Glues and Adhesives
August 9, 2010
Scotch 'How Tough is your Tape?" Contest
We've always been of the opinion that 98% of our problems can be solved with Duct Tape and/or a length of bailing twine. Scotch, the makers of Tough Duct Tape seem to think that there are a lot of you out there with that same old Yankee mentality. And right now, the further down the duct tape rabbit hole you are, the greater the chance of you winning the grand prize in their "How Tough is your Tape?" contest.
Scotch is looking for pictures of all of the insane ways you use their duct tape, from holding together the tractor engine block to supporting the half-broken tree limb that hangs over your house.
The grand prize winner will get a trip for two to Vegas to hob-nob with some NASCAR folks. There are also some cash prizes for the silver and bronze medalists.
If you're looking for contest inspiration, go here.
More information here.
Scotch Tough Tape at Amazon
April 8, 2010
Liquid Wrench Lubes - Review
A while back, we reviewed the new Blue Works lubricating products from the guys who brought us WD-40. We casually used them around the shop and thought they were great. As it turns out Liquid Wrench has also just released a new set of lubes and they shipped a six-pack our way so that we could get a look. We treated them the same as the Blue Works...plopped them on a shelf and used them as needed.
The new products are; lubricating oil, penetrating oil, silicone spray. dry lubricant, chain lube, and white lithium grease. Pretty much anything that a guy could ask for.
Like we said in our review of the Blue Works products, we're not Tools of the Trade, so we don't have the time or resources to set up some elaborate test where we identically rust two sets of nuts and bolts and then saturate them in two different penetrants, and then have some way of measuring the torque needed to loosen each one. No, we try to base our reviews on what 'the guy in his garage' is looking for. And in this case, the question he wants answered is, 'do they work?" We found that after cleaning up the gears of our table saw, fixing a squeaky shed door hinge, and unsticking a bad drawer slide, the answer is yes. "Did we like them?" Yes. "If we saw them in a store, would we buy them?" Yes. And honestly, the same could be said for the Blue Works products. We have no idea what the chemical difference between these two brands is, and we really don't care. And we don't think that you really do either. If you're like us, you're going to be in a store looking for a few things and you're going to think to yourself, "oh yeah, I need some spray silicone for that window that keeps sticking." You just want something that works. And the Liquid Wrench products work.
Actually, one interesting thing about the Liquid Wrench products is the marketing. Where Blue Works takes a technical attitude and have loaded their website with stats and numbers, Liquid Wrench approaches things in a more user friendly way and concentrates on educating you about the practical uses of each lube. Their website is great and after a few minutes on it, we wanted to lube up everything we own. There's a nice page that lists about 100 around the house tasks and the lube that's best suited. There are also some seasonal uses here. This doesn't reflect on the actual performance of the lubes, but it's a smart approach for the company to take.
These lubes will be about $5 a can and should be at your local Ace and Lowes, but for a full retailer list, check out the Liquid Wrench website.
February 5, 2010
WD-40 Blue Works - Review
For most of us, a can of WD-40 is all we need. It acts as a lubricant, a penetrant, a cleaner, and, for some, a deodorant. It's sort of a 'one can fits all' product. But for those who are really into their lubes, sprays, and foams, or for those rare occasions when the WD just won't cut it, WD-40 (the company, not the product) has just released a line of eight specialized items geared toward the heavy-duty and the hardcore, and, thankfully for us, they sent us a few cans to check out.
The new products are:
- Industrial Grade Silicone
- Industrial Grade High-Performance PTFE Lubricant
- Industrial Grade Dry Lube PTFE Formula
- Industrial Grade Multi-Purpose Lubricant
- Industrial Grade White Lithium Grease
- Industrial Grade Contact Cleaner
- Industrial Grade Penetrant
- Industrial Grade Degreaser
Reviewing things like this isn't easy. It takes too long and is too tedious to rust a couple bolt/nut combos together just to test out the Blue Works Penetrant against the leading brand. So we just put the cans on the shelf and used them as needed. Of the products, we tested out the Penetrant, the De-Greaser, the White Lithium Grease, and the Silicone.
The one we ended up using the most was the silicone, which had no issues assisting us with a gummed up slider and a couple sticky windows, as well as a few stuck wrenches. The White Lithium Grease, we put right in the truck (our old boss once said, "every old truck needs a can of white lithium grease under the driver's seat), and the penetrant did actually help loosen a rusty nut.
We liked the products and the cans have a cool look about them. The Blue Works website has a boatload of information on each one, including the MSDS sheets and scientific-sounding test results that firmly establish their dominance against other brands. We take a lot of those types of manufacturer's tests with a grain of salt, but WD-40 has a great reputation, so even if their products aren't 50 times better than the competition, they're at least 5 times better.
