Contact adhesive
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Contact adhesives are adhesives that are generally applied to both surfaces to be glued, and allowed to dry a little before adhering together. Contact adhesives are common in automotive interior work.
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Spray guns
Professional interior work typically necessitates the use of a spray grade adhesive, applied with a spray gun and air compressor. You may need a 1.7-2.2 mm nozzle. One inexpensive example is this $20 paint spray gun, available from Harbor Freight. The gun pictured is an HVLP gun that has external mix, meaning the adhesive and air are mixed at the end of the nozzle. This feature keeps the gun from getting full of adhesive. You can keep the adhesive in the gun cup for long periods of time and still be able to spray right away, without having to empty the cup and clean the gun.
Although aerosol cans of contact adhesive are convenient, they aren't recommended for overhead applications, and lack the strength of spray grade contact adhesives because they have to be thinned down to flow properly out of the can's nozzle.
After the initial cost of a spray gun purchase, bulk adhesives will always be more cost-effective than aerosols.
All-purpose glues
Many common all-purpose glues may not be the best choice for interior automotive work. Such glues may expand, bubble, and foam.
However, certain products are engineered for automotive work, and are recommended.
Contact adhesives suitable for automotive work
DAP Landau Top & Trim Contact Adhesive
Available for about $26 per gallon. This product is also available in 5 gallon cans at about $80 per can, or about $16.00 per gallon.
Performance Hi-Temp Trim Spray Adhesive
3M Automotive adhesives
Hi-Strength 90 Spray Adhesive
8090 super trim adhesive
Designed for bonding vinyl tops, heavyweight liners, and hood silencer pads.
8088 general trim adhesive
Low VOC, clear adhesive for bonding carpeting, jute pad, fabrics and plastics to metal.
3M product links
V&S 1081
1081 spray trim adhesive. Formulated for high-temperature applications. Available here.
HV-350
HV-350 is designed for high-vibration applications. It can be sanded and painted, and maintains its adhesive and sealant properties in water. Can be used on porous and non-porous surfaces.
