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Old 9th Dec 2018, 9:13 pm   #1
Cathode Ray
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Default Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

I'm restoring a GEC BC 5445 which has a fabric covered sound board.

The fabric came away easily with some soapy water so I reckon it was attached with a water based glue.

To reattach it, whats the best glue to use, I was considering PVA glue which should dry out clear?

thanks
Ray
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Old 9th Dec 2018, 9:18 pm   #2
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

I use latex based fabric adhesive aerosol spray, but you can also get adhesive in tubes.

Wilko for example sell small (20 ml) tubes which dry clear:

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-fa...20ml/p/0288947

Hope that helps.
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Old 9th Dec 2018, 9:30 pm   #3
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

Excellent, I should be able to get this locally in a fabric shop.

Many thanks David.
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Old 18th Apr 2019, 4:27 am   #4
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

Epoxy done right is a time tested repair technique. If you apply the layers "hot" i.e. before full cure has occurred, the layers will chemically bond to one another and become as one. Quicker too.
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Old 18th Apr 2019, 7:32 am   #5
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

Copydex or PVA. Use sparingly to avoid oozing up through the fabric. Similarly don't press down too hard when fitting the fabric, enough to ensure that the glue is on both surfaces is sufficient.
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Old 18th Apr 2019, 8:04 am   #6
Craig Sawyers
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

PVA seconded. I've covered large speaker cablinets (for bass guitar) with something called carpet. Basically use a small decorating roller to put on a thin layer of PVA.

The other thing I've used is spray adhesive. Thin layer on the cabinet, let go tacky, press on cloth. After masking areas you don't want the spray going of course.

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Old 18th Apr 2019, 11:10 am   #7
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

Water soluble PVA gets my vote. Dries clear and can be soaked off in future if needs be or if you make a mess of it the first time.

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Old 18th Apr 2019, 11:14 am   #8
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

I haven't found copydex to be durable, at least when gluing hessian carpet edging. Stuff I glued with traditional evostik more than 50 years ago is still sound. I hope they haven't changed the formula significantly in the mean time.
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Old 18th Apr 2019, 3:02 pm   #9
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Attaching fabric to soundboard, best glue?

The main benefits of fabric glue is that it can be used without mixing or diluting, it doesn't need clamping as it sticks right away, but still allows the fabric to be stretched to position it exactly before it fully sets, so the warp and the weft can be adjusted to be straight and properly lined up. It's also flexible, colourless and waterproof. No doubt other adhesives can be pressed into service, but it makes sense to me that when sticking fabric, to use fabric adhesive which is formulated for exactly that task and 'ticks all the boxes'.

Hobbycraft do a 60ml bottle for only £2.00 which gets good reviews.


https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/superio...ml/631504-1000
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