I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

An epoxy glue like Araldite are probably best. Aluminium is a difficult metal to adhere to it is difficult to bond to the pure metal as it oxidises as soon as you look at it.

Richard

On Sat, 8 Aug 2020 12:23:11 +0100, Pinnerite
wrote:

I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

I would go for a two-part epoxy (so like Araldite) but specifically
'JB Weld', but only depending on what sort of stresses will be on the
finished joint compared with the joint faces etc.

If they are likely to be great then it might be worth considering
bracing (at the back etc) the joints with some other metal, also
bonded to them with JB Weld.

Cheers, T i m

On 08/08/2020 12:58, Tricky Dicky wrote:
An epoxy glue like Araldite are probably best. Aluminium is a
difficult metal to adhere to it is difficult to bond to the pure
metal as it oxidises as soon as you look at it.

Richard

car body filler also works, sets better and easier, and is cheaper.
You should de grease and rough up the glue surfaces.



--
Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the
gospel of envy.

Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

Winston Churchill

On Sat, 8 Aug 2020 13:16:19 +0100, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

On 08/08/2020 12:58, Tricky Dicky wrote:
An epoxy glue like Araldite are probably best. Aluminium is a
difficult metal to adhere to it is difficult to bond to the pure
metal as it oxidises as soon as you look at it.


car body filler also works, sets better and easier, and is cheaper.

But by definition is 'a filler' and so not likely to make a good butt
joint in this case?

You should de grease

Good advice if it isn't a very clean a recent break already.

and rough up the glue surfaces.

Except in this case it's 'cast' so probably wouldn't require any
'roughing up'.


Cheers, T i m

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have gorilla clue

Is that the same baboon smarts?

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

If it takes any amount of force, e.g. from someone leaning on it, get
someone to weld it, or brace and glue it. I'd use Araldite slow-setting
were I gluing.

I have now idea what's permissible in NGs these daze, but could you put
pics somewhere and post some means to find them?

On 08/08/2020 14:24, Chris Bacon wrote:
On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

If it takes any amount of force, e.g. from someone leaning on it, get
someone to weld it, or brace and glue it. I'd use Araldite slow-setting
were I gluing.

I have now idea what's permissible in NGs these daze, but could you put
pics somewhere and post some means to find them?

+1. It all depends on the area too. You are unlikely to be able to
butt-join a thin cast section. But if it is such that you can bridge the
crack and then fill the non-visible side with a good epoxy you might get
away with it.

Pinnerite wrote:

I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

With the forces likely on an arm against its mounting bolt I think there
is zero chance of glue working. Either get someone to weld it or put a
long steel strap around the end going at least a few inches up the arm
on both sides and screwed, to reinforce the glued joint. If you don't
mind what it looks like.
--

Roger Hayter

On 08/08/2020 16:33, newshound wrote:
On 08/08/2020 14:24, Chris Bacon wrote:
On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

If it takes any amount of force, e.g. from someone leaning on it, get
someone to weld it, or brace and glue it. I'd use Araldite
slow-setting were I gluing.

I have now idea what's permissible in NGs these daze, but could you
put pics somewhere and post some means to find them?

+1. It all depends on the area too. You are unlikely to be able to
butt-join a thin cast section. But if it is such that you can bridge the
crack and then fill the non-visible side with a good epoxy you might get
away with it.

I have decided to try the two part Gorilla.
Welding is not possible.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

Yes a new chair.

Bill

On Saturday, 8 August 2020 21:15:27 UTC+1, Pinnerite wrote:
On 08/08/2020 16:33, newshound wrote:
On 08/08/2020 14:24, Chris Bacon wrote:
On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

If it takes any amount of force, e.g. from someone leaning on it, get
someone to weld it, or brace and glue it. I'd use Araldite
slow-setting were I gluing.

I have now idea what's permissible in NGs these daze, but could you
put pics somewhere and post some means to find them?

+1. It all depends on the area too. You are unlikely to be able to
butt-join a thin cast section. But if it is such that you can bridge the
crack and then fill the non-visible side with a good epoxy you might get
away with it.