So now when WD-40 isn't doing the job or you're looking for something a little more specialized, you now have a place to go.
There's a boatload more information (including the MSDS sheets) over at blueworksbrand.com
December 22, 2009
DAP Seal 'N Peel Removable Weatherstrip Caulk - Review
To say our house is 'drafty' is a bit of an understatement. To say that there's actually turbulence at head level is more like it. In the summer it's easy to get all misty-eyed over the ancient windows filled with their wiggly, wavy old panes of glass. In the winter though, those windows are nothing less than the enemy. The other night, we were walking around taking temperature readings with the digital laser thermometer and one of our windowsills read a balmy 38 degrees (keep in mind, this is on the inside of the house). Think about that for a second. It's insane. We actually can't think about it for any longer than a second or we get heart palpitations.
So enter DAP, a company nice enough to send us a tube of their new Seal N Peel removable weatherstrip caulk. The principal of the product is simple; caulk it in along open joints in windows, doors, wherever there's a draft, and come spring, just peel it off. It's a nice fine line that DAP is walking here, a caulk that's sticky enough to stick but at the same time, unsticky enough to be easily pulled off months later.
We had a big red flag go up when we saw that the tube was labeled, "vanilla scent." The only reason a product like this would have an vanilla scent would be if it needed to mask a horrific chemical smell, leading to one of two outcomes: 1) in order to hide the odor, the vanilla is intensely powerful or 2) the vanilla doesn't work and the nasty chemical smell is unavoidable. Before opening the tube, we checked the reviews over at Amazon and saw that a few people were complaining about the fumes.
So we cut the tube and went to work, expecting to be lightheaded within minutes. We're not sure if we were anticipating the worse, but it's really not that bad. Is it a smell we want made into an aftershave? Probably not. But were we running for the door in a HazMat suit? Not at all.
From what we experienced the product works great. We did a couple windows and completely stopped the drafts. The snout of the tube is extra long so getting into odd spots was easy. We also dropped a few beads on a piece of pine to test how easy the Seal 'N Peel is to remove. It comes up like a charm. The packaging does say, though, that after a year, it gets more difficult to remove.
Seal 'N Peel goes for about $6 a tube. It's a small price to pay for stopping the wind through the dining room.
At Amazon
August 3, 2009
DAP PRO Caulk 4-Piece Caulking Tool Kit - Review
One of the first articles on Tool Snob was about the Caulk Buddy, a little caulking tool that comes with one of the Newborn caulking guns. We liked it because it was something, other than our finger, that could make a nice caulk bead. With this in mind, we were particularly interested in testing out the DAP PRO Caulk Tool Kit (As seen on TV!). What it is is a series of little tools that have different radiuses, ranging from standard to 90 degree to a variety of mm sizes (5 to 16). There's even a little nub on one tool that is meant for grouting tile joints.
To test out these items, we banged together two pieces of 3/4" ply at a 90 degree angle and dropped a ragged bead of caulk along the joint. First, we took the standard corner and ran it down the bead. The results were nice and about what we're used to using the finger and rag method. Although this time, our finger stayed clean and there was no rag needed. We were also once again reminded of how much caulk can be wasted by seeing the amount left on the tool. Then, satisfied that the PRO Caulk tools could at least measure up to the old way of doing things, we pumped out a huge line of caulk in order to test out the larger size beads. This time, the results were something that we wouldn't be able to do with a finger and a rag. We started with the 10mm size and got a perfectly even bead with one quick pass of the tool. We then tested the smaller sizes by running them over the same bead, making it smaller and smaller. All of the other sizes we tested had an equal amount of success. As always, click on the image for a larger pic.
And that's the real glory of these little tools. You can make very consistent beads of 'non-finger' sized caulk joints. Sure, you can make a nice standard bead and it's less messy than using a finger and a rag, but you can also play around with different sizes depending on your aesthetic tastes as well as the functional needs at hand. We think these tools are really successful at what they do.
The kit also comes with a caulk removal tool that has all sorts of edges and angles to get in and under crusty old caulk beads. It would be a good item to have if you're redoing the seal on your kitchen sink or something. There is also a mini-tool with all of the smaller sizes. All of the tools are plastic and thus easy to clean off and DAP guarantees them for five years.
These are good tools to have and perfect for that milk crate in your garage marked, "painting and caulking." As a carpenter, we're going to toss ours in the box of finish tools that we carry around. Not only are they a quick and easy way to make your caulk beads look good but they also give a much wider repertoire of making consistently sized caulk beads. The tools are available with a small tube of caulking and run about $18, which we think is a little on the high side (we were hoping for the $10-$12 range), but they are quite useful.
