Temporarily gluing aluminium

If they're going to have screw holes, do those first and use them to fix to something or another?

How about hot-melt cement ? Use heat (gently if it's ali) to separate the two pieces of material afterwards.

Alternatively - if you're going to add screwholes for final fixing of the numbers - drill the holes first and bolt the two sheets together before cutting...

HTH Adrian

I want to mount them on a plain background, preferably glued again so their finish is unsullied.

Ok Adrian, thank you. That's something I've not crossed swords with yet. Any particular product in mind?

Heavy duty double sided tape is what I would use. The type that is used for carpets might be up to the job.

Dave

Not sure about product names - the stuff is often available at 'poundshops' and the like - needs a little 'applicator' which heats up the glue until it's fluid.

there's a load of them on eBay

Once you've done the cutting out then you'll know the temperature it melted at before - and you can now take it back up to the same temperature & separate the two pieces...

...sounds simple but I'm sure there's a snag there somewhere !

Adrian

============================== Fold a piece of aluminium sheet so that you have a double thickness and then flatten using pressure rather than hammering. The fold will keep perfect register whilst you cut the profiles.

Cic.

Thanks to you all for the suggestions.

I have enough information to go ahead now.

I work in an Ironmongers, we often get people in asking for numbers/letters in non standard sizes. I usually tell them to make their own but generally most people are so inept they havn't a clue what to do.

hot-melt glue. Take a hot-air gun, and the glue-stick. heat the stick/plate and rub the stick over the surface, then place the other one on top, and squeeze together using some toilet paper or something.

It can be perfectly cleaned up by heating again, and using turps substitute wetted paper towels.

Double sided carpet tape?

What a great piece of lateral thinking. Wish I'd thought of it.

A lot of suggestions for hot-melt glue, but many glues will go on in a thinner layer and fall to bits under heat (e.g. a heat gun) at least allowing you to lever the parts apart. Getting the hot glue off may be difficult. IIRC superglue will fail under heat, but needs good ventilation when you turn the heat gun on it.

Double sided tape? Or doublesided tape-paper-doublesided tape if its the stuff I got from Aldi as you can't pull 3mm aluminium apart without it bending.