Tag: Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy

Posted on by

Case Study: Reassembly & Repair of Composite Stone Water Fountain Cracked into Pieces

A composite stone water fountained cracked into multiple pieces undergoes repair and reassembly

Water fountain repair cracked – putting the pieces of a favourite garden ornament back together

A tiered composite stone water fountain in a Welsh garden undergoes a DIY repair after winter temperatures caused water left inside the upper bowl of the ornament to freeze, cracking it into multiple pieces.

Case Study Data

Site
Garden
Location
Wales
Repair Type
High-strength bonding and stone repair
Defect
Composite stone water fountain cracked into multiple pieces

Products Used

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive
Epoxy adhesive with a 5 minute work time which creates high-strength, permanent bonds between all materials

Sylmasta AB Original Epoxy Putty
Hard-wearing epoxy putty used to fill gaps and replace missing sections of damaged stonework

Case Study PDF

Case Study Details

The water fountain consisted of two tiers and was made from composite stone. When winter temperatures in Wales plummeted below -10°C, the upper bowl cracked into several pieces due to water inside it freezing.

When Spring arrived, the owner of the water fountain decided to try and repair and restore their favourite ornament. Not only did the upper bowl need to be bonded back together, but there were numerous other cracks and missing sections requiring attention.

A badly cracked bowl from a composite stone water fountain before undergoing a Sylmasta repair
Crack lines show the significant damage across the entire upper bowl of the fountain

Sylmasta advised that Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive be used first to reassemble the fountain. Rapid 5 Minute creates high-strength, permanent bonds between many materials, including composite stone.

The five-minute cure meanwhile is long enough for parts to be carefully assembled and rearranged if necessary before the adhesive sets, at the same time as requiring minimal holding or clamping.

Rapid 5 Minute comes with the two components that make up an epoxy adhesive – resin and hardener – kept separate. The 25ml cartridge extrudes the parts in equal measures, after which they are mixed together for around 30 seconds with a spatula.

The fountain owner extruded the epoxy onto a piece of cardboard for mixing. The mixed adhesive was then applied using the spatula to one of the surfaces to be bonded, and the pieces pushed together and held in place.

A bowl from a composite stone water fountain cracked into two pieces underwent repair with Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive
The two largest pieces of upper bowl after the cracks caused it to completely come apart

Any overspill of epoxy was thoroughly cleaned off the stonework. Rapid 5 Minute exposed to sunlight can yellow with age, which would have looked unsightly against the pale coloured fountain.

After five minutes, the stonework no longer needed to be held together as Rapid 5 Minute had begun to set. The fountain was left undisturbed for a further 30 minutes, allowing the epoxy adhesive to reach maximum properties.

Once the upper bowl had been reassembled, any remaining cracks and missing sections were filled in using Sylmasta AB Original Epoxy Putty. AB Original is a hard wearing, waterproof, ceramic-filled putty which bonds to all materials.

It offers a two-hour work time, enabling the putty to be mixed, moulded into shape and applied without any worry about premature curing. It is suitable for use in interior or exterior settings and achieves a full cure in 24 hours.

Cracks in a stone water fountain are barely visible after repair using Sylmasta AB Epoxy Putty
Cracks and missing chunks were filled with AB Original, which can just about be identified as the off-white colour down the centre of the stonework

The putty was kneaded by hand until a uniform colour. It was then shaped and formed to replace missing areas of stonework and pushed into cracks. For shallow cracks, the surface of the curing putty was wetted whilst still pliable to create a type of slurry which could be worked further in.

To help disguise larger sections of AB Original, powdered dust from the stonework was pressed into the putty. This took it from its standard off-white towards and towards the colour of the fountain, helping the repaired areas blend in.

Once the repair was completed, the water fountain retuned to full working order

The fountain owner even discovered that painting yoghurt onto the fountain helped further disguise the repair by encouraging lichen and moss to grow. The distressed touch this added was in keeping with the original stone.

Once the repair and restoration had been completed, the end result was a robust and fully watertight upper bowl. The fountain could go back into use for the summer with any visitors to the garden none the wiser that just a few months earlier, it had been cracked into multiple pieces.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

Posted on by

Case Study: Permanent Mortar and Pestle Repair Made Using Epoxy Adhesive

Repair of a granite mortar and pestle set using Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive

Mortar and pestle repair – Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesives saves the grind of buying a new set

A high-strength, permanent repair using Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive to a granite pestle cracked into two parts saves its owner from the grind of having to find a new mortar and pestle set for their kitchen.

Case Study Data

Repair Type
High-strength bonding
Defect
Granite pestle cracked into two pieces

Products Used

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive
Epoxy adhesive with a 5 minute work time for high-strength bonding between all materials, including granite

Case Study PDF

Download

Case Study Details

The mortar and pestle set was made of granite. The pestle had been cracked in two parts when it was dropped onto a granite kitchen worktop, leaving a break close to the base of the tool.

