of the depth?

fine if the depth will dictate that only a liquid adhesive being used, but as i said, i don’t see a depth mentioned.

I am aware of various adhesives out there that will do the job.

i mentioned the big head rods system because it allows you movement on leveling the letter flush with the surface of a masonry which "may" have inconsistency on its surface or the depth of the recessed/milled area. also, it was mentioned that there is a concern for staining the stone with excess adhesive coming out the edges of the letter as its pressed into place.
As John has said soldered rods on the letters as opposed to Big Head fixings, i thought about that but i could be wrong here, but would the heat of the solder not tarnish the face of the brass letter due to the heat whilst soldering? big heads are fixed with an adhesive.

are these letters fixed to the face of steps? if so, the letters will need to be kept in place perfectly whilst the adhesive cures. with the rods, this should not be an issue.

[John Hughes]

I concur with the Honorable Mr Harrold

Peter

Does that make Mr Harrold a MP ? In which case you can’t trust anything he says !! :lol1:

john

[Peter Normington]

Nah, he is not right honourable
so you can trust his words

Peter

[Andrew Bennett]

quote Graeme Harrold:

I would suggest a nice gold leaf finish for everlasting shine…… :lol1:

An interesting OT alternative, would it work though? would the epoxy resin take the gold size, or would you apply the size direct to the stone?

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Peter Normington:

Nah, he is not right honourable
so you can trust his words

Peter

Thanks for the back-up……………deffo not an MP, Ive got to many morals and claim limited expenses………. :lol1:

I am a mechanical engineer with a good understanding of all things engineering, materials and fixings…………… 😛

[John Hughes]

me to Graham – was a toolmaker for 8 years but long time ago

john

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Andrew Bennett:

quote Graeme Harrold:

I would suggest a nice gold leaf finish for everlasting shine…… :lol1:

An interesting OT alternative, would it work though? would the epoxy resin take the gold size, or would you apply the size direct to the stone?

Ive applied leaf to brass in the past……scuff the metal, apply a good base coat primer paint (usually yellow), then size and leaf as normal. Gives a very good long lasting finish. Unfortunately in this application the gold would not last long on steps.

With regards to adhesive, I would use floor tile adhesive. Sounds daft, but it is designed to be flexible and it sticks like S**t……….plus it will nicely grout the gap!!!!

[Peter Normington]

can stain though, I was going to suggest swimming pool grout, but didnt cos sandstone is quite porous, and stains easily,

I dont think the stone needs sealing though, that’s over engineering…

Why seal when adhesive is usually better with a rough surface?
I think an exterior construction adhesive is the way to go
Peter

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Peter Normington:

I dont think the stone needs sealing though, that’s over engineering…

:rofl: :rofl:

[Bob Clarkson]

"Tigerseal" is the needed adhesive. Automotive, motor factors, retailers will have it, or probably ebay come to that. It’s a bit special for Halfords and the like. It’s pretty much the same stuff windscreens are bonded in with. It’ll cost about a fiver for a tube ready to go straight in your skeleton gun. I’ve no idea if this is considered to correct way, I just know it works perfectly. No mess and you’d chip the stone or bend the letters before you could gouge them out.