J B Weld

History

The company had its beginnings in 1969 in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Sam Bonham, at the time running a machine shop, discovered a way to create what he called a "tougher than steel" epoxy. In 1968, Sam's future wife Mary persuaded him to sell his invention and found the J-B WELD Company. 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." 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.

Initially, the company sold to automotive shops and jobbers in Texas. The company now distributes its products though multiple retail channels including automotive chains, home improvement centers, hardware stores, and farm stores. The company now does business in all states in the United States, and in 27 other countries.

Products

The J-B Weld Company original product line focused on a small number of 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.

Since 2008 the company has broadened the product line to include J-B Kwik, J-B SteelStik, WaterWeld, KwikWood, PlasticWeld, MarineWeld, Perm-O-Seal, WoodWeld and ClearWeld.

J-B WELD epoxy

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, plus marble, PVC, ABS, concrete, fiberglass, wood, fabric, or paper. Alcohol should be avoided when cleaning surfaces, as it can degrade the bond. J-B WELD is waterproof, petroleum/chemical-resistant (when hardened), acid-resistant, plus resists shock, vibration, and extreme temperature fluctuations. 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. J-B WELD can also be used inside a microwave oven, exposed to microwave radiation instead of infrared radiation (heat).

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. 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, 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. After about 20 minutes the mixture begins to thicken into a putty that can be shaped, which becomes hard after 4–6 hours. 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.

J-B WELD works faster when used in above 50 °F (10 °C). 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. An application might sag or drip before 4–6 hours.

J-B WELD can be used as an adhesive, laminate, plug, filler, sealant, or electrical insulator. When fully cured, J-B WELD can be drilled, formed, ground, tapped, machined, sanded, and painted. However, until hardened, it could sag or drip when applied.

J-B KWIK epoxy

The product J-B KWIK is a two-part epoxy adhesive (or filler) that can withstand medium-temperature environments (up to 300 °F or 149 °C).

Because J-B KWIK cures quickly it is not as strong or as heat-resistant as the original J-B WELD. However, J-B KWIK has the same adhesion (1,800 psi or 12 MPa) as J-B WELD, and also does not shrink when hardening.

J-B KWIK can be used to bond surfaces made from any combination of iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, pewter, plus porcelain, wood, ceramic, glass, marble, PVC, ABS, concrete, fiberglass, wood, fabric, or paper. J-B KWIK is waterproof, petroleum/chemical-resistant (when cured), acid-resistant, plus resists shock, vibration, and extreme temperature fluctuations.