Designed for bumpers, bumper tabs, emblems, door trims, headlight tabs, interior and exterior repairs, and cosmetic repairs, Fusor Sand in 10 allows one product to be used for all plastic repairs. The product offers the ability to sand and paint in 10 minutes, is faster than plastic welding and stronger than stapling. Further, it sands to a perfect feather edge for producing undetectable repairs.
Although the product is new to the market, one technician at a major body shop in North America discovered that by using the bumper repair adhesive, the repair would not only be “like new,” but would also save money. In this case, the technician had been working on a damaged 2013 Cadillac SRX. The repair required the ordering of a new bumper cover at the cost of $1,200, along with two new headlight assemblies, at the cost of $1800 each, because the tabs had broken off during the collision.
Kevin Creegan, Central Region Manager for Fusor Automotive Repair Adhesives, had recommended Fusor Sand in 10 as he felt it might prove to be the ideal solution for repairing the headlight assembly.
According to Creegan, even though there was very little bond surface available on the broken headlight assembly (the width and length of the broken tab measured approximately 1/8-inch X 5/8-inch), it was determined that a sturdy repair could be made. Fusor Sand in 10 was selected due to its fast work time and because the entire cartridge could be billed to the repair operation. By using a 50ml cartridge, the body shop can bill-out the repair as an “adhesive kit” when submitting the repair order to the insurance company.
“Since there was such a small bond surface, I suggested using a reinforcement backing toThe repair was completed in three phases to guarantee a strong hold. The first phase of the repair ensured the proper angle (fixturing) for the repaired tab by matching the broken piece with the original point of attachment. The second and third phases reinforced the damaged area with adhesives and mesh.
“In completing the repair, the technician followed LORD Fusor tab repair procedures which included cleaning both the base and the broken tab with #703, a non-solvent plastic cleaner; sanding it with 80 grit sandpaper; and then applying #602EZ, a surface modifier,” explained Creegan. The finished tab repair was then sanded and tooled to match the original OEM contour and thickness, and the entire repair was completed in 35-to-40 minutes.
To prove that the repair was sturdy, the technician picked up the part up by the hole in the tab and shook it back and forth. The repair held, even though the headlight assembly weighed 12-to-15 pounds.
Repairing the part instead of replacing it proved to be a huge cost savings both for the body shop and the customer. For example, the repair job was completed in approximately 45-minutes at a labor rate of $55.00 per hour. The job used about one half of a 50ml cartridge of Sand in 10 repair adhesive. Assuming the adhesive cost was an estimated $30.00 with mixing tips, the total cost to complete the repair was approximately $60.00. Compare this cost to the $1800 price of two new headlight assemblies in the original replacement order.
According to the technician, the Fusor Sand in 10 adhesive was simple to use and easy to sand. The technician was also pleased with the strength of the repaired part. Compared to other competitive products in use at the body shop, the technician felt that Fusor Sand in 10 was ideal for quick repairs, especially in applications where parts can be repaired instead of replaced.
The technician remarked that using Fusor Sand in 10 for applications such as repairing clips, tabs, trims and molding, would save time and money over replacing these parts. Another advantage, noted the technician, was the ability to use an entire cartridge for one repair. A repair shop can show the insurance company that one tube of product was used for one repair.
By using Fusor Sand in 10, the headlight assembly could be quickly and economically repaired, rather than replaced. The body shop technician is now convinced that repairing plastic parts to “as good as new” condition is indeed possible.
Founded in 1924, LORD Corporation is a privately-held company that designs, manufactures and markets mechanical devices and electromechanical systems to control vibration, motion and noise; formulates, produces and sells general purpose and specialty adhesives, coatings and electronic materials; and develops products and systems utilizing magnetically responsive technologies. With global headquarters in Cary, N.C., and sales in excess of $860MM, LORD has manufacturing facilities in eight countries and more than 90 sales and support centers. LORD Corporation employs more than 2,900 worldwide. Visit www.lord.com for more information.
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