How To Glue Rubber to Steel

What is the best adhesive to bond rubber to steel?

Selleys Kwik Grip Gel (Vertical) is suitable for gluing rubber to metal. Before you apply it, rough up the rubber surface and clean it with mineral turps — that one step does more for the strength of this bond than anything else you can do.

The reason is that rubber is a difficult substrate for an adhesive. It is smooth, chemically inert and often carries mould release or surface bloom from manufacture. Abrading it gives the adhesive a mechanical key and exposes fresh material; wiping with turps takes the released oils and dust away rather than smearing them back into the surface.

Why a contact adhesive suits this job

Kwik Grip Vertical Gel is a contact adhesive: you coat both faces, let the solvent flash off, then bring the surfaces together and the bond forms across the whole area at once. That matters when one side is steel, because steel is completely non-porous and gives a wet adhesive no way to dry out through the joint. A contact adhesive has already done its drying before the two faces ever meet.

The TDS lists both metals and rubber cork among the materials it is intended for, alongside veneers, felt, leather and canvas, and the product is designed for bonding large vertical flat, close-fitting surfaces to form a durable, heat and water resistant bond.

Property	Typical result
Colour	Beige / opaque
Application temperature	10 °C – 35 °C
Open time	20 – 40 minutes
Full cure	24 hours
Heat resistance	130 °C
Coverage	0.25 m² per 40 g of one surface, depending on porosity
Pack sizes	40 g tube; 400 g, 800 g and 3.2 kg cans

Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.

The figure that shapes the job is the 20–40 minute open time. Both rubber and steel are non-porous, so all of the solvent has to leave through the exposed face before you close the joint. Join too early and solvent stays trapped in a bond that cannot breathe, and the join stays soft. Give it the full time.

Heat resistance to 130 °C is generous for a household adhesive and covers steel sitting in direct sun. It does not cover engine or oven temperatures — for those, Selleys Silicone 401 RTV is rated for continuous service from −60 °C to +205 °C with short periods to 260 °C.

How to do it

1. Abrade the rubber face. You are after a uniformly dulled surface, not deep scratches.
2. Wipe the roughened rubber with mineral turps and let it flash off completely.
3. Clean the steel and make sure it is dry and free of oil, grease and rust. Fresh steel often carries a protective oil film.
4. Apply Kwik Grip to both surfaces and spread it evenly, ensuring the surfaces are completely covered.
5. Keep the surfaces apart until the adhesive is almost dry — approximately 20 minutes, no more than 40.
6. Position the pieces carefully. It grabs immediately on contact and cannot be repositioned, so on a long strip hold the parts apart with dowels, align the edges, then remove the dowels and press down from one edge across.
7. Secure the bond with a roller, or by hammering through a padded block from the centre outwards. Clamping may be needed for warped or curled pieces.
8. Maximum bond strength is reached after 24 hours. Do not load the joint before then.

For a small area, the TDS also allows wet bonding: apply to one surface, bring the pieces together and clamp until dry.

Limitations

• Do not use below 10 °C. The application range is 10 °C to 35 °C. If the product has thickened in cold storage, warm it to room temperature for 24 hours, or stand the can in the sun or in a bowl of hot water briefly, stirring occasionally.
• Not for polyethylene or polypropylene plastics. Use Selleys All Plastics for those.
• Test compatibility with the materials being bonded on an inconspicuous area, or confirm with the manufacturer. Some coverings are incompatible with solvent products.
• Solvent-based. Ventilate the work area, and ensure contents are completely dry before disposal.

Common questions about bonding rubber to steel

Do I really have to sand the rubber?

Roughing the rubber and cleaning it with mineral turps before applying the adhesive will ensure better bonding — that is Selleys' specific advice for this job, and on a smooth rubber face it is the difference between a bond that holds and one that peels.

Will it hold on stainless steel?

Metals are a listed use for Kwik Grip Vertical Gel. Stainless has a very smooth passive surface, so clean it thoroughly and, where the appearance allows, key it lightly as well.

How long until the joint is at full strength?

Maximum bond strength is reached after 24 hours, though the initial grab is immediate on contact.

Can I reposition it?

No. Contact adhesive grabs on contact. Dry-fit everything before you open the tin.

Is the bond waterproof?

The TDS describes a durable, heat and water resistant bond. Water resistant is not the same as immersion rated, so do not rely on it under permanent water.

How much do I need?

0.25 m² per 40 g of one surface, and you are coating two — so budget roughly 80 g per square metre of finished joint, more if either face is porous.

What about high-temperature applications like an oven seal?

That is a different product. See how to repair oven seals.

How do I remove it if I get it wrong?

Mineral turps takes wet adhesive off. For cured Kwik Grip, see how to remove Kwik Grip once dry.