How to use spray glues: an instruction manual

To coat a metal surface with vinyl. To glue acoustic insulation panels on a partition wall. To quickly place a large cardboard custom sign on a concrete wall. To keep in place a laminate panel waiting for the final fastening. To make the thin decorative films adhere perfectly and without folds. To fasten displays of different materials. Spray adhesives can be the ideal fastening method in the most diverse situations, and because of this, in recent years canned glues have become part of many companies’ arsenal, in the most diverse of sectors, replacing slower fastening techniques, which were more expensive or less effective. The advantages are many: a matter of shorter timeframes, simpler operations, an absolute lack of negative effects on the aesthetic, and so on.

But how can one use spray glues correctly and effectively? Of course, the use of canned adhesives is easier than “classic” fastening methods such as welding, but it is certainly best to quickly review the key steps for its perfect use.

First of all, choose the best spray adhesive

Especially on a professional level, it is good to keep in mind that there are so many spray adhesive products to choose from. Think, for example, of the wide range of spray glues offered by 3M, which has a very wide family of double-sided aerosol tapes, designed from to be successfully applied on different materials each time. Some are designed to be used only for fastening light supports, while others, for example, are designed for temporary fastening, being designed to be repositionable. There are, then, spray adhesives with high levels of strength, made to be replaced without any nasty surprises classic methods such as screws and nails can bring about. Furthermore, 3M has developed spray glues for paper, cardboard, wood, cork, plastic surfaces, metal surfaces, foams, rubbers, vinyl, glass, and so on. The first step to properly use a professional spray glue is therefore to choose the best product, according to your needs. Without forgetting to check the thermal resistance of each double-sided adhesive tape!

Now let’s have a look at how to use spray adhesives in practice.

How to use spray glues: prepare the surface

As we have outlined, there are spray adhesives designed to be used on the most different materials, knowing that each surface has different characteristics: some are smoother, others rougher; some have lower surface energy, others greater (which, it’s important to note, affects the ability of a strong double-sided tape to be effective). Regardless of all this, it is absolutely necessary to make sure that you clean the surface perfectly before applying the adhesive. The reason is quite simple: if contaminants, such as dust, grease, or other elements, are present on the surface, the spray adhesive will be deposited on the contaminants themselves, and not on the underlying surface, becoming ineffective. Because of this, cleaning must always be an integral step of the process of treating the surface to be glued. In some cases – think, for example, of wooden surfaces – a slight abrasion treatment may also be necessary, followed by the cleaning of the surface.

How to use sprays: protect the surrounding surfaces

Using spray glue means using cans which spray an adhesive product. Though it is certainly possible to control the spray with a degree precision, increasing or reducing the distance from the support to be glued, it is at the same time true that only a little carelessness is enough to have the adhesive end up elsewhere. It is therefore worth protecting with paper or masking tape the whatever should not get dirty with spray glue, so that you are able to work in a clean and safe way.

The application of spray glue

Finally, we reached the step dedicated to the application of the adhesive spray. It must be applied evenly over the entire surface to be fastened, keeping the can parallel to the surface itself: this way, you can spread the glue evenly, and you will avoid blocking the outlet nozzle of the product. It is best to keep a constant distance from the support – having a look at what the optimal distance is on the can: 20, 30 or 40 centimetres.

Some spray adhesives should be applied only on one of the two surfaces to be glued; others, however, must be spread on both surfaces to be effective. Let’s consider for example a typical use of the 3M Spray 80 adhesive, to glue a flexible rubber panel to a metal beam: in this case, it will be necessary to spray the adhesive evenly on both surfaces, and then stick the vinyl on the metal, possibly using a small roller to eliminate folds and air bubbles.

At that point you will have to keep in mind and follow the fastening times indicated by the manufacturer (which typically vary according to the surface treated).