Young and Invincible: We Put Liquid Nails to the Ultimate Test
December 14, 2011 | by Ethan (email) |
If you’re like me and you like to work hard, you’re no stranger to aches and pains that leave you feeling like an old-timer. In fact, most people assume I’m older than I really am. (If you jump to the end of the post, I’ll share my real age.)
Anyway, every now and then I’ll do something foolhardy that you’d expect from some kid who thinks he’s young and invincible (like eat a raw onion on a dare). I had one of those moments when I was asked to test “Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive’s exceptional holding power.”
Here’s when I warn everyone not to try this at home.
According to Liquid Nails, their Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive (LN-901/LNP-901) is formulated to fill gaps and provide exceptional holding power. It creates a waterproof and weatherproof bond for even the heaviest materials.
That sounds great, but I wanted to really put Liquid Nails to the test. Their website lists recommended applications like countertops, brick veneer, treated lumber and most common building materials (concrete, lumber, etc.).
It does not list hanging people upside-down.
To test Liquid Nails exceptional holding power, I devised a plan to glue a pair of shoes to floor joists and then see if I could dangle from them. I grabbed an old pair of shoes and made some plywood inserts. I screwed the shoes to a pair of 2 x 4’s and used Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive to glue the 2 x 4’s to some floor joists.
I gave the Liquid Nails over seven days to reach full cure, and then I made this video.
I glued the boards and put in a couple screws to hold them in place while it cured. When Fred backs those screws out, all that’s holding me up is the Liquid Nails adhesive. I really felt like I could hang there for hours if it weren’t for the fact that I was slipping out of my sneakers. Next time I’ll use high-tops.
Liquid Nails offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on their product. I doubt my little stunt would be covered. Even so, I’m a happy customer. Oh, and I’m 28 years old.
Disclosure Language:
Liquid Nails partnered with bloggers such as me to make a short video showing a creative use of Liquid Nails. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to say about their products or how to demonstrate Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive. Liquid Nails believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Liquid Nails policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
Not to put you on the spot but how much do you weigh? I guess that could be a good challenge to see how much weight the liquid nails can take before breaking loose.
In the video I think he said 185 pounds.
That is some test! More gumption than I would have testing a product.
I like it. and no, if you were acting like you were young and invincible (hey I can say this, I am a whole year younger than you). If you were, you would have just put gobs of liquid nails on the soles of the shoes and stuck them to the ceiling. Want to do a second test?
There was a lot of surface area for you to put liquid nails onto, that made it alot safer (and easier for the glue). This is NOWHERE near as nutty as the krazy glue commercial with the bungee jumper held only by krazy glue on ~2″ discs.
HA! The Krazy Glue was my inspiration for this one, and you’re right about the surface area. I felt pretty good that it would hold. Otherwise, I probably would have found a different strength test.
I say try the second test with the soles of your shoes, you will be able to catch yourself if it fails 🙂
You’re a nut! But that is definitely a creative way to demonstrate its holding power.
have you submitted the video to this year’s Darwin Award’s yet? You should at least have some type of mat underneath you to demonstrate safety because someone is gonna see your video and try to one up you.
I love that I’m the “lovely assistant”. I don’t get that adjective very much 🙂
Ya I would of liked to of seen a mat or mattress for some saftey maybe even a helmet. would of sucked if you broke your neck or something. These tests aren’t fool proof. I never would guessed you were a year younger then me but then again I never really thought oh hey how old is Ethan.
I thought for sure he was mid to late 30’s. I would have guessed 38 before 28, due to the goatee. I never thought he was 3 younger than me. Ethan fooled us all.
This is awesome. I was expecting to see some reverse pull ups though…
One more guy in there and you could have been the 3 Stooges ( finally succeeding). Clearly demonstrates good wood to wood, rubber to wood bonding.
You might want to rethink your product’s invincibility! A UK article has stated that Liquid Nails were used to install the 300-400 pound sign that attached the flight notification sign at the Birmingham new section of the airport. It fell on a family last Friday and killed a 10 year boy and critically injured two other members of the same family. Hope your insurance is up to date, or that you tell the subcontractors who installed this sign not to use your product in the future if the item is over a certain weight.
BULLSHIT ON LIQUID NAILS BEING DAM NEAR INVINCIBLE. I HAVE USED THIS STOUGH A LOT AND EVEN WITH VERY CAREFUL PREPARATION THIS STUFF SEPERATED. I ALSO HAD THE RIGHT WEATHER AND PROPER TIMES TO DRY WITH. I WILL URGE YOU TO SEND ME THIS INVINCIBLE STOUGH IF IT REALLY IS THAT TOUGH. SOMETIMES IT WILL HOLD AND OTHERS IT DOES NOT I GUESS MANUFACTURES TOLERANCES IN THE PROCESS. I WISH THERE WAS A STRICT QUALITY TOLERANCE OF EVERYTHING BEING ABLE TO DEPEND ON SOMETHING IS VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY TODAY WHEN MOST PASS THE BUCK OF RESPONSIBILITY.