Mighty Putty™: Fixes, Fills & Seals Any Surface

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness and claims of Mighty Putty™, a bonding epoxy stick marketed for various repair applications. Participants explore its potential uses, limitations, and compare it to other products like JB Weld, while questioning the validity of some advertising claims.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the claims made in advertisements, particularly regarding the ability of Mighty Putty™ to hold heavy loads, such as connecting chains for hauling a tractor trailer.
  • There are comparisons made between Mighty Putty™ and other products like JB Weld, with some participants suggesting that Mighty Putty™ may not be as strong or reliable.
  • Concerns are raised about the surface preparation required for effective adhesion, especially on porous materials like brick, which may need to be cleaned and sealed.
  • Questions arise regarding the design of the product, specifically whether the two components of the epoxy are kept separate to prevent premature curing and how that affects usability.
  • Some participants suggest that alternative solutions, such as duct tape, could be more practical for certain repairs, questioning the necessity of using Mighty Putty™ in those cases.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding the effectiveness and reliability of Mighty Putty™ compared to other adhesives and the validity of its advertising claims.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the effectiveness of Mighty Putty™ may depend on specific conditions, such as surface cleanliness and the nature of the materials being bonded. There are unresolved questions about the product's design and its implications for storage and usability.

Moonbear
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https://www.mightyputty.com/spark/index.php

Now you can repair any job big or small, thanks to Mighty Putty™. Mighty Putty™ is great for anything from your smallest craft projects to your largest home improvements! The easy way to fix, fill and seal almost any surface, and make it last. Mighty Putty™ is a powerful bonding epoxy stick that you can mold to any shape and can apply to any surface for an everlasting bond. Simply cut, activate and apply...then all you do is let It dry.

Now, I can believe this epoxy could be useful for some of the applications shown, like reattaching broken cup handles, or as a wood filler. But, some of the claims seem pretty outrageous, like the one where they put a big glob connecting two chains together to haul a tractor trailer (even if the trailer is empty), or they use it to replace the links of a chain. I'm suspicious that they haven't simply used it to conceal the chain still fully attached. Being a good adhesive for a ceramic cup handle is different than performing as well as steel chain for heavy strains.
 
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I love how in the commercials their hands stay clean after kneading... which is impossible! A friend of mine bought some and I had the chance to play with a little bit of it. It reminds me of JB Weld or any of the other 'cold weld' putty.

To me, it doesn't seem as tough as JB Weld. I definitely wouldn't trust it to hold a chain link together for any high stress situation.
 
B. Elliott said:
To me, it doesn't seem as tough as JB Weld.

Well, that addresses the other question I didn't ask...for what it actually can do, is it really worth the cost compared to less expensive, similar products available at the local hardware store? Sounds like the answer is "no."
 
When I saw them use it on brick to hold up shelves I was wondering about that. Brick is porous, it gets damp, the brick would have to be cleaned thoroughly and sealed for this to work like they showed, woudn't it?
 
Evo said:
When I saw them use it on brick to hold up shelves I was wondering about that. Brick is porous, it gets damp, the brick would have to be cleaned thoroughly and sealed for this to work like they showed, woudn't it?

Actually, I was thinking the porosity of the brick would help with adhesion (yes, it would have to be dry brick, not a location frequently getting wet), as with the broken ends of things like ceramic mugs. It's the smooth surfaces I wonder about.

The other thing I started wondering...the way it's shown in the ads, it seems to have both parts of the epoxy already in the tube, the inner white part and the outer green part. Is there something between the two layers to prevent them from reacting before you want them to? Or would you eventually have a lot go to waste as it slowly reacted from the outside in?
 
Moonbear said:
But, some of the claims seem pretty outrageous, like the one where they put a big glob connecting two chains together to haul a tractor trailer (even if the trailer is empty), or they use it to replace the links of a chain.

So. Hrm. You're so curious about this product because you have a tractor trailer that needs hauling? :biggrin:

Edit: Oh now I get it! I just saw the thread posting section. Under control now. I'll behave. Promise.
 
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Yeah you definitely have to clean the surface first. It actually advises to on the instructions. Like Moonbear said it should hold to brick fairly well due to it being porous. Probably the same with cinder blocks too. If the brick get damp that could definitely cause to separate over time.

As for what keeps is from hardening while not being used, I think it's due to whatever that they're using that's reacting (white and green stuff) has to be mixed together VERY well to work worth a flip. After a minute of kneading, it begins to get warm to the touch and starts to put off a funky odor. For small nickel-sized pieces you have to knead for a good... three minutes or so.
 
The pipe, shovel handle, drinking glass, gutter… a nice piece of duct tape could take care of all of those things. And the table leg! If that stuff can pull an 80,000 pound truck why would you use it to fill a crack in wood? Wood filler? They make that right?

I did notice that the force of the truck was applied as a sheer to the two plates. The plates and putty had a lot of surface area, and if you didn’t hit it with anything dynamic as you pulled it… Still, that is pretty amazing! Why then didn’t they do anything else amazing for the ad? Need I bring up the table leg again?
 
Moonbear said:
https://www.mightyputty.com/spark/index.php
But, some of the claims seem pretty outrageous, like the one where they put a big glob connecting two chains together to haul a tractor trailer (even if the trailer is empty), or they use it to replace the links of a chain.


ok... here's what you do, go buy this mighty putty, read over the package VERY CLEARLY nos go make a chain with it and pull your trailer up a hill, if it breaks and the tractor goes flying down a hill, sue the creators :) not serious btw.

I myself don't think that this is possible, a trailer weighs a lot, a little bit of this ceramic looking cement could not hold it to your car.
 
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