A good new adhesive--making gourds?

John Barrow · Mon Dec 26, 2005 8:55 pm

There was a recent thread regarding the merits of caulk/adhsevive in making gourds (adding access ports, entrances, etc.). Two older standbyes-Lexel and PPCA (professional polyurethane construction adhesive) were discussed by some of our gourd afficionados.

I was recently introduced to a product I have not seen discussed on the forum--Loctite "Power Grip" construction adhesive. I have been working with this product the past couple of days and it is a good one.

The best characteristic, is that unlike PPCA and Lexel, it is water soluable and can easily be cleaned up. Threads of it can be smoothed out using the wet finger technique, as with caulk. But it is extremely strong--like PPCA- and dries in about an hour (as opposed to a day with caulk). Cost for mine was about $2.50 a tube. It's put on with a caulk gun, or you can buy their product that is pressurized and self applying.

Best wishes. Time grows shorter every hour before our friends return.
jb

CUL Lou~Mich · Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:29 pm

Thanks John. I'm sure this will help lots of folks. I've got a couple of gourds that the caulk is coming unstuck. Think I'll have to look for this, and try some on them. CUL Lou

Guest · Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:56 pm

John while stumbling around looking for PPCA I got some Power Grip in the pressurized tube and used it on some porches and sealing around entrances. When cleaning the gourds this year the adhesive had shrank as opposed to PPCA which expands and it had gotten hard and brittle and reports say the PPCA does not do this, I will not be using the power grip for the martin set up again.

Guest · Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:29 pm

Try "Goop". It is available at Wal Mart stores and holds like crazy! It is the best I have ever found for holding things on gourds.

Guest · Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:30 pm

John Barrow · Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:03 pm

Fashmore, I talked with Jeff Webster, a local landlord with 30-40 pairs, and the source of the recommendation, to find our when and how he used the Loctite. I also called the company's help line. Jeff made over 30 gourds last year using the power grip. They all look just like when he made them. He confirmed what the consumer help line told me--when the adhesive sets up, it neither shrinks or expands. I finished out my last 16 goruds this weekend and am pleased with the product's easy use and smooth finish.

Best of luck this season. jb