As the owner was rather fond of the pestle, they wanted to repair it rather than buy a replacement. To do so, they needed to find an adhesive capable of permanently bonding the two parts together and withstanding the rigour the tool went through when grinding ingredients.

A cracked granite pestle part of a pestle and mortar set before undergoing repair with an epoxy adhesive
The pestle had snapped into two parts

With traditional superglue ruled out as not being strong enough, they instead turned to epoxy adhesives. Sometimes known as structural or engineering adhesives, epoxies are used when high-performance, super-strength and powerful bonds are required.

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive was chosen due to its fast cure time and versatility in working effectively on a multitude of materials, including granite. Rapid 5 Minute comes with the two components that make up an epoxy adhesive – resin and hardener – kept separate.

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive applied to a granite pestle as part of a pestle and mortart repair
The bottom section was supported in an upright position by a piece of rubber. Rapid 5 Minute was then coated onto the top section

Both parts were extruded onto a piece of cardboard and then mixed together with a spatula for around 30 seconds. Once an even mix had been achieved, the spatula was used to apply a layer of adhesive where the break was on the top part of the pestle.

The bottom section of the pestle meanwhile had been placed on a piece of rubber for support and to keep it upright. The top part was pushed firmly against the bottom section as soon as the adhesive had been applied. Excess epoxy squeezed out from between the joint was wiped away with a tissue.

The two parts were pushed firmly together to create a high-strength bond

Rapid 5 Minute sets in around 3 to 5 minutes at room temperature. The top of the pestle was pressed against the bottom for this period of time, after which the owner was able to stop holding it in place as bonding had begun to take effect.

The pestle was left undisturbed for a further 30 minutes, allowing the epoxy adhesive to reach maximum properties. A full cure was achieved within 24 hours, after which the pestle could be used again in the kitchen.

The completed repair with no sign of crack or visible glue lines

With Rapid 5 Minute setting relatively clear, there were no obvious glue lines or evidence of a crack. To the unaware, the pestle had never been broken. Several years after the repair and the mortar and pestle set is still working perfectly.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com

Posted on by

Case Study: Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive Used to Repair Broken Ceramic Teapot Lid

Repair of a broken teapot lid made of ceramic using Sylmasta Rapid Epoxy Adhesive

Tea for two – Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive keeps a teapot brewing with the repair of a ceramic lid cracked into two pieces

A ceramic teapot lid cracked into two pieces when it was accidentally dropped on a hard floor undergoes a permanent repair using Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy.

Case Study Data

Repair Type
High-strength bonding
Defect
Ceramic teapot lid broken into two pieces

Products Used

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive
Epoxy adhesive with a 5 minute work time for high-strength, accurate bonding between materials

Case Study PDF

Download

Case Study Details

The ceramic teapot lid was broken when accidentally dropped onto a hard floor. Fortunately, it cracked into two pieces rather than shattering into many, meaning that it could be repaired relatively easily.

Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive was chosen for the job of glueing the teapot lid back together. As an epoxy adhesive, Rapid 5 Minute offered much stronger bonding power than a traditional superglue.

The ceramic teapot lid had cracked into two pieces. Epoxy Adhesive was applied to the entire white break area on the smaller piece

Its longer working time also allowed for careful application of the adhesive along the complex shape of the break, and for the two pieces to then be fitted together more accurately. With superglue came the risk of an instant cure and misalignment, after which it would be too late to rectify the error.

Rapid 5 Minute is supplied with the two epoxy adhesive components – resin and hardener – stored separately. These were extruded onto a flat and stable surface which could be easily disposed of afterwards (an empty cereal box) and mixed together with a stirrer.

After 30 seconds, an even mix had been achieved. The epoxy was then spread using the stirrer over the entire break joint of the smaller piece of the teapot lid. Once the adhesive had been applied, the two parts of the lid were pressed together and carefully adjusted for a seamless fit.

A ceramic teapot lid having undergone repair using Sylmasta Rapid 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive
Completed repair of the teapot lid

The two parts of the teapot lid continued to be pushed together for five minutes, the functional cure time of the epoxy. Once the adhesive had begun to bond, the lid no longer required pressure to keep the parts together.

It was left undisturbed for 30 minutes for the epoxy adhesive to achieve maximum properties. A full cure was achieved after one hour. The teapot could then be reunited with its lid following the successful repair.

The structurally strong bonds provided by Rapid 5 Minute will last for a very long time – providing nobody drops the teapot lid onto a hard floor to damage the ceramic again.

If you have an application you would like to enquire about, then please get in touch

Call: +44 (0)1444 831 459
Email: sales@sylmasta.com