J-B Weld is a brand of the most popular sealant used in home construction, but what exactly is it and did it go under? Here’s everything you need to know.
Founded in 1948 by John B. Wilson, J-B Weld was originally formed as a joint venture with Union Carbide. In 1964, after Union Carbide acquired General Motors’ automotive business, they created a new division dedicated solely to polysulfide sealants. The name J-B Weld was adopted for use on polysulphide products.
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The company has since grown into an international business with over 1,500 employees, making it one of the top ten suppliers of polysulfide sealants in the world. But how did this company get started in the first place? And what happened to it? Let’s take a look.
John B. Wilson (1913 – 1978)
In 1917, when John B. Wilson joined the family business of the Wilson Brothers Oil Company, he took to heart the principle of “doing well by doing good.” He worked hard to make sure that his customers were satisfied with their purchases and that the product being sold was of the highest quality.
Wilson had a vision about the future of pipe-lining. He saw the potential for sealing joints using pipe-laying equipment rather than traditional methods; he thought it would be faster and more efficient. As the demand for pipe-lining grew, so too did Wilson and the Wilson Brothers Oil Company.
By the late 1930s, Wilson decided to create a specialized group within the Wilson Brothers Oil Company which would specialize in the development of pipe-lining equipment. This new organization would be called the Pipe Lining Division.
On April 5th, 1940, the Pipe Lining Division began operations at the Wilson Brothers Oil Company headquarters building in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
As the war drew closer, the Pipe Lining Division was tasked with developing a system that could lay thousands of feet of pipe per day.
After World War II ended, the company continued to grow. By 1951, the Pipe Lining Division employed hundreds of people around the country. In 1953, the company introduced its patented welding technology to the industry. In 1957, the company opened up its first plant outside of Indiana.
But the expansion didn’t stop there. The following year, the corporation purchased two other companies. These two companies were also involved in the pipe-laying industry. One was the American Pipe-Laying Machine Company and the other was the Industrial Lumber Company.
Two years later, Wilson decided to form another subsidiary company to handle sales. That company was called the J.B. Wilson Company. It was named after John B. Wilson himself.
So much for history! Now let’s talk about the specifics of J-B Weld.
A Brief History of J-B Weld
When John B. Wilson first set out to develop a pipe-laying machine, he knew that it would have to work like a charm. The problem was that there wasn’t any pipe-laying equipment available in the United States yet. So Wilson turned to England where he found an old piece of equipment known as a “frying pan.”
This particular device was used to seal pipes together during the process of “frying” them. As the term suggests, frying pans were heated up in order to melt the ends of the pipes and allow them to come together. This method was used until the 1950s.
At the time, there weren’t any pipe-laying machines capable of handling such large amounts of pipe. John B. Wilson realized this and began experimenting with different ways to seal the ends of the pipes.
He discovered that some chemicals reacted when mixed together. When the two chemicals came into contact with each other, they formed a solid bond. This was the beginning of the modern adhesive bonding technique — or what we now call J-B Weld.
It wasn’t long before the concept caught on. Companies began using it to seal the ends of their pipe lines. Some even went so far as to patent the process. However, not all companies were able to find success with these patents.
One thing remained consistent throughout the entire process: the use of polysulfides. Today, polysulfides are still the only type of sealant allowed to be used for this purpose.
Polysulfide Sealant
When a pipe line is laid, the ends must be sealed in order to prevent leaks from forming. Polysulfide sealants are commonly used because they cure quickly. They can withstand high temperatures and pressures.
While many companies are still using polysulfide sealants today, not everyone is happy that they’re still in use. Many believe that the toxic fumes released when they’re burned should have been phased out decades ago.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, polysulfides contain sulfur. Sulfur is a naturally occurring element in the environment. It doesn’t cause harm if inhaled properly. However, if you breathe in the fumes from polysulfide sealant, you could experience respiratory irritation.
Because of environmental concerns, manufacturers have begun switching to alternative sealants. While the exact reasons why aren’t clear, studies show that the use of polysulfide sealants may actually increase the risk of cancer.
Another issue is that polysulfide sealants are very expensive. A job that requires 100,000 square feet of pipe will cost $100,000. With no way to recoup this money, it’s possible that many small contractors may never consider the option.
That said, while some believe it may be a mistake to phase out polysulfide sealants, others say it’s simply a matter of economics. If you’re only going to cover your expenses once and then have nothing left to pay for repairs in between, it makes sense to stick with this method.
But what if you could combine polysulfide sealants with other materials to produce a better overall solution? What if you could improve upon the original formula without having to reinvent the wheel? Well, that’s exactly what J-B Weld aims to do.
Why Was J-B Weld Created?
The idea behind J-B Weld began back in 1941 when John B. Wilson recognized the fact that a new kind of pipe-laying equipment was needed. It had to be fast and effective.
However, in order to design a machine that would meet those goals, Wilson knew that he would need to start with something else: a material.
With the help of his brother Edward, Wilson spent several months traveling across the country looking for the perfect combination of ingredients. After testing countless substances, it seemed that one solution stood out above all the rest.
The final result was an extremely strong, durable, and reliable sealant. However, the problem was that it was incredibly expensive. For a company like J-B Weld, it was too costly to keep using the substance.
Wilson’s brother Edward helped him formulate a plan to market the formula. They believed that there was enough interest in the product to warrant its production. So, they made a decision to sell it directly to consumers.
The rest, as they say, is history.
How Does J-B Weld Work?
J-B Weld isn’t just a single chemical compound. There are actually five separate components that go into creating the actual sealant. This means that the formula changes depending on the manufacturer.
However, here’s a general breakdown of what happens when it comes together.
First, the metal pieces inside the pipes are heated to a certain temperature. Then, the two parts are brought together and pressure is applied. Once the two pieces are securely bonded, the sealant cools down.
If you don’t want to wait and see how this works yourself, visit our website. We’ve got lots of articles that explain how the formula works!
Now, while J-B Weld does a great job of binding the metal parts of the pipe together, it doesn’t necessarily work on the exterior surfaces. That’s why the pipe-lining industry developed a different kind of sealing agent: silicone.
Silicone is a polymer that is made from silicones and petroleum. It allows the sealant to penetrate the surface of the pipe and bond tightly to the material.
What Happened to J-B Weld?
Sadly, J-B Weld is no longer in existence. In 1984, the company merged with U.S. Silicone Corporation. At the time, U.S. Silicone Corporation was already part of the Dow Chemical Company.
Dow continued manufacturing J-B Weld as well as various other products until 1989. Since then, Dow has focused more on plastics and rubber.
Today, J-B Weld is primarily marketed through the U.S. Silicone Corporation. The company sells the product exclusively online. You’ll find it in the same section of the site as the other silicone sealants.
