VHB Tape: Which kind?

[TahoeJoe]

Originally Posted by citabria90

I used 4941 to stick my solar panel on (four years ago). I did quite a bit of research and figured that the 4941 was best for my project. I found 3m's literature on VHB tape to be confusing, to say the least – what with "high / low energy surface" etc.
Chuck

Chuck, I'm about to attach my solar panels using VHB tape, and I'm trying to decide on which one to use...I noticed you used 4941...is that still holding up well? Gosh that install must be about 7 years old now!

[citabria90]

Originally Posted by TahoeJoe

Chuck, I'm about to attach my solar panels using VHB tape, and I'm trying to decide on which one to use...I noticed you used 4941...is that still holding up well? Gosh that install must be about 7 years old now!

Yes, the install is holding up very well, indeed.
I always take a folding ladder with me so I can get up to the solar panel and give it a check.

I used extruded aluminium tubing as the base frame. I cleaned both the tubing and the Escape's gel coat with 99% isopropyl alcohol, then attached the VHB in a strip to the tubing, and then stuck the tubing to the Escape. I placed a couple of 2x4s across the mounted tubing and laid a coupe of concrete blocks on the 2x4s and let that set for three days. Ambient temps during the day was about 85. After that I used an industrial-strength two-part epoxy (Smooth-On MT-13) and coated the rails, including the ends. I did this to add strength and to protect the VHB tape from the elements.

I've been very happy with the outcome. I figure if the attachment was beginning to fail, I'd see cracks in the epoxy. So far so good! Let me know if you have any questions.

Chuck

[TahoeJoe]

Originally Posted by citabria90

Yes, the install is holding up very well, indeed.
I always take a folding ladder with me so I can get up to the solar panel and give it a check.

I used extruded aluminium tubing as the base frame. I cleaned both the tubing and the Escape's gel coat with 99% isopropyl alcohol, then attached the VHB in a strip to the tubing, and then stuck the tubing to the Escape. I placed a couple of 2x4s across the mounted tubing and laid a coupe of concrete blocks on the 2x4s and let that set for three days. Ambient temps during the day was about 85. After that I used an industrial-strength two-part epoxy (Smooth-On MT-13) and coated the rails, including the ends. I did this to add strength and to protect the VHB tape from the elements.

I've been very happy with the outcome. I figure if the attachment was beginning to fail, I'd see cracks in the epoxy. So far so good! Let me know if you have any questions.

Chuck

Good to hear, and thanks for the update, it helps me...FYI I reached out to 3M directly about this, and they are the ones that recommended 4941 tape as being the best for this type of application. I was also still considering 5952, but considering 3M's suggestion and your results, I'll go with the 4941. They also recommended using a tape primer.

That's a good idea about the epoxy, I may decide to add that as well...and either way, I'll be covering it all (I'm using small aluminum mounting feet) with Dicor sealant at the end.

Cheers,
Joe

[MyronL]

I used 3m VHB #4950 tape to help secure my 26 pound 190W solar panel. I like it. So far, despite this 3-digit weather, it has not failed me, ( ...well, true, after about 70 miles on the road and I didn't prep with acetone).

[hrewer]

We want to mount a rear view camera On the fiberglass above the back window. Does anyone have a recommendation for the best tape to use?
Thank you!

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by MyronL

I used 3m VHB #4950 tape to help secure my 26 pound 190W solar panel. I like it. So far, despite this 3-digit weather, it has not failed me, ( ...well, true, after about 70 miles on the road and I didn't prep with acetone).

That is what AM Solar uses.

[Perry Butler]

I just installed three 100 watt panels using 3M's 4950 tape, with no screws. We leave in a week for a two week trip to shady northern Minnesota. I wonder how many panels we'll lose on the road?

Enjoy,

Perry

[TahoeJoe]

Originally Posted by hrewer

We want to mount a rear view camera On the fiberglass above the back window. Does anyone have a recommendation for the best tape to use?
Thank you!

Based on what I learned from 3M, if it were me I would go with 5952 VHB tape. 4941 is the best overall for metal to these fiberglass roofs, but 5952 is called for when the surface is not all flat and uniform...in this case, yours will be a bit curved. In other words, 5952 has better "conformity".

[dstreight]

FYI/FWIW: If you need to remove something that you used VHB tape to bond...I used this PVC cable saw today and it worked like a charm. No harm to substrate (Escape exterior fiberglass...). Got it at Home Depot.

[jjdeluca]

Sorry to resurrect on older thread, but I'm trying to decide which VHB tape to use to install a couple of 200watt rigid solar panels to the roof of a new 5.0. I'd really like to avoid mechanical fasteners requiring roof penetrations and am hoping to install with metal mounting brackets attached with VHB tape (then sealed with Dicor sealant). It seems that the VHB tape recommendations from this thread a couple of years ago included 4941, 4950 or 5952. I did contact a 3M technical specialist yesterday however they're no longer making product recommendations for such installations (likely for liability reasons) but he did share their recommended surface preparation guidance. So, I just wanted to open the topic again and see if there's any additional insight/experiences from the Escape community? Thanks in advance,
Jim

[Rossue]

This older thread details the topic and how/what VHB tape to use. I was able to buy 3" X 4" 12 pieces of 4950, now they are out of stock on that size. They do however have 9" X 4" that you could simply cut down if that dimension works. There are other dimensions also available. Might call 3M to be sure there isn't something newer/better for your install.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Mounting-4...s%2C183&sr=8-1

This thread has a lot of info regarding your questions; see Posts 49/92/100.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...f-10184-9.html

[jjdeluca]

Thanks Ross for the link to the earlier thread. Is everything still holding firm with the 4950 VHB tape/Dicor sealant that you used in 2017 and/or have you had to make any adjustments/modifications along the way?
Jim

[Rossue]

It's all good still; need to reapply some Dicor on top of the brackets. AM Solar in a video they made said to be very sure where you place the tape as it is rather permanent. I could imagine using a piano or guitar string to cut through it if ever needed.

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by Rossue

It's all good still; need to reapply some Dicor on top of the brackets. AM Solar in a video they made said to be very sure where you place the tape as it is rather permanent. I could imagine using a piano or guitar string to cut through it if ever needed.

When I've removed badges or trim from cars or motorcycles that was put on with VHB tape I've used a combination of judiciously applied heat, lots of WD40 and fishing line between two handles to finesse it off. I don't know how that tape compares to the type in question though.