I have decided to try the two part Gorilla.
Welding is not possible.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

PU is no use. In winter when it stays wet it'll fail completely.


NT

Try Araldite, but there used to be a very noxious sort of glue that etched
the oxide as it set, not sure what it was called though. Its probably banned
now due to elf and safety. grin.

Seems a bit odd for it to break of, was it a casting?
Could be it had some flaw in it all the time and if there is one, there
could be others.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Pinnerite" wrote in message
...
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

Yes if the casting is quite thick and is not suffering the porosity issue, a
couple of self tapping screws in a brace on the hidden side might help with
strength, ideally an angled section.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 8 Aug 2020 12:23:11 +0100, Pinnerite
wrote:

I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

I would go for a two-part epoxy (so like Araldite) but specifically
'JB Weld', but only depending on what sort of stresses will be on the
finished joint compared with the joint faces etc.

If they are likely to be great then it might be worth considering
bracing (at the back etc) the joints with some other metal, also
bonded to them with JB Weld.

Cheers, T i m

On Sun, 9 Aug 2020 08:15:08 +0100, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)"
wrote:

This is one of those instances where (for most of us anyway) 'a
picture speaks 1000 words'.

Not that you couldn't describe the scenario to some degree but you
would have to also describe the loads and stresses likely in the
completed chair to predict the likely result.

Cheers, T i m

Yes if the casting is quite thick and is not suffering the porosity issue, a
couple of self tapping screws in a brace on the hidden side might help with
strength, ideally an angled section.
Brian

T i m wrote:
On Sun, 9 Aug 2020 08:15:08 +0100, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)"
wrote:

Yes if the casting is quite thick and is not suffering the porosity issue, a
couple of self tapping screws in a brace on the hidden side might help with
strength, ideally an angled section.
Brian

This is one of those instances where (for most of us anyway) 'a
picture speaks 1000 words'.

Not that you couldn't describe the scenario to some degree but you
would have to also describe the loads and stresses likely in the
completed chair to predict the likely result.

Cheers, T i m


But without a picture, we can make some simple statements.

Gluing pieces end-on won't work. Not strong enough.

------X X-------
/

If you add a slab of material underneath, now there are
a lot more square inches of glue working for you. But
practical issues (how armrest fastens to tubular frame)
aren't going to work out for you.

------X X-------
/ XXXXXXXXXX
----------

*******

When the armrests on the chair I'm sitting in failed,
I made new ones. The retention screws tend to
constantly loosen up. But at least I have armrests.

Paul

On 09/08/2020 02:03, wrote:
On Saturday, 8 August 2020 21:15:27 UTC+1, Pinnerite wrote:
On 08/08/2020 16:33, newshound wrote:
On 08/08/2020 14:24, Chris Bacon wrote:
On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

If it takes any amount of force, e.g. from someone leaning on it, get
someone to weld it, or brace and glue it. I'd use Araldite
slow-setting were I gluing.

I have now idea what's permissible in NGs these daze, but could you
put pics somewhere and post some means to find them?

+1. It all depends on the area too. You are unlikely to be able to
butt-join a thin cast section. But if it is such that you can bridge the
crack and then fill the non-visible side with a good epoxy you might get
away with it.

I have decided to try the two part Gorilla.
Welding is not possible.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

PU is no use. In winter when it stays wet it'll fail completely.


NT

Gorilla two part is Epoxy.

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?

Of those only epoxy (araldite) stands the remotest chance of making a
strong enough bond. I am somewhat mystified how a loose screw could make
the arm snap off. I doubt you will be able to make a good enough bond to
last very long in service unless you can add some strengthening as well.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:30:38 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

snip

I am somewhat mystified how a loose screw could make
the arm snap off.

By allowing excessive bending moment over the remaining material?

I doubt you will be able to make a good enough bond to
last very long in service unless you can add some strengthening as well.

Whilst you may be right, it could all depend on what the loads are on
the joint under correct circumstances?

eg. If the arm would only typically see load 'n' but with the screw
loose, a part of the arm that may not normally carry much load got
'10n' (causing it to fail). As long as the chemical bond will take the
straight 'n' then all could be well?

