What is Selleys Kwik Grip High Temp Spray, and where should you use it?

Selleys Kwik Grip High Temp Spray Adhesive is a high-grade aerosol contact adhesive that is resistant to high heat, water and salt water. It forms an instant bond on contact of two sprayed surfaces, it is fast drying with high grab, and it is heat resistant to 90 °C.

Those three resistances together define the product. Heat resistance to 90 °C and salt water resistance are what make it the option for automotive headlining and marine carpet — the two applications Selleys names specifically. A car roof lining sits directly under a metal roof that bakes in the sun, and marine carpet lives in salt spray. An ordinary spray adhesive fails in both environments, and it usually fails by letting go in the middle of a large panel where you cannot get at it.

Technical specification

Property	Typical result
Technology	Aerosol spray
Heat resistance	To 90 °C
Water and saltwater resistance	Yes
Time surfaces kept apart	Up to 5 minutes, or until touch dry — no more than 10 minutes
Full bond strength	24 hours
Spray distance	20 cm
Packaging	350 g aerosol

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

What the key numbers mean in practice

The 5-to-10 minute window is the number that decides whether the job works. Keep the surfaces apart for up to 5 minutes, or until the adhesive is touch dry, and no more than 10 minutes. This is a true contact adhesive: the two sprayed films have to lose their solvent and then weld into each other. Join too early and you have wet adhesive trapped between two surfaces with no way to dry. Leave it past 10 minutes and the films have cured too far to fuse.

On a large panel — a headlining, a sheet of marine carpet — that window governs your whole sequence. Spray both surfaces, then use the waiting time to get the piece lined up and your roller within reach, because once the surfaces meet there is no adjustment.

Full bond strength at 24 hours is separate from the instant grab you feel on contact. High grab holds the piece; the day's cure is what carries load and resists heat. Do not put a freshly lined roof out in the sun, or a newly laid marine carpet into service, on the strength of the initial tack.

Heat resistance to 90 °C is the reason to choose this over the standard Kwik Grip Spray, which is rated to 70 °C. For higher again, the non-aerosol Kwik Grip Horizontal is rated to 130 °C.

Spraying from 20 cm, liberally and evenly, is what produces a film that dries uniformly. Too close and you lay down a wet patch that will not be touch dry when the rest of the panel is; too far and the film is thin and patchy. Even coverage is what makes the timing predictable.

Where to use it

Suitable for:

• Wood
• Metal and aluminium
• Fabric, leather and felt
• Polyurethane foam
• Laminate
• Cork

Named applications are automotive headlining and marine carpet. Note that polyurethane foam is on the suitable list while polystyrene foam is expressly excluded — the two are easy to confuse and behave completely differently under a solvent-based aerosol.

How to apply it

Before you start: use only in a well-ventilated area, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and do not swallow.

1. Ensure the surface is clean and dry.
2. Shake the can well before use. Holding the can 20 cm away, spray both surfaces liberally and evenly.
3. Keep the surfaces apart for up to 5 minutes, or until the adhesive is touch dry — no more than 10 minutes.
4. Position the items carefully, and when perfectly aligned, press the surfaces together and apply an even pressure.
5. Clamp, or use a roller over the bonded surfaces.

Step 4 is worded the way it is for a reason. "When perfectly aligned" is the last moment you have any control: the bond is instant on contact, so anything not aligned before the surfaces meet stays misaligned. On a large flexible piece, work from one edge or from the centre outwards so you are always pressing into a known position.

Rolling matters as much as the adhesive. Even pressure across the whole area is what brings the two dried films fully into contact, and a roller works air out ahead of it in a way that hand pressure does not.

Limitations — where High Temp Spray should not be used

• Not suitable for use on polystyrene foam. The solvent attacks it.
• Use only in a well-ventilated area. Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and do not swallow.
• Heat resistance is 90 °C. Beyond that, choose a product rated higher.
• Surfaces must be clean and dry.

Clean up

• Clean the nozzle after use: invert the can and spray until clear propellant comes out. Nozzles may be soaked in turps to keep them clean.
• Clean up wet adhesive with mineral turps.

Clearing the nozzle is a habit worth keeping. A partly blocked nozzle sprays an uneven film, and an uneven film dries unevenly — which undermines the timing the whole method depends on.

What is in the can, and why it changes how you work

This is a solvent-borne aerosol. Roughly 30–60% of the can by weight is dimethyl ether, which is both the propellant and a solvent, and most of the remainder is a solvent blend. That composition is the reason every instruction about ventilation on this page is a requirement rather than a courtesy: the film dries because those solvents leave it, and wherever you are standing is where they go.

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Dimethyl ether	115-10-6	30–60%
Cyclohexane	110-82-7	10–30%
Methyl acetate	79-20-9	10–30%
Acetone	67-64-1	1–10%
Non-hazardous ingredients	—	Balance

The vapour is heavier than air. It collects in hollows, pits, sumps and the footwells of a vehicle you are lining, and it will sit there after you have stopped spraying. Do not work in a confined space with this product, and do not assume an open door is ventilation when you are spraying inside a car body.

Hazard classification

Classified under Safe Work Australia GHS 7 as:

• Aerosols — Category 1 (extremely flammable aerosol)
• Skin irritation — Category 2 (causes skin irritation)
• Eye irritation — Category 2A (causes serious eye irritation)
• Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure — Category 3, narcotic effects (may cause drowsiness or dizziness)

The hazard statements on the can are H222 (extremely flammable aerosol) and H229 (pressurised container: may burst if heated). For transport it is Dangerous Goods Class 2.1, flammable gas, under both the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail and New Zealand NZS 5433.

