Everbuild CLEARFIX Adhesive –


Aimed at:- Professional trade users and confident DIYers in the know. Pros: easy to use, strong and flexible solution. Replacing nails??


Every time I go on site these days I see yet another way in which builders’ adhesives are being used. From worktops to skirtings, adhesives are clearly replacing mechanical fixings where possible. If used properly, adhesives can be quicker and as effective as nails or screws. They are especially good where a nail might be close to a pipe or electricity cable embedded in a wall. So the case for builders’ adhesives has been made and proven – now we are


onto the second stage where the alternative and niche products are being rolled out.


Most of the builders’ adhesives I have seen or used have been a dull khaki


colour or white. These colours are not a problem if the adhesive is going to be out of sight, but there are dozens of places where a clear adhesive would be invisible or nearly so – think mirrors, glass and metals for a start. Everbuild’s Clear Fix is the clear (sorry!) solution to the problem. I was sent a couple of standard glue gun cartridges of Clear Fix to try out, and


you can literally see through the plastic cartridge as though it were empty - so it seems almost invisible. Apparently, under most normal conditions, apart from extreme UV light and permanent darkness, the adhesive will retain this clarity so its look should not spoil as it ages. We are now totally used to wonder adhesives, so we probably have high


expectations of the adhesive’s bonding strength. What can also be important is that the initial “grab” should be good and the glued tile or whatever should remain in place after the adhesive has set in other words “no slump or slip”. Clear Fix, in my experience has excellent grab and no slip after the adhesive has gone off. I glued a heavy mirror into a frame with Clear Fix, supported it in place with masking tape while the glue went off – and the result was a permanent strong fix. What makes Clear Fix even more versatile is that it can be used both indoors


and outdoors and can also be applied onto slightly wet surfaces without affecting its ability to set and grip. Once set, Everbuild claims that it is weatherproof and waterproof. I have to rely on this because my test isn’t long term enough to prove it one way or another, but I doubt whether Everbuild would make a claim that they haven’t confirmed in their own research and trials. Clear Fix relies on a chemical reaction to cure so is free of solvents and can be


overpainted by most paints if needed – but a quick trial of a small corner would probably be wise with some paints. Another claim I couldn’t test is that Clear Fix can resist temperature extremes


from - 40 degrees C up to +150 degrees C. However, since the glue is silicone based, this is not unusual. Another thing that silicone is very good at resisting is a wide range of chemicals


and petrol – hence its use in petrol feed pipes in cars for example. Clear Fix is resistant to many, if not most, commonly used domestic and light industrial solvents and chemicals so can be confidently used where these might be present. Despite all of its many hi-tech virtues, application of Clear Fix is easily done


with a common sealant gun. Most users will know that you have to carefully cut off the seal at the end of the cartridge and screw on the nozzle. The nozzle can then be cut to size to deliver a bigger or smaller bead according to the needs of the job in hand. A normal range of working temperatures found indoors and out in the UK is


good enough for applications, and even a little bit of damp shouldn’t stop you. In use I found that Clear Fix has quite a reasonable body, so if needed, it can be


used as a filler in small gaps. Because it is so clear it doesn’t really show up the gap as a glaring white or brown adhesive might.


14 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE


www.toolbusiness.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32