Pattex glue: how to use Pattex contact adhesive

What Pattex glue is

Pattex is a brand of the German adhesives group Henkel, and in hardware shops the name usually means its contact adhesive, sold in tubes and tins. Henkel’s data sheet for Pattex Contact Adhesive Classic describes a one-part polychloroprene contact adhesive: a synthetic rubber dissolved in solvent, which is why it smells of solvent and must be left to dry before the parts meet.

A contact adhesive works differently from wood glue. Both surfaces get a coat, the solvent evaporates, and the two dry films grip each other the moment they touch. That gives instant strength without clamps, which suits laminates, rubber and leather; for close-fitting timber joints that can be clamped, a PVA wood glue is made for the job.

What it bonds and what it does not

Henkel’s South African Pattex Contact Adhesive data sheet (September 2025) lists:

• Bonds: wood-based boards with decorative laminates such as Formica, rubber, leather, cork, felt, rigid PVC, soft foams and metal; soundproofing, insulating and acoustic panels; veneer strips on edges and curves.
• Does not bond: polyethylene, polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, synthetic leather and plasticised PVC.

Check that list before bonding foam insulation or soft plastics. Rigid PVC sheet is fine, but PVC pipes are joined with a PVC solvent cement, not with contact adhesive.

How to use contact adhesive

Henkel’s directions for Pattex Contact Adhesive, shortened:

1. Make sure the materials are dry (wood at 8–12% moisture) and free of grease and dust. Clean laminates and metal with washing benzine; roughening the surface increases the bond.
2. Spread the Pattex glue generously and evenly on both surfaces, especially at the edges, with a notched spatula or a short-bristle brush.
3. Let the solvent evaporate for 10–15 minutes at 18–25°C, with fresh air in the room. The film must be dry to the touch and not stringy; porous materials may need a second coat.
4. Join the parts within 2 hours. Align them carefully first: once the two films touch, they cannot be moved.
5. Press hard, briefly. Henkel stresses that the bond depends on how hard you press, not how long; a few seconds is enough. On large panels use a press at 3 bar (0.3 N/mm²) or a roller, working from the centre outwards so no air is trapped.

The work-piece can be handled straight after pressing. Tools are cleaned with thinner or washing benzine.

Two Pattex data sheets compared

Henkel sells Pattex contact adhesive under slightly different names in different markets, and the data sheets differ:

Two Pattex data sheets compared

	Pattex Contact Adhesive (South Africa, 2025)	Pattex Contact Adhesive Classic (UAE)
Base	solvent-based polychloroprene rubber	polychloroprene, toluene-free
Drying before joining	10–15 min	10–20 min; open time 10 min at 20°C
Working temperature	+18°C to +25°C	+5°C to +40°C
Heat resistance	up to 110°C	up to 110°C
Consumption	250–350 g/m²	200–250 g/m²
Strength	final strength after 3 days	full strength typically after 60 minutes
Packs	50 g and 125 g tubes; 250 ml and 500 ml tins	50 g tube
Shelf life	24 months, stored at +5°C to +30°C	24 months

Read the data sheet for the exact product on the shelf; the strength time in particular differs by a wide margin between the two.

How much you need

Coverage is given by weight. A 500 ml tin of the South African Pattex holds about 430 g at its stated density of 0.84–0.88 g/cm³, which covers roughly 1.2 to 1.7 m² at 250–350 g/m² (our calculation: 500 × 0.86 = 430 g; 430 ÷ 350 and 430 ÷ 250). Absorbent materials that need two coats use more.

What to check when you buy

• Product name and data sheet. Contact adhesive, not a universal or super glue from the same brand.
• Materials. Your two surfaces on the list of what it bonds; polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene foam and soft PVC are excluded.
• Quantity. Tin size against the area: about 1.2–1.7 m² from a 500 ml tin at Henkel’s South African figures.
• Temperature. The working range on the tin, and heat resistance up to 110°C if the bond sits near heat.
• Ventilation. It is solvent-based, so plan for fresh air while it dries.
• Other jobs. Joints that must keep out water call for a sealant tape, not contact adhesive.