The precautionary statements that matter most in a workshop:

• P210 — keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces. No smoking.
• P211 — do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source.
• P251 — do not pierce or burn, even after use.
• P410+P412 — protect from sunlight, do not expose to temperatures exceeding 50 °C.

Category 3 narcotic effects is the classification people underestimate. Drowsiness and dizziness while spraying a headlining are not a sign you should push on with the window open — they are the exposure standard being exceeded.

Ventilation and exposure standards

Ventilation is the primary control, not the protective equipment. Ensure air concentrations stay below the exposure standards, use local exhaust ventilation where you can, and wear respiratory protection where you cannot.

Component	TWA (ppm)	TWA (mg/m³)
Acetone	500	1185
Cyclohexane	100	350
Dimethyl ether	400	760
Methyl acetate	200	606

These are eight-hour time-weighted averages and are guides for controlling occupational exposure, to be kept as low as practicable rather than treated as targets.

Protective equipment

• Eye protection — chemical goggles or eye and face protection. This is an aerosol and the product is a Category 2A eye irritant.
• Gloves — nitrile rubber is recommended for intermittent contact. Glove performance varies by construction and by how long contact lasts, so assess it against your own conditions.
• Respiratory protection — where an inhalation risk exists, an organic vapour and particulate respirator meeting AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716.
• Clothing — overalls and safety shoes.

Keep the product away from food, drink and animal feed. Do not eat, drink or smoke while using it, and wash your hands before you do any of those things. Wash contaminated clothing before it is worn again. Where this product is used regularly, eyewash and a safety shower should be near the workstation.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Inhalation	Remove the person from exposure without becoming a casualty yourself. Remove contaminated clothing and loosen the rest. Let them take the most comfortable position, keep them warm, and keep them at rest until recovered. If effects persist, seek medical advice immediately.
Skin	Wash the area with plenty of soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing promptly and wash it before reuse. If irritation develops, get medical advice.
Eyes	Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. If irritation persists, get medical advice.

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand. Have the container or label with you. If you feel unwell at any point, call a poison centre or doctor.

Storage and disposal

Protect the can from sunlight and do not expose it to temperatures exceeding 50 °C. Store it locked up in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from oxidising agents and corrosive materials.

To dispose of leftover product, spray unwanted adhesive onto newspaper, allow it to dry, and dispose of the remaining contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national and international regulations. If the can becomes rusted or damaged, dispose of it carefully — obtain instructions from the Selleys website or the 24 hour Emergency Response number.

Common questions about Kwik Grip High Temp Spray

How hot can the bond get?

It is heat resistant to 90 °C.

Can I use it on a boat?

It is water and saltwater resistant, and marine carpet is one of its named applications.

Is it suitable for car roof lining?

Yes — automotive headlining is one of the two applications Selleys names for it.

Do I spray both surfaces?

Yes. Shake the can, hold it 20 cm away, and spray both surfaces liberally and evenly.

How long do I wait before joining?

Up to 5 minutes, or until the adhesive is touch dry, and no more than 10 minutes.

Can I join the surfaces straight away while the adhesive is still wet?

The technical data sheet does not support that. It instructs you to keep the surfaces apart until the adhesive is touch dry, within the 10-minute limit.

Can I reposition the piece after contact?

No. It forms an instant bond on contact — position the items carefully and press only when perfectly aligned.

How long until full strength?

24 hours.

Do I need to clamp it?

Clamp the bonded surfaces, or go over them with a roller, applying even pressure.

Can I use it on foam?

Polyurethane foam yes; polystyrene foam no.

How do I stop the nozzle blocking?

Invert the can after use and spray until clear propellant comes out. Nozzles may also be soaked in turps.

How do I clean up overspray?

With mineral turps, while the adhesive is still wet.

Is it dangerous to breathe?

It is classified for specific target organ toxicity on single exposure, Category 3 — narcotic effects, meaning it may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Use it only in a well-ventilated area, and wear an organic vapour respirator to AS/NZS 1715 and 1716 where ventilation cannot keep concentrations below the exposure standards.

Can I use it inside a car?

Only with real ventilation. The vapour is heavier than air and collects in footwells and other hollows, and a car interior is close to a confined space. Do not treat an open door as adequate ventilation.

What protective equipment do I need?

Chemical goggles, nitrile gloves for intermittent contact, overalls and safety shoes. Add an organic vapour and particulate respirator where an inhalation risk exists.

What do I do if I get it in my eyes?

Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, removing contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. If irritation persists, get medical advice. The product is a Category 2A eye irritant. Poisons Information Centre: 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand.

Is it flammable?

Extremely. It carries H222 (extremely flammable aerosol) and H229 (pressurised container: may burst if heated), and it is Dangerous Goods Class 2.1 for transport. Do not spray near any ignition source, do not smoke while using it, and do not pierce or burn the can even when empty.

What is actually in it?

Dimethyl ether at 30–60%, cyclohexane and methyl acetate at 10–30% each, and acetone at 1–10%. The rest is non-hazardous. The solvent load is why ventilation matters and why the film dries as fast as it does.

How should I store the can?

Out of sunlight, never above 50 °C, locked up in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place away from oxidising agents and corrosive materials.

What size is it?

A 350 g aerosol.