30 min. devcon 2 ton epoxy

G

GLDOYLE

Joined
Feb 15, 2001
Messages
25
Since walmart quit carrying it I have not been able to find it anywhere . Found the 5 min stuff but not 30 min . Anybody know where to find it .
Thanks
 
Good Morning Mr. Doyle :)

My preferred glue for scales is Loctite 324 & 325 used along with the activator. I've been getting that from Tracy at USA Knifemakers Supply
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/speedbonder-325-by-loctite-50ml-p-561.html I've been using about 1 bottle of activator for every 4 bottles of glue.
The products may seem a tad bit expensive on the surface but I get many, many knives glued up per bottle. A little goes a long, long ways :thumbup:
Very economical in the long run.

However, I've been making more forged stick tang style knives the past 1-1/2 years or so. I had been using the Devcon 30 min in the dual syringe. The last epoxy I purchased was from Pops
http://popsupply.bizhosting.com/pop_s_epoxy.html
I picked up the large bottles of the 15 min. "mid-cure" and I really like it ! :thumbup: I'll get more when these bottles run out.
Cost wise, it's much more economical than the Devcon syringe.

;)
 
ACE Hardware stores carry it in my area, and in the large containers.
 
I picked up some at the local ACE hardware the other day. Of course it was more expensive than at Wal Mart. I've been told NAPA also carries it but haven't checked there.
 
Just a friendly warning...if your going to sell your knives, use something better than Devcon! If you don't, in about 5 or so years your likely going to have knives coming back because the handles are loosening up/falling off. Most 50/50 mix epoxies are engineered so that they only have a maximum of 5 years hold life. The companies want you to buy more epoxy from them, and so they design the product with a max shelf life of 6 months, and a max hold life of 5 years.

After having the "handle falling off" thing happen to some of my early knives, (on which I used Devcon) I started doing some research, found the above info, and have since used only Acraglas from Brownells for my knives. It has a 10 year shelf life, and a 50 year hold life.
 
Mr doyle you can get the large tubes from FASTENALL it a company in canada but im sure its in the states. After reading the post Mr caffey wrote im switching to what he uses no matter what the cost is I want the best. I will be emailing you ED ASAP . thansk kellyw
 
Ed caffey Ijust emailed them to see if i can get the glue. I feel that glue is the weakest link in any mans finished knife. I had 2 handles come off in 6 months out of 40 knives. The one I was testing to see how hard I had to hit it with a hammer and screw driver to get it off and the other was just simply not scored enough , im not taking chances. kellyw thanks
 
To add a bit more info: Acraglas if from a Company called Brownells. Acraglas was designed as a rifle, barrel bedding compound, but is one of the best "glues" I have ever found. Its a little different than standard epoxy in that its mixed in a 4 to 1 ratio (4 parts resin to 1 part hardener), and you CANNOT try to speed up the set time by adding more hardener. If you try that, it will get to the consistency of Jell-O, and never get any harder.

On the up side, I already mentioned the shelf and hold life of the product, but it is truly waterproof, will bond nearly anything, and I mean BOND. I've done some test where I put a handle on a hidden tang, let it cure then took a hammer to it. I was able to bust off the handle material after a lot of work, but the "wad" of Acraglas was still attached to the tang....and the only way I could remove it was by grinding.

Here's a link to the kit that I buy: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3767/pid=1033/sku/28_oz__Resin_and_7_oz__Hardener
I think you can also get it from Chuck Bybee at Alpha knife supply. Aldo Bruno was also suppose to be working with a chemist trying to match Acraglas, but I've not heard any updates on that project.

Although its about $60, thats a year+ worth of "glue" in my shop....which is way less than you would spend on the same amount of those double syringe tubes of Devcon, and you've got a much better product.

To some folks the quality of adhesive might not seem like a big deal, and it wasn't for me either.....until knives started coming back after 5-6 years....then it became priority #1.
 
Ed Thanks for the speedy reply I caught you at the right time thanks for all the advice and I will glue up my handles with this from now on order will go in today thanks. I am a firm believer in looking ahead you just saved me alot of handle repair . kellyw
 
Ed Caffrey said:
Just a friendly warning...if your going to sell your knives, use something better than Devcon! If you don't, in about 5 or so years your likely going to have knives coming back because the handles are loosening up/falling off. Most 50/50 mix epoxies are engineered so that they only have a maximum of 5 years hold life.
Click to expand...


