What is Selleys Araldite Rapid, and where should you use it?
Selleys Araldite Rapid — titled Araldite Rapid 90 Seconds Epoxy on its technical data sheet — is a 90 second setting, two-part epoxy that enables a durable bond to various surfaces without lengthy clamp times. It comes in a 14mL syringe with a self-mixing nozzle, dries translucent, and holds up to 75 kg/cm² when fully cured on a clean, abraded steel surface.
Its reason for existing is intricate repairs where clamping is not practical: jewellery, vases, crockery, leather goods. A 90-second set means you hold the join by hand for a moment rather than rigging up a clamp around an awkward shape. The corresponding constraint is that the mixed adhesive stays usable for only 1 minute before it sets in the nozzle, so this is a product for one small joint at a time.
Technical specification
| Property | Typical result |
|---|---|
| Technology | Epoxy, two-part |
| Set time | 90 seconds |
| Usable life in the nozzle | 1 minute |
| Colour | Dries translucent |
| Initial bond time | 10 minutes |
| Maximum bond time | After 16 hours (longer in colder weather) |
| Holding strength | Up to 75 kg/cm² when fully cured on clean, abraded steel |
| Temperature resistance | Up to 60 °C |
| Packaging | 14mL syringe with self-mixing nozzle |
Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.
What the key numbers mean in practice
Ninety seconds to set, one minute of usable life, ten minutes to an initial bond, sixteen hours to maximum strength. Four numbers, and they run in a very tight sequence at the start. The practical consequence is that everything must be ready before you dispense: surfaces abraded, cleaned and dried, parts dry-fitted, and a way to hold the join already at hand. There is no time to prepare anything after the adhesive starts flowing.
The self-mixing nozzle is what makes the 90-second set workable. Resin and hardener meet inside the nozzle as you push the plunger, so the mixing step disappears — which is essential when the mixed material has one minute of life. It also means the nozzle is consumable: remove and dispose of it before the adhesive sets, within that minute, or you lose it to a plug of cured epoxy.
Up to 75 kg/cm² on a clean, abraded steel surface. The condition is part of the claim. Epoxy bonds partly by mechanical key, so an abraded surface performs and a polished one does not. That is why the surface preparation instruction — abrade, clean and dry — comes before everything else.
Temperature resistance up to 60 °C, with the bond softening above that. Usefully, the softening is reversible: strength is restored when the temperature returns to normal. Sixty degrees is not high, so this is not the adhesive for anything that goes in a dishwasher or sits against a heat source.
Ten minutes before you can stop holding it, sixteen hours before it is at full strength. The 90-second figure is when the epoxy stops being liquid, not when the repair is finished. Do not apply undue strain to the bond for 10 minutes, and use tapes or weights if the shape makes hand-holding awkward.
Where to use it
Araldite Rapid fixes a range of surfaces such as:
- China
- Metal
- Glass
- Leather — pre-test to determine suitability
- Rubber — pre-test to determine suitability
- Most plastics, but not PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene
Within the epoxy glue range it is the fastest option. Where you need time to align a larger or multi-part assembly, Araldite Extra Time gives 60 minutes of working time instead.
How to apply it
Surface preparation
Abrade, clean and dry the surfaces before you start.
Directions
- Snap the cap out from the plunger and carefully cut the sealed tips at the end of the syringe nozzle.
- Hold the syringe with the tip pointing up, away from your face, then push the self-mixing nozzle past the prongs and rotate it anticlockwise to lock it in. Do not use the plastic blister to mix the product.
- Push down the plunger until the self-mixing nozzle is filled with adhesive. Apply the adhesive directly to both surfaces of the job, then bring them together. The adhesive will remain usable for 1 minute before setting in the nozzle.
- Do not apply undue strain to the bond for 10 minutes. Hold the join in place using tapes or weights if necessary. Maximum strength is reached after 16 hours.
- Remove and dispose of the self-mixing nozzle before the adhesive sets — within 1 minute. Remove excess glue before placing the cap onto the syringe for storage.
Step 2's instruction to point the tip away from your face is there because a two-part syringe can spit when the seals are first broken and pressure equalises. It costs nothing to follow.
Limitations — where Araldite Rapid should not be used
- Will not bond PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene plastics.
- The bond will soften above 60 °C, though strength is restored when the temperature returns to normal.
- Allow for longer bonding times in colder weather.
- Pre-test on leather and rubber to determine suitability.
- The product may discolour if exposed to UV.
