Which Epoxy Putty Brand Wins?
In our test we compared 12 epoxy putty options head to head. JB Weld came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
JB Weld
Price shown in test: $4.98 for 2 oz, $2.49 per oz
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The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“Really impressed with some of these brands including JB Weld, which definitely came out on top overall, especially when you consider the value price.”
Best in 1 of 3 measurements, including Compressive strength.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
Tap/pullout strength avg (lb, 3 samples)
- 1JB Weld Steel Stick12682nd
1270, 1253 lb, avg about 1,264 lb, 2nd place overall behind KBS NuMetal
- 2KBS NuMetal New Metal Epoxy Putty16231st
1609, 1614 lb, avg about 1,615 lb, 1st place overall
- 3Hercules Pro Epoxy 2012573rd
1265, 1220 lb, avg about 1,247 lb, 3rd place overall
- 4PC-78865th
988, 988 lb, avg about 954 lb, 5th place overall
- 5QuikSteel Steel Reinforced Epoxy Putty Metal Repair993
964, 856 lb, avg about 938 lb
- 6Loctite Repair Putty424
479, 400 lb, avg about 434 lb
- 7Gorilla All Purpose Epoxy Stick819
899, 838 lb, avg about 852 lb
- 8Oatey all-purpose bonding putty11314th
908, 1010 lb, avg about 1,016 lb, 4th place overall
- 9EP400 epoxy putty375
328, 339 lb, avg about 347 lb
- 10POR-15656
481, 530 lb, avg about 556 lb, described as really struggling
- 11Pratley Steel Putty452
401, 452 lb, avg about 435 lb
- 12A+B epoxy putty292
316, 206 lb, avg about 271 lb, more than 1,000 lb below the leader
Compressive strength (1in cube)
- 1JB Weld Steel Stick1,250 PSI1st
1st place overall, equivalent to 3,925 lb
- 2KBS NuMetal New Metal Epoxy Putty850 PSI5th
tied 4th/5th overall with QuikSteel, equivalent to 2,669 lb
- 3Hercules Pro Epoxy 201,125 PSI3rd
3rd place overall, equivalent to 3,533 lb
- 4PC-71,225 PSI2nd
2nd place overall, equivalent to 3,847 lb
- 5QuikSteel Steel Reinforced Epoxy Putty Metal Repair850 PSI5th
tied 4th/5th overall with KBS NuMetal, equivalent to 2,669 lb
- 6Loctite Repair Putty300 PSI
- 7Gorilla All Purpose Epoxy Stick750 PSI
described as much better than average but not enough to lead
- 8Oatey all-purpose bonding putty500 PSI
- 9EP400 epoxy putty500 PSI
- 10POR-15500 PSI
tied with Oatey and EP400
- 11Pratley Steel Putty125 PSI
described as really struggling
- 12A+B epoxy putty200 PSI
worst of all 12 brands
Pipe repair burst pressure
- 1JB Weld Steel Stick2,100 PSI2nd
2nd place overall behind PC-7
- 2KBS NuMetal New Metal Epoxy Putty1,050 PSI
- 3Hercules Pro Epoxy 201,750 PSI4th
4th place overall
- 4PC-7
began leaking at 4,000 PSI (1st place, used as the ranking figure) but did not catastrophically fail until a little over 5,000 PSI
- 5QuikSteel Steel Reinforced Epoxy Putty Metal Repair2,000 PSI3rd
3rd place overall
- 6Loctite Repair Putty1,400 PSI5th
5th place overall
- 7Gorilla All Purpose Epoxy Stick1,075 PSI
- 8Oatey all-purpose bonding putty800 PSI
pipe burst with a large chunk blown off intact
- 9EP400 epoxy putty1,075 PSI
tied with Gorilla, described as above average
- 10POR-15975 PSI
- 11Pratley Steel Putty50 PSI
worst of all 12 brands, began leaking almost immediately after pressure was applied
- 12A+B epoxy putty375 PSI
described as struggling once again
How it was tested
- tap and thread pullout strength on PVC end caps, 3 samples per brand (lb of force)
- compressive strength of a 1in x 1in cured epoxy cube (PSI, converted to lb-equivalent via formula)
- pipe repair: drilled hole patched with epoxy putty, pressurized until burst (PSI)
- cylinder head repair durability under 30 minutes of engine operation and after 48hr cure (QuikSteel only, not head-to-head)
- chain repair strength test under vehicle-pulling load (practical demo, ultimately a multi-brand combined repair, not a clean single-brand comparison)
“Really impressed with some of these brands including JB Weld, which definitely came out on top overall, especially when you consider the value price.”
