What is Selleys Araldite Ultimate Bond, and where should you use it?

Selleys Araldite Ultimate Bond is a two-part epoxy adhesive built for weight-bearing repairs. The two liquids dispense from a plunger in a fixed 2:1 ratio, you mix them, and the cured joint is described by Selleys as tug and snap proof, holding up to 200kg. It bonds china, metal, glass, leather, rubber, wood and most plastics, and it has gap-filling capability, which is what lets it build a stronger bond across a join that is not perfectly close-fitting.

The one thing to understand before you buy: the 200kg figure is a maximum under favourable conditions, not a guarantee for your particular repair. Selleys states the bond holds up to 200kg/cm when fully cured on stainless steel, and that bond strength depends on substrate type, bond size and surface preparation. A poorly abraded joint with a small contact area will not get anywhere near that number.

What the key numbers mean in practice

Three timings matter, and they are easy to confuse:

• Working time is approximately 5 minutes at 20°C. The directions add that the mixed glue remains usable for 3–4 minutes at 20°C, so plan on having only a few minutes between mixing and closing the joint. Mix a small amount, and have the parts dry-fitted and ready before you dispense.
• Do not apply undue strain to the bond for at least 60 minutes. Hold the join in place with tape or weights over that first hour.
• It cures in 24 hours, and is tug and snap proof after full cure — more than 72 hours. If the repair is going to carry real load, that three-day figure is the one to work to, not the 24-hour one.

Selleys also notes that set and bond times may increase in colder weather, so give a joint glued in an unheated space more time rather than testing it early.

Bond area is the other lever you control. Selleys advises maximising the bond area for best performance, with a stated minimum of 2.25cm². On a snapped handle, that means gluing the whole mating face rather than dabbing a spot in the middle — the same adhesive across a larger contact area is what turns a fragile repair into a load-bearing one.

Where to use it

Araldite Ultimate Bond bonds:

• China
• Metal
• Glass
• Leather
• Rubber
• Wood
• Most plastics

Selleys asks you to pre-test on rubber and leather to determine compatibility before committing to the repair. Test on a hidden area first — a decorative strap or an unseen edge — rather than the face of the item.

How to apply it

1. Abrade, clean and dry the surfaces. They need to be free of dust, grease and loose oxides. On metal, that means taking the join back to sound material rather than gluing over corrosion.
2. Snap the cap out of the plunger and carefully cut the sealed tips at the end of the container nozzle.
3. Apply even pressure to the plunger to dispense both liquids onto a clean disposable surface. The liquids dispense in a 2:1 ratio, so even pressure is what keeps the mix correct.
4. Mix the two liquids together thoroughly with a spatula. Do not use the plastic blister pack as your mixing surface.
5. Apply the mixed glue to both surfaces of the job, then bring them together. The mixed glue remains usable for 3–4 minutes at 20°C.
6. Leave it undisturbed for at least 60 minutes. Hold the join with tape or weights if it will not sit on its own.
7. Allow 24 hours to cure, and more than 72 hours for full cure before relying on the joint.
8. Put the cap from the plunger back on the nozzle for storage.

Limitations — where Ultimate Bond should not be used

• It will not bond PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene plastics. If you are repairing one of those, an epoxy is the wrong tool — look at Selleys All Plastics, which uses a primer to bond polyethylene and polypropylene.
• The bond will soften above 60°C. Selleys notes that strength is restored when the temperature returns to normal, but it means this is not the adhesive for something that sits against a heat source while carrying load.
• The product may discolour if exposed to UV. Worth knowing for a repair on display or outdoors.
• Pre-test on rubber and leather before use.

Clean up

Clean up uncured Araldite with acetone. Do this before the epoxy sets — once cured, it has to be dealt with mechanically. Wipe squeeze-out from the outside of the joint while it is still liquid rather than trying to trim a hard bead later.

Safety information

Selleys does not publish a safety data sheet for Araldite Ultimate Bond 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.

Safety data sheets exist for other Araldite products but not for this one.

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 Selleys Araldite Ultimate Bond

How much weight will it actually hold?

Selleys quotes up to 200kg, and specifies 200kg/cm when fully cured on stainless steel. The figure depends on substrate type, bond size and surface preparation, so treat it as a ceiling rather than an expectation.

How long do I have to work with it once mixed?

Approximately 5 minutes at 20°C, with the directions stating the mixed glue remains usable for 3–4 minutes at 20°C. Have everything ready before you mix.

When can I use the repaired item?

Do not apply undue strain for at least 60 minutes. It cures in 24 hours, and is tug and snap proof after full cure at more than 72 hours.

Do I need to mix it in a particular ratio?

The plunger dispenses the two liquids in a 2:1 ratio automatically. Apply even pressure so both come out together, and mix thoroughly with a spatula.

Can I mix it in the blister pack it came in?

No. Selleys specifically says not to use the plastic blister as the mixing surface. Use a clean disposable surface instead.

Will it stick to plastic?

It bonds most plastics, but it will not bond PTFE, polyethylene or polypropylene.

Can I use it on something that gets hot?

The bond will soften above 60°C. Selleys notes strength is restored once the temperature returns to normal, but a joint under load at high temperature is not what this product is for.

Will it fill a gap?

It has gap-filling capability, which Selleys says enables a stronger bond. Maximise the bond area — the stated minimum is 2.25cm².

Can I use it on leather or rubber?

It bonds both, but pre-test on an inconspicuous area first to determine compatibility.

Will it stay clear outdoors?

The product may discolour if exposed to UV.

How do I clean up the excess?

Clean up uncured Araldite with acetone, before it sets.

Does cold weather change anything?

Yes — set and bond times may increase in colder weather. Allow longer before loading the joint.

For other two-part options, see the full epoxy glue range, or the glue guide if you are still deciding which adhesive suits the job.