I disagree.

I've used Devcon 2-Ton epoxy for over 20 years. No handles have fell off or loosened.

I've had knives returned after many years of use for handle replacement. I did not notice any epoxy degradation.

I guess I'm just lucky.....

Al P

www.polkowskiknives.com
 
Those that have had devcon fail and the handles come off , was there any other fastener used ? pins ? corby bolts ? etc ?

I use the devcon just to seal , and use corby bolts to secure.
 
I'm glad that some of you have not had any bad luck with Devcon, but I did, and will never put it on another knife that leaves my shop, especially after chasing down the facts I obtained on it.

I'm not advocating that if your happy with it, you switch, just relaying the details of my experiences with it.

I'm sure that eventually something will come along thats better than Acragglas or West Systems (which a lot of folks like), and when it does I will upgrade to whatever that might be. "Glue" is an unseen element of my knives, that simply has to be as good or better than the rest of the knife...using cheap glue isn't a risk I'm willing to take.
 
I'm not going to get into a this one stinks, but that one is roses, however, 13 years ago I made a small knife with bone scales, and two pins. Last year in August, it was lost in a flood. It was under water for roughly 8 weeks or more before being found after the water receeded. The scales are still on, and tight. I am not going to dispute what I have heard on Devcon, but only pass this on. I too may go to Acraglas, but just thought I would bring that little tidbit to light. I have not gotten around to cleaning the knife up yet, but would be willing to ship it to anyone wanting to check it out, Providing you put up a deposit, and pay all shipping charges. I would value replacement cost at $150.00. It belongs to my oldest son. I just re-checked it, and I am not to sure about going to Acraglas now. The scales appear to be as good as when I made it, and I will add that the two pins are just that. Pins, and not peened over. I would also add that the scales are still dead flush with the bone surface and steel. This was 1095 steel, with 45° bolsters at the scale joint. and it is tapered tang. Now, for you Devcon naysayers, what have you to say?? I am open to opinions, guesses, or whatever. Lets hear it!
 
Thanks for all the replys . I have used it for 9 years on my knives and had the good luck of never having it fail yet , but I am always open to try something that some may think is better. Thanks again .
 
Ed C. is 100% correct. 32 years ago I replaced the scales on my shop/bench Barlow with semi dried whale rib (oily bone) bone. Before gluing, I sprayed the inner surface with lac. thinner, allowed to dry & glued scales to liners with "Beownells Accraglass". To this evening, the knife has seen daily use without scales breaking loose --- they weren't pinned. FWIW
 
I have to agree with Ed.

With superior products available, why ... WHY would you consciously choose something that MIGHT just be adequate?

The Loctite product (s) menitoned above are very good.
You can also call 3M and get specific guidance on just the right product for the specific application (metal to wood, metal to ivory, synthetic (G-10) to synthetic, synthetic to wood, you name it.) There are engineered products specifically designed to account for different COE of the materials being bonded, etc.
Acryglass is also good for a wide range of things.

With all the great stuff available, why settle for homeowner-grade 5-minute epoxy?
 
Al Polkowski said:
I disagree.

I've used Devcon 2-Ton epoxy for over 20 years. No handles have fell off or loosened.

I've had knives returned after many years of use for handle replacement. I did not notice any epoxy degradation.

I guess I'm just lucky.....

Al P

www.polkowskiknives.com
Click to expand...

I have used this epoxie for longer than 20 yrs. Al and have shared the same experience as you.

Jim
 
I don't use epoxies under scales anymore, so my use is generally relegated to stub tang knives. I don't see any problems with using most epoxies in this application, I cut grooves in the handle hole, notch and pin the tang and the glue simply fills the cavity and creates a solid anchor. The glue will never see UV exposure, significant water exposure or most of the other epoxy pitfalls and I'm not relying so much on bond strength as I am friction.

I see no problems with Devcon in this application, but for scales I'd rather not use it. Besides it doing poorly in knifemaker's tests, epoxies just aren't meant to be that thin. All that being said, I can't see any problem using it as nothing more than a moisture barrier under mechanical fasteners.
 
"With all the great stuff available, why settle for homeowner-grade 5-minute epoxy?" Quote from JCaswell.
I wouldn't use 5 minute epoxy. I only the 30 minute 2 ton Devcon.
 
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