Covering cabinet in cloth

[Jalmeida]

Hello all,

A while back I started my search for covering for the Princeton Reverb cabinet for my build. I found it difficult to find anything outside of the usual suspects in tolex of which wasn’t what I wanted. So I started searching various upholstery options and couldn’t quite land on an iption I liked either. So I went down the textile path.

I found this material which in appearance is perfect. However it lacks an outer protective layer of anything to prevent staining and/or snagging. So my thoughts are to spray the outside with a 2-part clear that will be durable.

So here is my question. What type of adhesive should I use? The material is closest to either a tweed or twill, however it is a synthetic(polyester) and is porous. So if I use a standard contact adhesive I fear it will leach through and be visible. Has anyone done this or have any advice. I searched the forums here and didn’t get a single hit.

[shooter]

experiment
cut a small piece, glue it to the type board the cab is.
talk to crafters at places like Hobby-Lobby

[Lectroid]

Also, 3M used to sell spray cans of their no-stain compound that went on cloth.  IIRC, it's some variation on teflon.  (Thanks, NASA!)

[acheld]

3M 77 works fine in this situation.   Just don't spray too much and soak the cloth.    This is my go-to glue now as it is easily reproducible.   (I don't think this is the stuff that Lectroid is describing, though.)

[Lectroid]

This is what I was talking about, guess they still make it.  Several flavors...

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/coatings/liquid-stain-repellents/

[sluckey]

This is what I was talking about, guess they still make it.  Several flavors...

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/coatings/liquid-stain-repellents/

That's a good protector. But the question is "What type of adhesive should I use?"

[Jalmeida]

I took some time to play with glueing with 3M 77 spray adhesive and mod podge.

On one I glued using 3m 77 and coated with aerosol Mod Podge. This was by recommendations both online and off. The Mod Podge aerosol realeases the dried 77 adhesive and it comes unstuck. Likely the ketones and other solvents. This is a failure

The other piece I used brush on mod podge to adhere and seal the top. I’ll know more about how this works latter.

I will try 77 adhesive and brush on polycrylic over the cloth.

Another suggestion I found searching other forums were to glue with mod podge and brush on polycrylic. I will test this too.

[acheld]

Clear spray shellac will work just fine (Bullseye).   No need to be too "crafty."

[Jalmeida]

Clear spray shellac will work just fine (Bullseye).   No need to be too "crafty."

Yeah, i use shellac all the time on my guitar build. The stuff is a miracle finish as it sticks to almost everything and also acts as a chemical barrier between different finishes. And that may solve the aersol glue release thing too seeing it is just alcohol without all the ketones. However I would like to put another paint layer ultimately that is a bit more robust for protection for the final coats. Mod Podge isn’t gonna cut it. Perhaps a water based finish or a two part poly with shellac as a barruer coat.

[Lectroid]

This is what I was talking about, guess they still make it.

That's a good protector. But the question is "What type of adhesive should I use?"

Yes, that was one question.  I also read this and thought the stain repellant stuff was at least worth a mention.

However it lacks an outer protective layer of anything to prevent staining and/or snagging.

Cheers

[bmccowan]

Have you looked at bookbinding supplies? They have some specialty adhesives for cloth - wallpaper paste might also be worth a shot.

[Jalmeida]

Have you looked at bookbinding supplies? They have some specialty adhesives for cloth - wallpaper paste might also be worth a shot.

I have not. Great tip! Thanks.

[Electron Tornado]

I've covered a few amps and cabs with fabric, but never knew of a decent adhesive that wouldn't soak into the fabric and make it look bad. So, I simply covered things as if I was doing a sort of upholstering. Lots of staples. There is a photo in this thread that shows a speaker cab I did in denim: https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=29012.0

[Jalmeida]

So I went with super 33 adhesive and then a couple coats of Mod Podge. The. Lots of coats of Polycrylic. The fabric soaks up and unbelievable amount of finish. I am not entirely sure I would call it a perfect solution. The cloth did release and bubble in a few spots(mostly not visible.) The area that does bother me is the rear lower baffle. But at this stage not really sure of a solution besides making a new panel.

[acheld]

Get a syringe/needle and inject some glue (dealer's choice) into the bubble and then roller it flat.

Looks great!

[AlNewman]

Wood glue works.  Finish with whatever you want

[Jalmeida]

Get a syringe/needle and inject some glue (dealer's choice) into the bubble and then roller it flat.

Looks great!

I tried that with CA, and it didn’t work. Need to tey another glue type I think.