When it comes to adhesives, most homeowners shy away from epoxies in favor of more familiar glues because they find them intimidating. Sure, it takes a little work to mix epoxies properly, but they have plenty of advantages that make the extra effort worth it. Epoxies are waterproof and extremely strong, and they resist most solvents. But most important in terms of restoration work, epoxy glues don’t need clamp pressure to set. Understanding how epoxy glues work, and when to use them, can save you time on restoration projects by allowing in-place repairs of layered architectural elements. With a little practice, epoxies could become common materials in your toolbox.
Epoxies are basically two-part polymers or plastics. Many of us have had some experience with the epoxy glues available in the popular double-barreled syringe at hardware stores. While these are convenient, they are more costly and less versatile than epoxies you mix yourself. Most epoxy adhesives can be formulated to work well with traditional materials such as stone and metal. (Other epoxies can also be used as fillers and as consolidants, to build up deteriorated wood surfaces.)