Adhesive & Polish
Cements, adhesives, polishing compounds and cleaners matched to the plastics we work with, for clean joints and crystal clear edges.
About Adhesive & Polish
Here at Associated Plastics, we stock or are able to get hold of various adhesives and cleaners suited to the materials we work with.
That covers solvent cement for optically clear acrylic to acrylic joints, two-part adhesive for gap filling and structural work or for bonding acrylic to metal, timber and stone, and UV-cure adhesive where you need to position parts precisely before the bond sets. On the finishing side we carry cutting compound and finishing polish to bring a saw or router cut edge back to clarity, scratch remover for light surface marks, and anti-static cleaner.
Tell us what you are bonding or finishing and we will point you to the right product. We can also do the bonding and polishing for you as part of our custom fabrication service.
Key Properties
- Solvent cement
- Water thin, fuses acrylic to acrylic for a near invisible joint
- Two-part adhesive
- Resin and hardener, gap filling and structural
- UV-cure adhesive
- Stays liquid until exposed to UV light, water clear bond
- Polishing compounds
- Cutting compound, finishing polish and scratch remover
- Cleaners
- Anti-static cleaner for dust and static without scratching
What makes Adhesive & Polish useful
Solvent cement chemically fuses acrylic for an optically clear join
Two-part adhesive fills gaps and bonds acrylic to metal, timber and stone
UV-cure adhesive allows precise positioning before the bond sets
Cutting compound then finishing polish restores a saw or router cut edge to clarity
Scratch remover lifts light surface marks without removing much material
Common uses for Adhesive & Polish
Display cases, aquariums and precision fabrication joints
Sign letters and edge to face acrylic joins
Structural joints where surfaces are not perfectly flush
Bonding acrylic to metal, timber or stone
Polishing machined acrylic edges to a high gloss
Removing light scratches from acrylic faces
The honest picture
Every material has trade offs. Here is where Adhesive & Polish shines and where it falls short.
Pros
The right product for the job gives joints stronger than the parent material
Professional grade products, the same ones we use in our own workshop
Technical support on bonding and polishing technique comes with the purchase
We can also do the bonding and polishing for you as part of fabrication
Limitations
Solvent cement does not fill gaps, so joint surfaces must be precisely fitted
Solvents are volatile and need ventilation and PPE
HDPE and polypropylene will not bond reliably with adhesive, they need welding
Adhesive & Polish versus the alternatives
Solvent cement
The best optical clarity for acrylic to acrylic, applied by capillary action, but it needs perfectly fitted surfaces because it will not fill voids.
Two-part adhesive
Cures chemically rather than by evaporation, so it fills gaps and bonds acrylic to dissimilar materials. Less optically clear than solvent cement.
UV-cure adhesive
Stays liquid until you light it, which allows precise positioning. The choice for museum quality display work and optical components.
How we work with Adhesive & Polish
The fabrication methods best suited to Adhesive & Polish, and what we do with them in our Moonah workshop.
Adhesive & Polish FAQs
Need Adhesive & Polish for Your Project?
Talk to our team about how we can cut, fabricate or repair Adhesive & Polish for you. Free quotes, expert advice and Australia wide delivery from our Moonah workshop.