How to Adhere Two Pieces of Silicone Sheet Together

Joining two sheets of silicone requires a great deal of care. It is an inexpensive and resistant material, but you must adhere pieces together carefully, or you won't attain the aesthetic look you want. Adhering pieces of silicone is an excellent way of protecting and inexpensively framing photographs or artwork. It is also a way to create special display boxes for mementos or three-dimensional works of art.

• 1

  Cut the silicone sheets to the exact size you need using a table saw equipped with an acrylic cutting blade. Purchase this special blade at a home improvements store, or have the sheets cut for you there.

• 2

  Sand the silicone sheet edges with 120 grit sand paper, then move up to a dry 220 grit sandpaper and finish with a wet 440 grit sandpaper. Avoid scratching the front surface of the silicone sheet, especially the area that is the most visible.

• 3

  Position the silicone pieces the way you want to adhere them. Fold cardboard strips over the corners of two opposite sides of the silicone joined panes. Attach a C-clamp over the cardboard strips. Make the cardboard strips just long enough so the C-clamps clamp to the cardboard instead of the silicone pane, this way the clamp won't scratch the silicone panes. The panes have to fit perfectly together for the acrylic cement to work correctly.

• 4

  Put acrylic cement in a hobby syringe and squeeze caulk along the silicone seam. Avoid adding too much caulk, as you don't want it spread all over the pieces. Press the silicone sheets firmly together. Tighten the clamps to make sure your pieces stay fixed in place. Do the same for all the sides where you plan to adhere the silicone sheets.

• 5

  Inspect the adhered silicone sheets. Remove excess silicone with cotton swabs dipped in acetone. Rub the excess off gently. Allow it to dry for an hour.