- Not recommended for flexible materials, and suited to rigid plastics rather than flexible ones (product page). Cured epoxy is rigid, so a substrate that flexes works the bond line apart.
- Do not use the plastic blister to mix the product.
Clean up and storage
Clean up uncured Araldite with acetone. Store in a cool, dry place, with the cap from the plunger placed on the syringe and excess glue removed first.
Safety information
Selleys does not publish a safety data sheet for Araldite Rapid in the sources used to build this page, so no GHS hazard classification, signal word or hazard statements are reproduced here.
That is an absence of published data, not a finding that the product is non-hazardous. It should not be read as an all-clear, and the classification of a similar or neighbouring product should not be assumed to apply — variants within a Selleys range frequently carry genuinely different classifications.
A technical data sheet is published but no safety data sheet. Safety data sheets exist for Araldite 5 Minute, Araldite Super Strength and Araldite Extra Time, all of which are different products.
To obtain it, request the safety data sheet for this product from Selleys directly: 1300 555 205 in Australia, 0800 735 539 in New Zealand, or contact Selleys. For an emergency involving a Selleys product the emergency line is 1800 220 770 in Australia and 0800 220 770 in New Zealand; for suspected poisoning, the Poisons Information Centre is 131 126 in Australia and 0800 764 766 in New Zealand.
Common questions about Araldite Rapid
How fast does it set?
90 seconds.
How long is the mixed adhesive usable?
One minute, after which it sets in the nozzle.
Do I have to mix it myself?
No. The syringe has a self-mixing nozzle — resin and hardener are combined as you push the plunger. Do not use the plastic blister to mix the product.
Do I apply it to one surface or both?
Both. Apply the adhesive directly to both surfaces, then bring them together.
Do I need to clamp it?
Not usually — the product is intended for repairs where lengthy clamping is not possible. Do not apply undue strain to the bond for 10 minutes, and use tapes or weights to hold the join if the shape makes that difficult.
When is the repair at full strength?
After 16 hours, and longer in colder weather.
How strong is it?
Up to 75 kg/cm² when fully cured on a clean, abraded steel surface.
Do I need to abrade the surfaces?
Yes. Abrade, clean and dry them — the quoted strength is measured on an abraded surface.
Can the repair go in the dishwasher, or near heat?
Temperature resistance is up to 60 °C. Above that the bond softens, though strength returns when it cools.
Will it stick to plastic?
Most plastics, but not PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene, and it is not recommended for flexible materials.
Can I use it on leather or a leather bag?
Pre-test on leather and rubber to determine suitability first.
What do I do with the nozzle afterwards?
Remove and dispose of it before the adhesive sets, within the one-minute window, then clean off excess glue and cap the syringe for storage.
Will it yellow?
The product may discolour if exposed to UV.
How do I clean it up?
Uncured Araldite comes off with acetone.
What size does it come in?
A 14mL syringe.
What is Selleys Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive designed for?
It is a two-part epoxy adhesive designed for a rapid 90-second cure, ideal for intricate repairs where clamping isn't possible, such as jewellery, vases, crockery or even leather bags.
What size does Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive come in?
Selleys Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive is available in a 14mL package.
What is the working time and initial set time for this adhesive?
According to the product specifications, the working time is approximately 3 minutes and the initial set occurs at approximately 5 minutes.
How long does it take for the adhesive to fully cure?
Full cure is reached after approximately 16 hours, and the item should be left undisturbed until then.
What surfaces can Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive bond?
It is suitable for metal, ceramics, wood, rigid plastics (excluding polyethylene and polypropylene), and glass in non-critical applications. The knowledge base also notes it bonds china, leather, rubber and most plastics.
What materials should not be used with this adhesive?
The product is not for use on polyethylene or polypropylene, and is not recommended for flexible materials, including PTFE plastics per the knowledge base.
What are the directions for using Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive?
Mix equal parts on a disposable surface, apply a thin layer to the surfaces, press the parts together until set, and leave undisturbed for full cure.
What bond strength can Araldite Rapid Epoxy Adhesive achieve?
According to the knowledge base, when fully cured on clean, abraded steel surfaces, the adhesive can hold up to 75 kg/cm².
What colour does the cured adhesive have?
The knowledge base indicates the adhesive dries translucent.
What temperature can the cured bond withstand?
Per the knowledge base, the bond can withstand temperatures up to 60°C; it softens above this temperature but regains strength when the temperature returns to normal.