There are methods of dispensing adhesives onsite. The question is, what is easy as opposed to hard in completing a task. Choosing the correct method depends on the elements or varied ranges that meet with cost efficiency and waste reduction. So, what are the techniques to dispensing?

With growth in the building and construction industries, lets look at the most common methods of applying adhesives: rolling/brushing, spraying, and canisters. We’ll highlight what makes each one a good choice, and we’ll determine some drawbacks of each method.

Rolling/Brushing

Brush or roller application is by far the easiest method of applying adhesives, simply because the least amount of equipment is required. Brushes and rollers are cheap, easy to find, and easy to use; brushes are ideal for irregular surfaces, while rollers cover perfectly flat surfaces quickly and effectively.

However, brushes and rollers generally pick up and use much more adhesive than is actually necessary for the job. You will likely end up using much more adhesive than is required for successful bonding, and your labors costs will be higher than they need to be.

Spraying

Spraying atomized adhesive is one of the fastest, most efficient ways to evenly spread a very thin amount of adhesive across a large, uneven surface. Because of the rate of application, this method is ideal for adhering large-scale projects that only require a thin layer of adhesive, such as plywood strips or thin sheets of metal.

The major disadvantage of spraying adhesive is the wasted material. Because the adhesive is atomized, a larger portion can be lost in the air and the surrounding area (it is called overspray), which makes spraying adhesive a much messier alternative, since the particles will float in the air and then stick to anything in the immediate vicinity. Spraying tends to result in much more wasted material than other methods of applying adhesive.

Canisters

Canisters are the perfect middle ground between brushes and spraying. Not only do you get 95% transfer efficiency (meaning that 95% of the adhesive you administer actually ends up on the surface, not the surrounding area) and fast, total coverage, but the tanks are also portable. Because canisters require no outside air source like sprayers do, there’s no lugging large, heavy air compressors with you.

Canisters have quickly become the ideal tool for applying adhesives quickly and effectively. They are easily the most economical method, with no real negative aspects of them, besides having to buy the gun used to dispense the adhesive and the hose to hook the gun to the canister.

There are so many methods for administering adhesives, and the method you use often depends on the adhesive you’re administering! How do you choose? If you need help, our representatives are always here for you. Give us a call, toll-free, at 1-800-220-1966, or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!