Ideally, the break has happened at an angle to the normal load and
hence mitigating the load on the repair joint to some degree.

Cheers, T i m

On Sun, 09 Aug 2020 21:33:03 -0400, Paul
wrote:

snip


This is one of those instances where (for most of us anyway) 'a
picture speaks 1000 words'.

snip

But without a picture, we can make some simple statements.

Well ...

Gluing pieces end-on won't work. Not strong enough.

But the OP said 'a small piece snapped off' and we don't know what
load it would be under when it's repaired and all screwed up again?
The bit that broke off may not typically be under much load at all and
something like JB Weld on some clean breaks may well hold it
perfectly?

------X X-------
/

If you add a slab of material underneath, now there are
a lot more square inches of glue working for you. But
practical issues (how armrest fastens to tubular frame)
aren't going to work out for you.

------X X-------
/ XXXXXXXXXX
----------

*******

Sure, if that was how / where it broke (hence the picture). ;-)

It might be that the op would reinforce the back of that area with a
thin plate because the forces are only in shear, and as long as the
screws are kept tight ...

Say the arm has a hole at each end that provides the main support (arm
in tension) but a third / smaller lug that *just* keeps the arm
upright. The main tension screw becomes loose, allowing the full
tension load on a part of the arm not designed for such and ...

Now, if you aren't into your structural engineering you (one) might
not appreciate that and so assume the 3rd screw takes any real load in
normal circumstances.

When the armrests on the chair I'm sitting in failed,
I made new ones. The retention screws tend to
constantly loosen up.

Loctite?

But at least I have armrests.

;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?


Consider watching a few videos demonstrating Durafix. A ali' welding
solution needing just a clean low heat, a wire brush and a weld rod.

Things from engine castings to a drinks cans can be welded. Stronger
than the original.


Ray.

On 10/08/2020 11:51, RayL12 wrote:
On 08/08/2020 12:23, Pinnerite wrote:
I have some cast aluminium garden chairs.
The screw holding one of the arms got loose and I forgot to tighten it.

Yesterday the top of the arm snapped off, leaving the screw in place.

I have the arm and the s,mall piece that snapped off.
The ends are clean and thankfully not shiny smooth but bright
non-the-less.

I have gorilla clue, araldite and regular superglue.

Will any of those be OK or should I buy something else?


Consider watching a few videos demonstrating Durafix. A ali' welding
solution needing just a clean low heat, a wire brush and a weld rod.

Things from engine castings to a drinks cans can be welded. Stronger
than the original.


Ray.
you can, with the right flux, solder aluminium as well


--
Canada is all right really, though not for the whole weekend.

"Saki"

T i m wrote:


Loctite?

I have some, but all the hardware store had was the
knockoff brand, and the "blue" I bought, might as
well have been a tube of beef gravy.

We had real Loctite at work, a couple of colors, and
it works as advertised. So I know how it's supposed
to work. I really wanted the Loctite brand, but all
the hardware store had was the knockoff.

The next time the armrest breaks, I'll do a better
job, I swear.

Paul

On 10/08/2020 12:01, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 10/08/2020 11:51, RayL12 wrote:


Ray.
you can, with the right flux, solder aluminium as well



In a previous life used to use Aluminium abrasion solder - used to join
conductors on Aluminium underground cables.
So yes you can solder aluminium.
The problem may be that the item could be an alloy .. and that might not
solder.

In article ,
rick wrote:
On 10/08/2020 12:01, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 10/08/2020 11:51, RayL12 wrote:


Ray.
you can, with the right flux, solder aluminium as well



In a previous life used to use Aluminium abrasion solder - used to join
conductors on Aluminium underground cables.
So yes you can solder aluminium.
The problem may be that the item could be an alloy .. and that might not
solder.


I keep on seeing at car shows, and now on FB etc, a sort of brazing rod
that seems to work on anything. All you need is a domestic gas torch.

--
*Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 18/10/2020 16:37, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


I keep on seeing at car shows, and now on FB etc, a sort of brazing rod
that seems to work on anything. All you need is a domestic gas torch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtvOkI_pvMI

Not every product performs well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIKsDfRAcs

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk