Vulkem or 3m 5200

[ekinoderminator]

Have any of you tried Vulkem? I have used it extensively in my HVAC work - I have found it forms a bond to almost any surface, is flexible and lasts for many years. It is significantly less expensive than 3m 5200. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

http://www.tremcosealants.com/commercial/products/product_detail.asp?id=1

[bluesquids]

Never heard of it. Sounds pretty good. How are it's properties.
I use 5200, marine goop and black silicone for different applications. 5200 is best overall but takes forever to dry and is a PITA to clean and get a nice finished look. Goop is best for transducer installation, tends to run in other applications. The silicone I use for it's cosmetic look. For instance... a flush mount rod holder will get a bead of 5200 around the inside and a bead of black silicone around the outside. When the excess silicone gushes out and dries it's trimmed off nicely with a razor blade.
Have also tried Lexcell, which was a messy, hard to clean application and seemed to be too brittle when dry.
5200 is half the price at home depot vs. West Marine. Only in white though, thats why I use the black silicone adjacent to it.

[bluesquids]

Actually, I think I used that stuff when I filled some expansion joints around a swimming pool. Test it on a small piece of yak plastic and see if it pops off at all. 5200 grabs the plastic like a mother, the black silicone I use doesn't hold it's grab at all...but ends up being more like a gasket and cosmetic.

[ekinoderminator]

Never heard of it. Sounds pretty good. How are it's properties.
I use 5200, marine goop and black silicone for different applications. 5200 is best overall but takes forever to dry and is a PITA to clean and get a nice finished look. Goop is best for transducer installation, tends to run in other applications. The silicone I use for it's cosmetic look. For instance... a flush mount rod holder will get a bead of 5200 around the inside and a bead of black silicone around the outside. When the excess silicone gushes out and dries it's trimmed off nicely with a razor blade.
Have also tried Lexcell, which was a messy, hard to clean application and seemed to be too brittle when dry.
5200 is half the price at home depot vs. West Marine. Only in white though, thats why I use the black silicone adjacent to it.

I found that my local Lowe's has 5200 for $10 per 10oz. tube (1/3 the price of my local west marine!) but again only in white. I thought of doing exactly what you did - 1 app on inside of 5200 for bond and bead around the finished portion for asthetics. Thanks for the info!

My local White Cap guy steered me in the direction of Sikaflex 1a. I'll give that a try and let you know.

[bluesquids]

Actually, I was looking to buy a 10 oz. Black 5200 for my truck. I cracked the moulding around the back window of my truck when a kayak came down on it. The moulding needs to work with the gasket to keep water out of the cab. I was just gonna load it up with 5200.
But now I'm looking at Sikaflex 291 which is suppose to be high temp.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=19112&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10104&subdeptNum=10325&classNum=10327
And Flex-Bond 5000 which says it bonds metal to plastics.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38852&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10104&subdeptNum=10325&classNum=10327

Although 5200 says it's incompatable with (lexan and ABS) plastics, I've had a problem with kayak plastic.

[hau]

brothers--not trying to derail, but what is the BEST to use to stick a transducer to the inside of a kayak hull please?
Thanks

[bluesquids]

there's several ways to go, but probably most common is marine goop. mines been on seven years no problems , even in desert heat. you wanna make sure there's no bubbles in the goop, even wait a while for any to form before you place the puck down. You can make a well out of something to keep the goop from running or not depending on the shape of the kayak hull. see vid.
Prep yak surface with a lite fine sand and alcohol rub.

YouTube - Install a fish finder on a Hobie Kayaks Outback

[hau]

bluesquieds---thank you for the link and the rapid response :beer:

[Slingingsteel]

BTW NAPA sells Black 5200 in caulking tubes. Only place i could find it in black.

[bluesquids]

BTW NAPA sells Black 5200 in caulking tubes. Only place i could find it in black.

Thanks! I'll check it out. Closer than West Marine and probably cheaper.

[ekinoderminator]

Thanks! I'll check it out. Closer than West Marine and probably cheaper.

The least pricey black 5200 I found was at Amazon and Jamestown Distributors. As I recall they were about $14 per 10 oz.