Want Great Results? Try a DIY Foam Adhesive Mount

Introduction

There’s a reason that adhesive is one of our favorite products at Greenfield. It’s inexpensive, simple to use and extremely versatile. We have to admit, though, that we’ve had some sticky situations with customers using adhesive we thought would be foolproof. In fact, there was even a time when I was working as an automotive press operator and needed some specialty adhesives. The company I worked for didn’t have any on hand, so I used my own stash—only to find the adhesive wouldn’t hold up under pressure from the press! Sure enough, I found out later that my adhesive went bad because 1) the product wasn’t stored properly and 2) the tooling I used was too heavy for the job (don’t ask how many thousands of dollars in parts got ruined that day!). From now on, whenever someone asks me how they should use adhesive with their tools or equipment—whether they’re foam converting or just want to get their kitchen sink unstuck—I’m going to tell them these best practices:

Check the temperature.

Temperature is an important variable in the adhesion process. High temperatures can cause a resin or adhesive to flow more easily, improving its ability to bond and cure. Conversely, if you’re working with a low-viscosity resin and your temperature stays too low for too long, it will never get down into the crevices of your mold where it needs to be.
If you’re using a DIY foam adhesive mount, keep in mind that these types of adhesives have different working temperatures depending on their composition; some will begin curing at room temperature while others won’t begin curing until they reach 100 degrees Celsius (212 F).

Watch your humidity levels.

You may be wondering what we mean by humidity, and why it matters. Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air—and this can play a huge role in how long your adhesive stays sticky. If you have too much humidity, then your adhesive may become extremely sticky and difficult to remove from the wall or surface. If you have too little humidity, then your adhesive will dry out quickly and lose its ability to stick at all!

In order for our adhesives to work best, we suggest keeping your environment at between 35%–65% relative humidity (RH). You can find this information on most hygrometers if they are not already built into other devices like thermostats or humidifiers/dehumidifiers which come with them preinstalled.

Watch your weight. (Load)

Keep in mind that the weight of your object and the mount itself will have an impact on how well it sticks.

Weight is important to keep in mind when mounting objects, but remember that adhesive is also a factor. Adhesives can vary widely in terms of their holding strength, so check with the manufacturer if you have concerns about how much weight the adhesive can support before you apply it to your project.

Also be sure to weigh yourself before you begin mounting objects so that you know what kind of surface area you’ll need for each piece (more on this later!).

Use the right pressure.

The right pressure is important to get a good bond. Too much pressure can cause damage to the surface you’re mounting, and too little pressure won’t give you a strong enough bond for your item.

The amount of force you use will depend on the size and weight of what you’re mounting, as well as the type of adhesive you’re using.

Be careful with your adhesive.

When working with foam adhesive, you want to be careful. The last thing you want is for your adhesives to be brittle and break apart before you’re ready for them to do so. Here are some tips:

Don’t leave it out in the sun.
Don’t leave it out in the rain.
Don’t leave it out in the cold.
Don’t leave it out in the heat (although if an adhesive is still sticky when its temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 70 degrees Celsius, then chances are good that it will stick just fine).
You know those little stickers that say “don’t eat”? Well, don’t eat them either! It’s best not to take any risks with this type of product because there’s no telling what might happen if one were ingested by mistake—or even on purpose!

Change your adapter plate every 2 – 3 years.

If you’re using a DIY foam adhesive mount, we recommend changing your adapter plate every 2 – 3 years. The adapter plate is the part that attaches to the wall, and holds the weight of your TV. There are three main reasons why it’s important to change them out:
Your new TV will have different dimensions than your old one did
Your house could have shifted in its frame over time, causing the mount to become loose or drift away from where it should be mounted
The adhesive (or “glue”) used on the back of these mounts starts breaking down after a while

Cleanliness is key.

Cleanliness is key. Make sure you clean your squeegee and squeegee plate before and after use, as well as the adhesive container. Your work area should be cleaned before beginning to apply the adhesive, too. You also want to make sure you clean the surface you are applying the adhesive to prior to application; this includes removing dust and debris from surfaces where it will be applied so that there is no chance of anything interfering with adhesion or bonding between layers. Just remember: a clean surface means less chance of mistakes occurring in application!

When it comes time for removal… you guessed it! Clean hands are also important here (and throughout).

Keep an eye on your squeegee angle and pressure.

When you’re applying adhesive to a surface, the angle at which you use your squeegee can affect how much adhesive is applied. If you’re using a low angle, more of the adhesive will be applied and less of it will be spread out on top of whatever surface you are working on. If you use a high angle, less of the adhesive will be applied but more will be spread out on top of your substrate. The pressure that you place on your squeegee can also have an effect on how much adhesive spreads out over time (i.e., if there isn’t enough pressure put onto it). The amount of pressure put onto either side may also depend on what kind of substrate is being used – for example, some adhesives require more pressure than others because they’re thicker than others; therefore they might not adhere as well if not enough force is exerted onto them during application

Know how much adhesive you should use.

Know how much adhesive you should use.

Adhesive is sold by weight, volume and cost. In other words, your order will come in one of the following ways:

By ounces per bottle (a standard 16 ounce bottle is equal to 1 quart)
By dollar amount for a specific quantity of bottles/quarts/gallons/drum(s). For example: A gallon of glue will cost $40.00 whereas 4 quarts costs $80 total ($40 each). All prices include tax and shipping costs.*Note that in some cases it could be more expensive to buy larger quantities at once because they’ll require separate shipments or extra packaging materials or both.

Adhesive is one of our favorite products at Greenfield, but it can go bad fast if you don’t take care of it properly!

Please make sure to close your adhesive bottles after use. We recommend using a quick twist lock lid that will keep any remaining adhesive from drying out. If you have an older bottle, try adding a drop or two of oil to prevent adhesion loss over time.
Adhesives are sensitive to temperature changes; be sure to store them in a cool place away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat (like your hot car). The warmer the room they’re stored in, the faster they dry up!

Conclusion

We hope that these tips help you get the most out of your adhesive. The right tool can make all the difference in your work, so don’t underestimate its value! Happy laminating!