What is Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute, and where should you use it?
Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute is a clear, fast setting, two-part epoxy adhesive that provides a rigid, durable bond to a wide range of surfaces. It is the quick-repair member of the Araldite family: resin and hardener are mixed in equal parts, and the adhesive sets in about five minutes.
The thing to plan around before you open it is that five minutes covers the whole job. The instruction on the pack is blunt — only mix what you can use immediately — and the application sequence is to join the parts straight away and hold them until set. Have the break dry-fitted and everything within reach before you squeeze anything out.
What "rigid bond" means for your repair
Cured epoxy is hard and rigid. That is exactly what you want for a broken ceramic handle, a snapped rigid plastic component or a metal fitting: the joint becomes a solid piece again, with no give in the bond line.
It is also the reason for the product's main restriction. It is not suitable for flexible materials. Where a substrate bends, the rigid bond line cannot bend with it, so the stress concentrates at the edges of the joint and the bond peels apart. A rigid adhesive on a flexible material is a repair with a countdown on it, however strong the glue is on its own.
The same logic applies to plastics. Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute suits rigid plastics, and it is not suitable for polyethylene or polypropylene — two very common plastics that adhesives generally cannot grip because of their low surface energy. If a plastic item is unmarked and you are not sure what it is, test on a hidden area first.
Where to use it
- Heavy-duty household repairs that need to be done quickly
- Rigid materials — the product bonds many of them
- Rigid plastics, excluding polyethylene and polypropylene
- Jobs where a clear finish is wanted, since it is a clear epoxy
Within the epoxy glue range, this is the fast, small-repair option. Where a job needs longer to align — a multi-part assembly, or a large surface area — Araldite Extra Time is the product built for that, and Araldite Super Strong covers heavier load-bearing repairs.
How to apply it
- Squeeze equal parts of resin and hardener onto a clean surface, and mix them. Only mix what you can use immediately.
- Apply to one surface.
- Join immediately and hold until set.
Two points about that short list. First, equal parts is not approximate — a two-part epoxy relies on the ratio to cure properly, and an uneven mix cures soft. Second, mixing only what you can use is the practical answer to a five-minute set: a large blob of mixed epoxy generates its own heat as it cures and goes off faster than a small one, so mixing more than the job needs buys you less time, not more.
Looking after the pack
When using the tube variant, ensure you replace the correct cap on the correct tube. Placing the wrong cap on the wrong tube will cause the tube to harden — a trace of hardener on a resin tube is enough to set the contents solid. The caps and tubes are colour coded to help you get it right.
This is the most common way an epoxy pack is wasted, and it happens after the repair is finished, when the job is done and the tubes get capped without looking.
Limitations — where Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute should not be used
- Not suitable for flexible materials.
- Not suitable for polyethylene or polypropylene.
- Mix only what you can use immediately — the set time is about five minutes.
Hazard classification
Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Danger.
- Part B (hardener) — skin corrosion, Category 1C. Causes severe skin burns.
- Part B — eye damage, Category 1. Causes serious eye damage.
- Part B — skin sensitisation, Category 1. May cause an allergic skin reaction.
- Part A (resin) — skin and eye irritation, and skin sensitisation.
What is in it
| Chemical entity | CAS number | Proportion (w/w) |
|---|---|---|
| Part A — bisphenol-type epoxy resin (oxirane, 2,2'-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(4,1-phenyleneoxymethylene)]bis-) | 1675-54-3 | >60% |
| Part B — amine hardener system | — | See pack |
As with the rest of the Araldite range, the hardener is the more hazardous half, and by a wide margin: Part B is classified for skin corrosion at Category 1C and eye damage at Category 1, meaning severe burns rather than irritation. Part A is an irritant.
Both parts are skin sensitisers. Sensitisation is not irritation — it is the immune system learning to react to the material, it is generally permanent once acquired, it is then triggered by much smaller exposures, and it worsens with each contact. It develops from repeated casual contact, which on a 5-minute epoxy means the habit of mixing on a scrap of card and smoothing the joint with a finger.
Wear gloves every time, including for small repairs. Do not use solvent to clean epoxy off skin — it carries the material into the skin rather than removing it. Wipe with a dry cloth, then wash with soap and water.
Fully cured epoxy is inert; the hazards belong to the uncured resin and hardener and to the mixing stage.
Protection
- Gloves — nitrile rubber; essential wherever a sensitisation classification applies.
- Eye protection — chemical goggles or safety glasses.
- Ventilation — work in a well-ventilated area; do not work in a confined space.
- Wash hands before eating, drinking or smoking, and wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
First aid
| Exposure | What to do |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Rinse immediately and continuously with water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids apart. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. Immediately call a Poisons Information Centre or doctor. This product causes serious eye damage and the injury is not always obvious at first. |
| Skin | Wash with plenty of water. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. If irritation develops, get medical advice. |
| Inhalation | Move to fresh air. If irritation persists, seek medical advice. |
| Swallowed | Do not induce vomiting. Rinse the mouth and seek medical advice immediately. |
If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.
Common questions about Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute
How fast does it set?
About five minutes.
What ratio do I mix it at?
Equal parts resin and hardener.
How much should I mix at a time?
Only what you can use immediately.
Do I apply it to one surface or both?
The directions for this product say to apply it to one surface, then join immediately.
Do I need to clamp it?
Join the parts immediately and hold them until set.
What sort of bond does it give?
A rigid, strong, durable bond to a wide range of surfaces, and it is a clear epoxy.
Can I use it on a flexible item?
No. It is not suitable for flexible materials — the cured epoxy is rigid and will not move with the substrate.
Will it stick to plastic?
Rigid plastics, yes. Not polyethylene or polypropylene.
Why did one of my tubes go solid?
Almost certainly the caps were swapped. Putting the wrong cap on the wrong tube causes the tube to harden — the caps and tubes are colour coded so you can match them.
Which Araldite should I use if I need more time?
Araldite Extra Time is the long-working-time epoxy in the range; Araldite Super Strong is the option for heavier load-bearing repairs.
What type of adhesive is Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute?
It is a two-part epoxy adhesive technology designed for heavy-duty repairs, offering a strong, durable bond in just minutes.
How long does Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute take to set initially?
The initial set time is approximately 5 minutes.
How long does it take for Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute to reach full cure?
Full cure is reached in approximately 16 hours.
What are the directions for using Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute?
Squeeze equal parts onto a clean surface, mix thoroughly, apply to one surface, then join immediately and hold until set.
What surfaces is Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute suitable for bonding?
It is suitable for metal, wood, ceramics, glass, and rigid plastics (excluding polyethylene or polypropylene).
Are there any materials Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute cannot be used on?
It is not suitable for flexible materials and will not bond polyethylene or polypropylene plastics.
What working time do you have after mixing Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute?
According to the knowledge-base context, the mixed glue remains usable for 2-3 minutes at 20°C.
What color does Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute dry?
Per the knowledge-base context, it dries clear.
Is Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute classified as hazardous?
Yes, according to the knowledge-base context, it is classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7 criteria and designated as a Dangerous Goods Class 9 product, with hazard classifications for skin irritation, eye irritation, and skin sensitization.
What happens to the bond strength of Selleys Fix & Go Araldite 5 Minute at high temperatures?
The knowledge-base context notes that bond strength will soften above 60°C, but strength is retained when the temperature returns to normal.