The kit of tools is available with a small tube of caulking at Amazon
July 16, 2009
WD-40 Trigger Pro - Review
If you took all of the construction projects ever attempted in the history of man, all of the skyscrapers, all of the pyramids, all of the bridges and all of the dams, and you could crush them into a one inch by one inch cube, that cube would probably smell like WD-40. WD-40 smells like accomplishment and, like duct tape, it evokes a consensus of admiration from anyone who has ever used it (which is essentially everyone).
But, if you went around and asked people, "what's the worst thing about WD-40?" the answer would be unanimous: "the effin' little red straw that I keep losing." The straw is essential, but it's a pain in the ass and once you lose it, like you always to, there's not much you can do to control the spray of the magic elixir. But here comes WD-40 with a new way to dispense the good stuff. The new container is a non-aerosol spray bottle and we brought one to the site and then into the workshop in order to test it out.
Guess what? It's WD-40 in a Windex bottle. Nothing more, nothing less (well, actually the bottle is metal, so it is a little more). But it's the same functionality with the narrow spray and the wide spray. The WD-40 hasn't changed, so it's all about application. The Trigger Pro doesn't replace the old red straw method, but it doesn't try to. It's just a new and different way of laying down the WD. There are times when only the straw will do the trick, like getting into a cramped engine, for example, but there are also times when the spray bottle is faster and more efficient, like cleaning up the gears on a table saw or lubing up a large chain. Overall, we felt there was more control with the spray bottle because it's easier to limit the amount you're applying.
WD-40 Trigger Pro costs around $13 for a 20oz bottle and is likely to be available where WD-40 is sold. We suggest picking up a bottle.
WD-40 also comes in a one gallon can (like paint thinner), so you could also pick up one of those and a spray bottle to get the same effect. A gallon costs about $20.
Factoid Alert: WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement, 40th formula." It was the 40th, and most successful of the recipes tried for a liquid that would displace water and prevent corrosion. Interesting, eh?
WD-40 at Amazon
May 14, 2009
Gorilla Epoxy - Review
The other day we mentioned Popular Mechanics's list of the best items at this year's Hardware Show. If you clicked through the link like we suggested (and why wouldn't you have?) you would have seen that Gorilla's new 2-part epoxy made the cut. We recently received a sample of said epoxy and gave it a whirl to see if Gorilla was indeed one step closer to total world adhesive dominance.
It seems to be the case. It's a very nice glue and without any problems we were able to fix a small stone bird statue that had been broken by an apple (don't ask). The Epoxy mixed easily and as advertised made its initial set in five minutes. We also liked that the Epoxy had some body to it, so where there were shattered pieces of the statue that were too small to replace, we simply filled the gaps with the glue and did a quick faux painting job to finish it off (yes, it's paintable too). Aside from stone, the epoxy is compatible with wood, metal, ceramics, glass, plastic, brick and concrete.
We have used other 5-minute epoxies with mixed success. Our main complaint is that the glue becomes brittle over time. From what we understand, Gorilla has addressed this issue and added a certain degree of flexibility to their adhesive. While we're too impatient to wait a year to test out the brittleness of the statue bond before writing the review, after seeing the amazing successes of Gorilla's other products and how they've successfully backed up all of their other claims, we're going to take their word for it on this one. We'll keep an eye on the statue though and let you know the minute the glue fails (if it ever does.)
The Gorilla Epoxy sells for under five dollars.
At Amazon
March 10, 2009
DAP 3.0 Advanced Sealants
DAP is releasing a number of new sealants that are all distinguished by a very quick drying time. The line of sealants is called the DAP 3.0 and once applied, it takes just three hours before they can be exposed to water without being affected.
According to the press release,
"DAP® 3.0™ Advanced Sealants are formulated with Kwik Dry® Technology that allows users to caulk and expose the bead to water after just three hours without washing out; other caulks and sealants may require a 24-36 hour waiting period before exposing to water. This minimal dry time greatly reduces the risk of wash-out from premature water exposure, so both DIYers and professionals alike can save time and money by finishing the job faster and reducing the chance for errors. For outdoor applications, this also means not having to wait for ideal weather conditions to begin or complete a project. DAP® 3.0™ Advanced Sealants can be applied in extreme weather and temperature ranges (-35°F to 140°F)."
A while ago, we reviewed DAP's Kwick Seal, which we're pretty sure is one of the five 3.0 sealants. Our review is here.
The five sealants in this line are (also from the press release):
Continue reading: "DAP 3.0 Advanced Sealants"
February 3, 2009
Spout Popper - Review
It's our policy to review everything that gets sent our way; big, small, new, old, normal, or strange, it doesn't matter. Once we get an item, we test it out and try to have something posted up about it within a couple weeks depending on the complexity of the item. We're pretty consistent on this, but every once in a while something slips through the cracks and, thus far, the most egregious of these 'slippings' has been the Spout Popper. We got the Spout Popper over a year ago and since then, we've tested it out plenty, but for some reason, we never gave it an official review (although we did a posting on it before it arrived, here). Well we're happy to say to all you caulking tube fanatics out there, that we've finally gotten around to it and here, with no more delay, is a review of the famed Spout Popper....
