Sorry to hear about your flower plate issues, I hope you can repair them. I've had the same thing happen a few times although not with plate flowers.
You've brought up a good point and one we all should keep in mind. We use GE Silicone II as an adhesive but it's meant to be used as caulk. Caulk just fills gaps and spaces, it's not meant to hold things together. I wonder if one reason it works well on totems and BB is it's not fighting gravity. Totems are stacked and decorative stuff on BB's basically just lies there. Plate flowers, as I understand them, are vertical so gravity must have some effect.
Your point about the rust is good too. Perhaps it "de-stabilized" the bond?
I wonder if the GE Silicone II folks read these posts just out of curiosity?
Good luck with your future flowers!

I don't remember if anyone has posted the "why" of this, but typically GEII and metal aren't usually a good, long term combo. Small joints have always been hard for me, too. So far no long term success, but haven't tried plumber's goop.

This has been my experience with GE silicone: 2 birdbaths have come apart when the customers were carrying them horizontally. Thus the gravity issue. Small joints & silicone don't work well for me either, or glass with a very narrow lip. I finished a pagoda a week ago using amber glass tumblers. Yesterday I checked the joints and I was able to pull all of them loose where I had joined the top of the glasses to the other item. The glass bottoms were OK.

The best item I've found for flower backs is pvc elbow screwed onto a pvc thingy with a round flat end. Then I paint it green. Probably isn't as pretty as a spoon, but it holds very well.

A couple days ago I glued s glass center to a metal flower using silicone. Last night I pulled on them to see if they were stuck tight, which they should have been by now, and they weren't. If they joint has any 'give' to it at all I've found that it won't hold up outside long term.

There is a GE silicone for metal, but I haven't tried it yet.

I have not yet attached my plate flowers to anything (still travelling so not doing any crafts) but I plan to use 2 part epoxy. That's what I use to attach copper fittings to my glass tea lights and I've never had one come apart.

I've only had a totem made with GE Silicone II come apart when it was being moved and carried horizontally. I have had a problem with joints when using Lexel but I think I may have applied too thick a bead.

Interesting. I've used both the liquid 2 part epoxy and the marine 2 part epoxy that that has to be kneaded until it's mixed. I used them both on flower backs and they all came apart. I was attaching wood to glass in that instance.

I tried several different kinds of glue and epoxy when I first started making my plate flowers. I don't bother with any of them now, as I drill all my glass and attach with screws and drawer pulls for the center. Even the instructions on the E6000 says that if it is exposed to the sun the outer edges need to be painted or sealed. Good luck. Anny

E6000 is an excellent glue, but it isn't made for outside use. There is another one out by the same company that is UV resistant. Can't remember the name of it.

I use silicon to glue all my fish tank, never had any problems glass to glass, up to 45 gallon tank just need to age it before adding water,
Murielle

my husband says it is called UV6800. And he says that E6100 is okay for outside use. They sell conveyorbelts and use these glues.

Also, have you roughed up the glass with rough sandpaper before you glue? do you think that would help???

oh, he says the UV6800 is clear and the 6100 is non~slump.. you can use it like clumping.. but it is black

ah.. that should say you can use it like caulking!
not use it like clumping! lol

The glass is fine, my problem is with the metal.
kathy

the flowers that I have made with silicon have held up well. lots of rain and 100 degree weather.
There was one that fell apart and when I examined closely I noticed that it fell because there was air pockets by which water was sipping thru.
When you put that spoon on, it should be very flat and should be pressed hard enough to let out any air pockets. It take my flowers about 3 days to fully dry.

I hope this helps

I have read more than once that GE silicone II is not good for metal. I only use it for glass-to-glass, and sometimes porcelain or ceramic.
Oh, I did use it for a couple of bottle bugs - the wire wings did not stay in place with GE II.
I'm glad there are glue options, though. I've been saving metal lamp parts and have a few other neat metal pieces that I'd like to incorporate into totems.

Good information, thanks all!

I have used gorilla glue-indoor/out and GE and Plumbers Goop and still lost all the marbles on my bb and the cups and saucers for my birdfeeders but did use silicone for gluing little rocks and small aquarium trees on my old birdhouses and they are ok. I give up!!!

I used it to glue my half marbles on an unpainted bowling ball 5 or 6 years ago...it is sitting in cold Iowa weather (we've already had some freezing near here last night)
Not a one has fallen off...

I think it works great.

patti

I have used GEII on my stepping stones,bbs, and mushrooms. They have been outside for over a year and still are fine.

Kat

I've used it to attach stones and mosaic onto my concrete mushrooms and no problem. I never felt comfortable using it on plate flowers or teacups on a stake. Those I've always drilled and since I've sold over 100 I don't need to worry about them at least!! The world of glues has grown so much, its hard to keep track which works best for what...

morninglory, how hard is it to drill holes on the plates?? i just bought a glass drill bit but don't know how to prepare to drill. i'm afraid i'll brake the plate or whaever i'm drilling. can you offer any sugestions??
thanx, carmen

gardencraze, I use a drill press which makes it very easy. You have to keep water in the area you are drilling or you will burn your bit out REAL fast. Let the bit do the work, if you press too hard the plate or cup will break. Even being careful I still break some...also when the bit gets dull the breakage goes up. If you don't have a drill press you will have to be extra careful and it will definately take more time....Oh yea, good idea to wear a mask to avoid the dust.