Ask the Experts Two-Part Epoxy Q&A

I use Devcon's two part epoxy 30-min. for my metal jewelry projects. I have had a few customers contact me because their jewelry came apart--esp. during the winter. Does it become brittle? How do I fix this problem?

- Amy

Devcon's 5-minute and 30-minute two-part jeweler's epoxy works well for most jewelry projects but there are a few important things to keep in mind.

• Properly preparing the surfaces to be glued is a huge factor in successful gluing. Clean each surface with alcohol. Many folks use the popular "green" cleaning products on the market right now which clean well but can leave a slight residue that will interfere with the glue working correctly, so it's best to just use alcohol to clean the surface right before gluing.
• If bonding two metal surfaces together, you must rough them up so they have "a tooth" for the glue to adhere to. You also want to be sure to mix two equal parts and apply enough glue for a successful bond.
• Let the glue fully cure. Just because the glue "looks" dry to the touch does not necessarily mean it's fully cured. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully. The bond can be compromised by wearing/moving the jewelry too soon.

- Kristal Wick, Designer, Author and Jewelry-Making Expert