Continue reading: "Spout Popper - Review"
January 27, 2009
Gorilla Super Glue - Review
We have this great old ceramic Buddha that belonged to our grandfather. It sits on the bookshelf by the tv. Or, rather, it did until Marlowe decided it would look better on the floor in about 12 pieces. We were pretty bummed about the event, and decided that we should at least try to fix it. We had heard that Gorilla had added a super glue to their line of amazing adhesive products, so we got our hands on a tube of it and tried our best to repair the big old Buddha.
Continue reading: "Gorilla Super Glue - Review"
December 30, 2008
Twist N Seal Caulk Saver Plug
It's happened to everyone; you get a new tube of caulk or PL, you use just a little bit of it, then a week later when you try to use it again, the tube is soft but the nozzle is rock hard. We've tried all the same lame solutions that you have, the nail down the end, the blue tape wrapped around the end, and all of the other half-assed attempts at preserving the tube.
A company with the odd name of Ultra Mold Technologies has a new product that is a one size fits all version of the caulk tube cap. The way it works is that instead of capping the nozzle from the outside, it's a threaded, tapered plug that can fit inside any tube opening between 1/8" to 7/16". This not only works for caulk tubes but for other things like cans of spray foam.
A package of five costs about $3, but if you buy more than one, the price drops.
Available online at CaulkSaverPlug and a number of traditional stores listed here.
September 9, 2008
DAP Kwik Seal 3.0 - Review
DAP has recently released their Kwik Seal 3.0, a sort of super caulk that apparently excels in virtually every category when placed head to head with traditional silicone. It's supposed to dry faster, be tougher, and fend off mold. We got our hands on a tube and gave the kitchen sink a much overdue caulking and here's what we thought.
Probably the coolest thing about Kwik Seal is its drying time, or rather its skin-over time. All it takes is three hours and the caulk can withstand water. To us, this meant applying the Kwik Seal in the early afternoon and still being able to use the kitchen sink for dinner. Under normal circumstances, with a normal silicone, the sink would have been off limits until the next day and we would have had an excuse not to do the dishes.
Continue reading: "DAP Kwik Seal 3.0 - Review"
July 31, 2008
Gorilla Tape
From the amazing company that brought us Gorilla Glue and Gorilla PVC glue, comes Gorilla Tape. It's been out for a while, but we've been using it lately and are starting to realize how great it actually is.
Gorilla Tape has 2-3 times the adhesive of regular duct tape, allowing it to fill gaps and stick better. It also has an extra strong backing, so it won't rip (but you can still tear it with your hands).
We were first given a role by a friend who is a full convert and won't even buy regular duct tape anymore. After using it for a bit, we can see why. According to Gorilla's website, duct tape is meant for smooth, flat surfaces, while the features on Gorilla Tape make it ideal for a more uneven and rugged operation (which is pretty much 94% of what you end up using duct tape for anyway).
You can get a 35 yard roll for under $10. By comparison, regular duct tape is around half that (prices vary by brand quite a bit). There is more information on Gorilla Tape at the Gorilla Website. If you've never been there, it's a great site and worth checking out just so you can watch the gorilla fingers wiggle.
At Amazon
June 26, 2008
GE Caulk Singles
UPDATE: Get a sample Caulk Single by filling out this quick form. The Caulk Single website is here.
Until now, there was no such thing as "using just a little caulk." What would happen is you would cut the tube open, use what you need, and then maybe shove a drywall screw in the opening or if you were really with it, you'd wrap the end with kitchen wrap. It really didn't matter, because either way the tube would end up in the basement for the next 12 months until it got hard as a stone and you needed it again and you're off to the store to get a new one.
But those days might be over, thanks to GE. Their new Caulk Singles are single serve, disposable caulk tubes that don't even need a caulking gun. GE says that they can be applied with one hand.
The singles are currently available in three varieties; clear silicone, white silicone, and paintable acrylic. According to their website, one pouch is enough for a sink, two are needed for a window, and three are needed for a door. If you need more than that, just go and buy a caulking gun.
This is a nice product for someone who wants to touch up the caulking around the sink or otherwise do a little amount of caulking without any hassle (or caulking guns). It looks like they cost around $2.50 for a 1.25oz pack. When you consider that a 10oz tube of caulk costs about five or six dollars, it becomes clear that convenience isn't cheap.
At Lowe's
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
