Betrayal by Adhesive

[Ominous music]

You walk into the gallery one morning and discover that something firmly attached yesterday is now hanging by one corner.

Or lying [gasp] broken on the floor.

Adhesives are wonderful. They solve countless problems. They make many exhibit details possible. They are fast. Cheap. But they are also dependent on many invisible things during installation:

Clean surfaces.
Proper temperature.
Correct humidity.
Compatible materials.
Enough curing time.

And, kinda most importantly, time itself.

The cruel thing about adhesives [sinister music] is that they often fail long after everyone has forgotten how they were installed. And you can’t tell what’s wrong by looking.

How to repair? No idea.

Mechanical fasteners [sound of a drill] are different. Reliable. Simple.

Screws, bolts, and clips can loosen, but they usually give us a little warning. They can be inspected. You can tighten them or repair them.

And our museum environments are unforgiving. We’ve got changing conditions, cleaning, vibration, and years of use.

Here’s the thing:

Adhesives will betray you.

If something absolutely, positively has to stay stuck where it is, don’t let adhesives let you down. Add a screw or two. Or six.

[Upbeat music, fades out]

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Curing time. The important period after an adhesive is applied, during which it develops a durable bond. Disturbing the joint too soon can weaken it and make it fail later, even if it initially appears secure.