Are you Wasting Money?

What Adhesive caps claim

The Facts

• Adhesive caps actually take longer to fit than BifixÔ or StemfixÔ, as (according to manufacturers instructions) "in order to fully activate the adhesive, it is always best to apply reasonable pressure. A quick rub with your finger or a tap with a hammer will do"
  
• Care must be taken to accurately centre each cap over the fastener to ensure all caps are aligned with each other. This requires more skill and greatly increases the time required.
  
• When using woodgrain finishes, the direction of the grain of the cap must match that of the worksurface
• Click here for details of time trials conducted by a major Australian kitchen manufacturer

Adhesive Caps cost a LOT more to use. The following table compares the cost of installing 1000 fasteners and covering them with BifixÔ, StemfixÔ or Adhesive caps. The time/cost of installing the actual fasteners has not been taken into account as this can be considered constant for all three types of Cap. Prices used are indicative of average costs to professional tradesmen

* Cost of labour has been calculated using the average times for the three kitchens referred to above, and applied to 1000 caps. In reality however, the time taken for one person to apply 1000 caps would be MUCH greater than this.

 

This is true, except that:

• BifixÔ and StemfixÔ are easy and fast to apply and DO NOT fall out
• Because they fit into the fastener head, BifixÔ and StemfixÔ line up perfectly
  
• Adhesive caps must be 'activated' to obtain optimum bond. This is a whole new action in the fitting process
  
• Adhesive caps also rely on the fastener being wholly below the worksurface, for the cap to work. BifixÔ and StemfixÔ fully cover fastener head, even if it has been left proud of the worksurface

• This is also true, except that Adhesive caps have a sharp transition. BifixÔ and StemfixÔ have a smooth transition, so even though the cap is actually higher, it is less noticeable and less likely to snag a cleaning cloth (which can pull off or damage the cap, or leave part of the cloth behind.
  
• The crown of BifixÔ and StemfixÔ caps is just 12mm (enough to cover the fastener and any minor damage around the screw hole). Adhesive caps sold in Australia are 14mm - 16% bigger than necessary and 16% more noticeable
• Click here to see an un-retouched photograph comparing the height and visibility of an Adhesive cap with a StemfixÔ cap

• Adhesive caps are made from PVC. Colour of the caps aside, PVC is no better a 'match' to Melamine than is polypropylene (the plastic used for BifixÔ and StemfixÔ)
  
• Adhesive caps are available in about 7 'solid' colours (incl White). BifixÔ and StemfixÔ are available in 98 colours (all available off the shelf)
  
• Adhesive caps DO come in a range of 'woodgrain' finishes, but unless the grain of the cap closely matches the grain on the worksurface, it can end up looking much WORSE than a plastic cap in a colour to match the timber base colour.
  
• Adhesive caps CAN NOT match any of the patterned laminate boards - BifixÔ & StemfixÔ have 98 colours to allow you to choose a colour to match the base colour of the pattern

• What can we say to this? If this is the main advantage, then surely Adhesive caps are really only suitable for DIY'ers.
  
• If you have employees leaving lots of blank holes, maybe you need a new employee!

No additional gluing or caulking required

• Wow! Neither do BifixÔ or StemfixÔ which offer the best grip in fastener heads of any other 'star' or 'stem' caps.
  
• As noted above though, Adhesive caps DO require 'activation' of the adhesive in order to work properly

Temperature resistance of -400°C to 1210°C. Adhesive is totally waterproof and can withstand temperatures from -30ºF to +250ºF.

• Whoa! Our old Science books show "Absolute Zero" (theoretically the coldest temperature possible) is -273°C, and copper melts at 1083ºC and boils at 1187ºC, so we think these claims are somewhat exaggerated
  
• We also know that PVC has a MAXIMUM temperature for continued use of just 70ºC, while the rubber or Acrylic-based adhesives have maximum continuous working temperatures in the range of 50º-75ºC. While Acryics generally have good chemical resistance, both types of adhesive react badly to chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers and ketones (ie most solvents). These will cause the adhesives to run and significantly reduce the cap's holding power
  
• Bifix and Stemfix perform in a proven temperature range of -35ºC to 120ºC and are resistant to all acids, alkilis and solvents below 80ºC