How to Glue Glass to Aluminum

One of the most difficult surfaces to glue a material to is glass. Glass is extremely smooth and not as porous as other materials such as plastic or wood. Standard household glues require a rough surface to bond to which is why they don't work well on glass. Aluminum can be difficult to glue for similar reasons. Use a few simple techniques and specialized glues to adhere glass to aluminum.

Metal putty knife
Sandpaper
Liquid dish washing soap
Cotton rags
Epoxy
Plastic container
Tongue depressors
Painter's masking tape (optional)
Spring clamps (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  
  Because of oxidation, aluminum must be prepared prior to bonding.
  
  Prepare the aluminum. Aluminum naturally oxidizes when exposed to air. Therefore, you must remove any oxidation from the area being glued. Paint and other finishes also create a barrier that will inhibit bonding. Use a metal putty knife to scrape off any paint or finish from the aluminum's bonding surface. After scraping the majority of the finish off, continue by sanding the surface being bonded with 600-grit sandpaper until the raw aluminum is exposed. If the aluminum is unfinished, lightly sand the bonding surface with 600-grit sandpaper to remove any oxidation.
- 2
  Clean the aluminum. Mix 4 tsp. of dish washing soap with 32 oz. of hot water. Dip a clean cotton rag into the solution. Wring the rag out. Wipe down the sanded aluminum surface to remove any sanding debris. Dry the surface with a clean cotton rag.
- 3
  
  Remove any material stuck to the glass to create a stronger bonding surface.
  
  Wash the glass. Scrape off any debris from the glass, such as paint, with a metal putty knife. Using the same soapy water solution, wash off the area being bonded. Dry the glass off with a clean cotton rag.
- 4
  Mix the epoxy. Epoxies are a two-part glue. Mix equal parts of epoxy and hardener into a small plastic container. Use a tongue depressor to mix the epoxy thoroughly. Some epoxies require a specific mixing ratio of epoxy to hardener. Follow the manufacturer's instructions if the mixing ratio is not in equal increments.
- 5
  
  Only use epoxy glues designed for boding metal and glass.
  
  Apply the glue. Using a tongue depressor, apply epoxy to one of the surfaces being bonded. Cover the entire surface being glued to ensure a complete bond. Spread the epoxy out into a thin layer using the metal putty knife.
- 6
  Join the aluminum and the glass. If bonding on a vertical surface, use either painter's masking tape or spring clamps to hold the object in place. If gluing aluminum to glass, position the aluminum object in the correct spot and apply a small amount of pressure to further spread the epoxy. Apply either painter's masking tape or spring clamps to the aluminum to hold it in place. Allow a full 24 hours drying time.

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