The J-B Weld Company is an international company that produces epoxy products. The home office is based in Sulphur Springs, Texas (USA). Also, J-B WELD is the name of their flagship product: a specialized, high-temperature epoxy adhesive for use in bonding materials together (see below: J-B WELD epoxy). The company is famous for its advertisements showing engine block repair with J-B WELD.[1]
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The company had its beginnings in the mid 1960s.[2] Sam Bonham, at the time running a machine shop, discovered a way to create what he called a "tougher than steel" epoxy.[2] In 1968, Sam's future wife Mary persuaded him to sell his invention and founded the J-B WELD Company. Initially, they sold to automotive shops in Texas.[2] The company currently does business in all states in the United States, and in 27 foreign countries.[2]
Sam died suddenly in 1989. He had commented before his death, "My life's dream is for J-B WELD to be all the way around the world, and for me to see an 18-wheeler load out of here with nothing but J-B WELD."[2] Within a year of his death, Mary had opened a European hub in London, England, internationalizing the J-B Weld company and the distribution of the product.[2]
| Product: JB-WELD | |
| Type: | 2-part epoxy |
| Surfaces: | Metal, wood, fiberglass, PVC, ABS, concrete, ceramic, glass, and fabric[3][4] |
| Avoid: | Clean slick/oily surfaces; do not use alcohol[3] |
| Temperature (max.): | 600 °F (316 °C) at 10 minutes[3] |
| Temperature (min.): | −55 °C (−67 °F)[5] |
| Set time: | 4–6 hours[3] |
| Harden time: | 15 hours, but sooner under heat lamp or incandescent light bulb after 6 hours[3] |
| Preparation: | Sanding, acetone, lacquer thinner, or soap (DO NOT use alcohol or petroleum solvents)[5] |
| Health issues: | Avoid contact with eyes or with skin (wash with soap and water); bonds with skin; non-toxic if ingested[4][5] |
| Removal: | When dry, by filing or rasping[3] |
| Strength (psi/MPa): | Tensile strength: 3,960 psi/27.3 MPa, Adhesion: 1,800 psi/12 MPa, |
| Shrinkage: | 0.0%[4] |
| Product: JB-KWIK | |
| Type | 2-part epoxy |
| Surfaces: | Metal, wood, fiberglass, PVC, ABS, concrete, ceramic, glass, fabric[3][4] |
| Avoid: | Slick, oily surfaces[3] |
| Temperature (max.): | 300 °F (149 °C)[3] |
| Set time: | 4 minutes[3] |
| Harden time: | 4 hours[3] |
| Health issues: | Avoid contact with eyes or with skin (wash with soap and water); non-toxic if ingested[4][5] |
| Removal: | When dry, by filing or rasping[3] |
| Strength (psi/MPa): | Tensile strength: 2,100 psi/14 MPa, Adhesion: 1,800 psi/12 MPa, |
| Shrinkage: | 0.0%[6] |
The J-B Weld Company provides several different products: J-B WELD (original 2-tube epoxy), J-B KWIK (4-hour epoxy), J-B STIK (epoxy putty), WATERWELD (underwater adhesive/filler), and other products.[7]
The product J-B WELD is a two-part epoxy adhesive (or filler) that can withstand high-temperature environments. J-B WELD can be used to bond surfaces made from metal, porcelain, wood, ceramic, or glass,[3] plus marble, PVC, ABS, concrete, fiberglass, wood, fabric, or paper.[4] Avoid using alcohol to clean surfaces.[5] J-B WELD is water-proof, petroleum/chemical-resistant (when dry), acid-resistant, plus resists shock, vibration, and extreme temperature fluctuations.[4] J-B WELD can withstand a constant temperature of 500 °F (260 °C), and the maximum temperature threshold is approximately 600 °F (316 °C) for 10 minutes.[5] J-B WELD can also be used inside a microwave oven, exposed to microwave radiation instead of infrared radiation (heat).[3]
The product is contained in 2 separate tubes: the "hardener" (red tube) and the "steel" (black tube of resin). Equal amounts are squeezed from both tubes and mixed.[3] For the best weld, surfaces should be roughened (or scratched) with fine or coarse sandpaper.
The mixture will set up, for handling, within 4–6 hours,[3] but requires 15 hours (at cool temperatures) to fully cure and harden. When first mixed, J-B WELD is subject to sagging or running (slow dripping), more so at warmer temperatures.[1][3] After about 20 minutes the mixture begins to thicken into a putty that can be shaped, which becomes hard after 4–6 hours.[3] Within 3 hours (in cool temperatures), the putty can be shaped (with a putty knife or wooden paddle) into a weld bead or extruded shape.[3]
J-B WELD works faster when used in above 50 °F (10 °C).[3] After J-B WELD has cured for the first six hours, a heat lamp or incandescent light bulb placed near the weld will speed the curing time.[1][3] An application might sag or drip before 4–6 hours, at which time it has hardened.
J-B WELD can be used as an adhesive, laminate, plug, filler, sealant, or electrical insulator.[4] When fully cured, J-B WELD can be drilled, formed, ground, tapped, machined, sanded, and painted.[4] However, until dry, it could sag or drip when applied.[4]
The JB Weld company advises "DO NOT" use alcohol to clean surfaces.[3] Denatured alcohol (ethanol) acts as a thinner for J-B WELD or epoxy, so it drips more or runs into cracks.[1] However, rubbing alcohol (isopropanol and water) should be avoided as a thinner, because of the larger proportions of water.[1]
The product J-B KWIK is a two-part epoxy adhesive (or filler) that can withstand medium-temperature environments (up to 300 °F/149 °C).[6]
Because J-B KWIK cures quickly it is not as strong or as heat-resistant as the original J-B WELD.[1][6] However, J-B KWIK has the same adhesion (1,800 psi/12 MPa) as J-B WELD, and also does not shrink when drying.[6]
J-B KWIK can be used to bond surfaces made from any combination of iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, pewter,[6] plus porcelain, wood, ceramic, glass, marble, PVC, ABS, concrete, fiberglass, wood, fabric, or paper.[4][6] J-B KWIK is water-proof, petroleum/chemical-resistant (when cured), acid-resistant, plus resists shock, vibration, and extreme temperature fluctuations.[4]