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GE Silicone Adhesive
By Randolph Herr

Yes, the GE Silicone I rubber is commonly sold as bathtub caulking.
(That's a 'one' and not the letter 'I'.  The reason I used that symbol
is because GE refers to their rubbers as I and II).  This is also a
great glue for glass, a notoriously hard substance to glue.

I do not use Silicone I rubber for attaching cloth; here I prefer to
use PVC-E glue, commonly known as Player Piano Co. #320 glue.  PPCo
says it has a shelf life of six months, but I've had a large container
of it for close to 20 years, and it still works good as new.

Warning: PVC-E glue is totally different from PVC glue.  The latter is
used to glue PVC plastic pipe for plumbing uses and is a clear liquid
with a powerful, volatile smell like ether.  I am sure it is flammable.
On the other hand, PVC-E glue is white and smells exactly like "Elmer's"
glue, also known as white glue.  As a matter of fact, both these glues
can be confused with one another so the container should be clearly
marked.  PVC-E glue cures into a cloudy-clearish substance much like
rubber, while white glue cures into a cloudy-clearish substance that
will get rock hard.

As for Spencer Chase's comment about the difficulty in gluing wood that
has had silicone on it, let me say that I have heard for years that
silicone oil or grease or wax will soak into the wood, making painting
and gluing hard if not impossible.  However, GE Silicone I rubber comes
off wood completely, leaving no trace of coloration, or staining, or
odor or anything, leaving it no different from a new piece of wood.  At
least that is my experience.  The problem is that the word "silicone"
refers to countless things, up to and including  breast implants.

Randolph Herr


(Message sent Sat 22 Oct 2005, 15:59:34 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Adhesive, GE, Silicone
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