fixing Velcro to Kevlar

I have used contact cement for this purpose before with quite good results.
Just make sure your surfaces are very clean before glueing. Roughing up the
surface with a light sanding will also aid the bond and make sure to use a
good brand of marine contact adhesive as some just don't hold up well.

"job" <janyn DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:_gK2c.286$qP2.978@news.indigo.ie...
 > Hi. I am looking for ways to fix Velcro straps to the hull of a Kevlar Sea
 > Kayak.
 > The straps would be to secure lead ballast and other gear
 > I am thinking of using thickened epoxy or contact cement.
 >
 >
 > I would greatly appreciate your advice.
 > Thanks
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: fixing Velcro to Kevlar 

 >I am looking for ways to fix Velcro straps to the hull of a Kevlar Sea
 >Kayak.
 > The straps would be to secure lead ballast and other gear
 >I am thinking of using thickened epoxy or contact cement

I think you will be bonding to whatever resin was used with the Kevlar, or
perhaps a gelcoat or paint over the resin-Kevlar, rather than directly to the
Kevlar.

Provided the surface is reasonably smooth and clean, I think a
non-water-soluble contact cement will work well. I use contact cement to glue
neoprene strips to gelcoat (or the underlying epoxy) on the gunwales of my
small sailboats (a nice material to keep the trapezing crew's feet from
sliding).




Alexander "Ali" Meller
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sailing.org/int505/" target="_blank">http://www.sailing.org/int505/</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: fixing Velcro to Kevlar 

job wrote:

 > Hi. I am looking for ways to fix Velcro straps to the hull of a Kevlar Sea
 > Kayak.
 > The straps would be to secure lead ballast and other gear
 > I am thinking of using thickened epoxy or contact cement.

The hook side of Velcro is very difficult to bond to. I don't know for
certain, but it appears to be made of polyethylene, which would explain
the bonding difficulties. Also, Velcro on it's own is not all that
strong and I wouldn't trust it to hold ballast weights without some
reinforcement. Your best bet is to sew the velcro to polyester webbing
(or nylon if you can't find polyester), then epoxy the webbing to the
hull. The webbing will bond well with epoxy. Contact cement will also
work, but it's best used in areas where it's not constantly wet.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: fixing Velcro to Kevlar