Tips For Laminating/Bonding Precision Board Plus HDU

Tired of adhesives that expand too much or don’t cure properly? Check out our list of tips, and save yourself time and a headache!

Years of experience fabricating custom bonded tooling blocks and extra large Precision Board Plus sheets have taught us a thing or two about proper laminating techniques.

We have compiled this list of expert tips for bonding Precision Board Plus HDU using PB Fast Set, or PB Bond-240  (both adhesives also work great on wood, metal and many other materials):

  • Be sure to lightly mist the mating surfaces with water, or wipe with a damp rag prior to applying the adhesive.
  • A little goes a long way – only apply enough adhesive to change color of the board.
  • After application, the adhesive will start to bubble and thicken in approximately 1-2 minutes.
  • Apply as much weight as possible to the bonded piece, taking care to account for any movement it could make over time.
  • When edge bonding pieces that will be sandblasted, do not apply adhesive to the top of the joint. Because it will be blasted away later, this will make the sandblast process much easier.
  • When laminate bonding Precision Board Plus HDU to plywood or aluminum, be sure to apply the adhesive in ribbons that are parallel to the shortest dimension, with a diameter of 3/8″, approximately 5″ apart. Then apply a 3/8″ ribbon around the edge of the perimeter. This will seal against water, dirt or other debris from entering between the laminated pieces.
All of these tips can also be seen demonstrated on video here.

Ten Tips For Working With Precision Board Plus HDU

1. Carbide cutters are not mandatory when cutting Precision Board Plus. Because it is non-abrasive, Precision Board Plus can be cut with anything that cuts wood, but much easier.

 

2. To maximize CNC efficiency and cutting time, and to minimize dust and increase chips, the Onsrud Router Bit Selector Guide provides guidelines for proper router bits, speeds and feeds.

3. After you have primed Precision Board Plus using FSC-88WB Primer/Filler, it is best to dry using a large shop fan. Do not place in the sun, as this will cause it to dry too fast resulting in blisters. The FSC-88WB Primer/Filler training video can be seen here.

 

4. Be sure to prime and paint all sides of your Precision Board Plus sign. Because it does not have grain, it has no beam strength and can be pulled in the direction of the drying paint.

 

5. When sandblasting Precision Board Plus, use a larger grit for larger texture. Similarly, a finer grit allows for finer texture. Aluminum oxide is used most often.

 

6. If something happens to your sign during the build process, it is possible to fix the damaged surface. FSC-360WB Crack Filling & Repair Putty dries quickly and sands easily, and can really save the day in the event of a mistake.

 

7. Optimize your Precision Board Plus purchase by bonding and laminating the excess using PB Fast Set or PB Bond-240 adhesive.

 

8. PB Resin can provide an eye-catching, ultra-smooth protective finish to your sign. Be sure to only add enough lettering enamel to the clear PB Resin that will hide text on a printed page.

9. If you do not have time to route in wood grain, or to sandblast, TSF-45 or PB Hardcoat are excellent time saving alternatives for simulating wood grain. Apply both directly to raw Precision Board Plus, eliminating the priming step.

 

10. If you have a question, call us! We offer free technical support and are happy to assist in any way we can.

Looking for a FAST-CURING adhesive?

Are you in the market for a fast-curing adhesive to use on high-density urethane, wood, metal or other materials? Coastal Enterprises manufactures PB Fast Set ,an adhesive made for all types of materials. Being remarkably easy to cut, carve and sand, as well as being waterproof and fully cured in 30 minutes, PB Fast Set is an excellent choice whether you’re bonding Precision Board Plus or other substrates.

Check out out brand new step-by-step video if you are interested in learning proper laminating techniques and decreasing labor time:

Call us at: (800) 845-0745 or email us at: hdu@precisionboard.com for your FREE sample of PB Fast Set!

 

PB Fast Set For a Strong, Fast Bond

As with all of our Companion Products, PB Fast Set has been specifically formulated to meet the needs of sign makers working with Precision Board Plus HDU. A versatile one-part, urethane adhesive that is ready to use right out of the container (no mixing), PB Fast Set will find many uses around your workshop.

Use it to laminate Precision Board Plus sheets to increase thickness or to edge bond them to increase length. PB Fast Set fully cures in 30 minutes, so it is ideal for quickly building three dimensional structures for subsequent routing, blasting or carving. Great for both interior and exterior applications, PB Fast Set also works well on wood, metal and most other materials. With plenty of PB Fast Set on hand, you’ll quickly see that pile of scrap HDU turn into “inventory”.

For detailed use and application instructions, refer to our PB Fast Set Adhesive Product Data Sheet