What Adhesive to Use? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Aub · 13th May 2016, 7:40 am

Hello all,

I hope I've posted in the right section. What adhesive would you recommend for sticking leathercloth (bought from Ratchford's) to high density chipboard?

It's for a little guitar practice amp i've been building for years. I think the leathercloth is supposed to be the modern equivalent to Rexine.

Any hints or tips would be most welcome.

Many thanks

Aub

SeanStevens · 13th May 2016, 7:55 am

Difficult

For strength I'd use a contact adhesive....

But for ease, I'd use PVA.

Contact adhesive is difficut if the material does not go on exactly right first time - but if it does, it is quick and strong.

PVA will allow adjustment until dry and is easy to wash off if it oozes anywhere, but is slow to dry and can fail to hold springy materials.

You might be best off using both. PVA for the large flat surfaces and a contact adhesive for edges.....?

SEAN

Radio Wrangler · 13th May 2016, 8:06 am

The industrial way is to use a contact adhesive and to apply the leathercloth over a large enough roller.

I've seen people use spray-on contact adhesive followed by using a rolling-pin for applying the coating. But they'd had a lot of practice and I've no idea how much they wasted the first time they tried it. They used large pieces so trimming fixed any misalignment.

David

ex seismic · 13th May 2016, 9:16 am

In the past I've used Dunlop Thixofix (sp?) which was a contact adhesive designed to have a bit of adjustment before it fully set. I've no idea if you can still get it.

Gordon

ms660 · 13th May 2016, 9:21 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxcLri3yn8Q

Lawrence.

dseymo1 · 13th May 2016, 5:52 pm

Evostik aerosol contact adhesive is very good for this sort of thing. It's true that you only get one attempt with it, but if you cut the cloth oversize and trim it once fixed, that's not a problem.
Work panel by panel (spray only the area you're doing at the time), and allow the cloth to 'fall' onto the panel from one edge, wiping it down with a rag as you go. Try to avoid stretching the cloth, as it will shrink back later if you do.
If you're nervous about it, you can interleave the panel and cloth with non-stick paper, and withdraw it gradually as you work.

Audio1950 · 13th May 2016, 9:13 pm

I cover gramophone cases quite a lot, and always use PVA, which allows plenty of time for adjustment, especially on awkward corners. Give the bare chipboard a coat of PVA, let it dry (about ten minutes), then spread adhesive on top of that, not on the back of the rexine, or you will flatten the pattern when you press it down.

Barry

Aub · 14th May 2016, 8:21 am

Thank you all very much for your advice. Much appreciated.

Aub

G4XWDJim · 14th May 2016, 10:22 am

Hi Aub,

This utube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI8PTa4FieM

by 'Uncle Doug' shows in detail the steps he took to cover a home made guitar amplifier case. I was impressed with his technique. Hope it helps.

Jim

13th May 2016, 7:40 am	#1
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	What Adhesive to Use? Hello all, I hope I've posted in the right section. What adhesive would you recommend for sticking leathercloth (bought from Ratchford's) to high density chipboard? It's for a little guitar practice amp i've been building for years. I think the leathercloth is supposed to be the modern equivalent to Rexine. Any hints or tips would be most welcome. Many thanks Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

13th May 2016, 7:55 am	#2
SeanStevens Octode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,033	Re: What Adhesive to Use? Difficult For strength I'd use a contact adhesive.... But for ease, I'd use PVA. Contact adhesive is difficut if the material does not go on exactly right first time - but if it does, it is quick and strong. PVA will allow adjustment until dry and is easy to wash off if it oozes anywhere, but is slow to dry and can fail to hold springy materials. You might be best off using both. PVA for the large flat surfaces and a contact adhesive for edges.....? SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

13th May 2016, 8:06 am	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,901	Re: What Adhesive to Use? The industrial way is to use a contact adhesive and to apply the leathercloth over a large enough roller. I've seen people use spray-on contact adhesive followed by using a rolling-pin for applying the coating. But they'd had a lot of practice and I've no idea how much they wasted the first time they tried it. They used large pieces so trimming fixed any misalignment. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

13th May 2016, 9:16 am	#4
ex seismic Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK. Posts: 687	Re: What Adhesive to Use? In the past I've used Dunlop Thixofix (sp?) which was a contact adhesive designed to have a bit of adjustment before it fully set. I've no idea if you can still get it. Gordon

13th May 2016, 9:21 am	#5
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: What Adhesive to Use? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxcLri3yn8Q Lawrence.

13th May 2016, 5:52 pm	#6
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: What Adhesive to Use? Evostik aerosol contact adhesive is very good for this sort of thing. It's true that you only get one attempt with it, but if you cut the cloth oversize and trim it once fixed, that's not a problem. Work panel by panel (spray only the area you're doing at the time), and allow the cloth to 'fall' onto the panel from one edge, wiping it down with a rag as you go. Try to avoid stretching the cloth, as it will shrink back later if you do. If you're nervous about it, you can interleave the panel and cloth with non-stick paper, and withdraw it gradually as you work.

13th May 2016, 9:13 pm	#7
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: What Adhesive to Use? I cover gramophone cases quite a lot, and always use PVA, which allows plenty of time for adjustment, especially on awkward corners. Give the bare chipboard a coat of PVA, let it dry (about ten minutes), then spread adhesive on top of that, not on the back of the rexine, or you will flatten the pattern when you press it down. Barry

14th May 2016, 8:21 am	#8
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	Re: What Adhesive to Use? Thank you all very much for your advice. Much appreciated. Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

14th May 2016, 10:22 am	#9
G4XWDJim Octode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: What Adhesive to Use? Hi Aub, This utube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI8PTa4FieM by 'Uncle Doug' shows in detail the steps he took to cover a home made guitar amplifier case. I was impressed with his technique. Hope it helps. Jim