The 10 steps to laminating with Tuskbond Contact Adhesives

Tuskbond spray adhesives are super easy to use, but you can follow a few tricks to get the best performance out of these products. We spoke to our Technical Sales Representative, Sam Frith, to get his thoughts on how to get the best performance when laminating with our spray adhesives.

Here are the steps to laminating with Tuskbond spray adhesives;

Step 1 – Check your equipment

When bonding laminate, it’s best to ensure that adhesive is applied as smoothly as possible. Before starting an adhesive application, check to make sure that the spray tip is clear of any dried adhesive as this will impair the spray pattern.

Step 2 – Set your spray width

All Tuskbond Spray guns come with a variable spray width. The further you pull back the trigger the wider the fan of adhesive. Using the locking nut, the trigger can be set to give a consistent spray width.

Step 3 – Think about the distance

Hold the spray gun at a 90° angle to the surface and roughly 20-30 cm away. Getting too close will apply too much adhesive and spraying from too far will result in a poor spray pattern.

Step 4 – Take it over the edge

When applying adhesive, always overspray slightly as you get to the edges. This will ensure that adhesive is applied to the edges with no gaps.  

Step 5 – Get the speed right

When applying adhesive, it’s important to move at the correct pace. Moving too slowly will result in adhesive pooling, this will create areas of solvent entrapment and weaken the overall bond. Moving too quickly won’t apply enough adhesive and will create large areas with no adhesive coverage.

Step 6 – Picture Frame

The key area when laminating is the edges. Using the picture frame method can ensure that these areas are sufficiently coated with adhesive. Begin by applying adhesive to the four edges, then cover the entire piece applying a second coat to the edges as you do so. 

Step 7 – Overlap

With each pass of adhesive, overlap by 20-40% will result in a more consistent and smoother surface. It also makes sure that no areas between each pass are missed. With contact adhesives, any areas that are not coated with adhesive will not form bonds leaving weak points in the piece.

Step 8 – Let it dry

It’s very important to make sure that the solvents have fully evaporated from both surfaces before bringing them together. This can take anywhere from 1-5 minutes depending on ambient temperatures, the adhesive used etc.

Step 9 – Line it up

With all Tuskbond contact adhesives, as soon as the two surfaces are brought together, an instant and strong bond is formed so it’s important to have them lined up beforehand. Spacers can be used to help with this.

Step 10 – Apply some pressure

Using a hand roller or similar, apply pressure across the entire surface paying particular attention to the edges. This will ensure that the two pieces are in full contact, giving a stronger final bond.

At Tuskbond, we offer a complete range of high-performance spray adhesives and accessories for professional use, available in a range of sizes and colours. Browse our range of products, and contact us for more information today!