Repairing Loose Tolex Edges???

[syscokid]

I have some very primitive methods when I attempt to glue back down the tolex edges that have lifted through time. This 4 year old cabinet from Guitars Cabinet Direct is getting pretty bad in some areas. Not sure what’s causing the premature peeling. What are your methods and choice of adhesives???

 

[fitz]

I have some very primitive methods when I attempt to glue back down the tolex edges that have lifted through time. This 4 year old cabinet from Guitars Cabinet Direct is getting pretty bad in some areas. Not sure what’s causing the premature peeling. What are your methods and choice of adhesives???

For small dings & tears, I use super glue.
Something like your pic, I'd try some DAP Weldwood contact cement.
Clamp or weight it down until it sets and cures a bit.
That's what I use for tolex on cabs.
If it's the back of a front panel, or other edges that aren't usually visible, I've also gone with adding a few staples just for good measure.

 

[67plexi]

I use tolex glue

Tolex Glue - Brush-on adhesive for applying tolex | Antique Electronic Supply

Brush-on adhesive ideal for applying tolex. Cleans up with soap and water. No nasty solvents required. Does not stretch or shrink the vinyl. Comes in quarts or gallons. Specifications: Tolex Glue is a non-flammable, Neoprene based, water borne adhesive formulated to bond tolex and vinyl to wood...

www.tubesandmore.com

 

[fitz]

I use tolex glue

Tolex Glue - Brush-on adhesive for applying tolex | Antique Electronic Supply

Brush-on adhesive ideal for applying tolex. Cleans up with soap and water. No nasty solvents required. Does not stretch or shrink the vinyl. Comes in quarts or gallons. Specifications: Tolex Glue is a non-flammable, Neoprene based, water borne adhesive formulated to bond tolex and vinyl to wood...

www.tubesandmore.com

I've used that T&M tolex glue - kinda pricy...
It works well and is a lot like the DAP water-based (green label).
Both take a lot longer to get tacky enough to hold and for final curing compared to the original VOC based (red label).

 

[DirtySteve]

I've never had to do this so I'm just saying what "I think" I would do. I would probably use some spray adhesive, just gotta make sure you only get it where you want it by covering everything good around it and taping it off. That stuff sticks like crazy.

 

[LiveeviL2000]

I always wondered what it would take to take the old tolex off and redo the entire cab? Is that difficult to do or even worth doing?

 

[67plexi]

I always wondered what it would take to take the old tolex off and redo the entire cab? Is that difficult to do or even worth doing?

It depends I restored this 1960 Fender Concert amp it had been recovered with black tolex it cost me $100.00 for the amp
used a heat gun to remove the black tolex the amp re capped and it has the Triad transformers same output transformer as the tweed Bassman
great sounding amp I only have two Fender amps with 4 x 10" speakers the other is a black face Super Reverb

 

[LiveeviL2000]

Just a heat gun?
Then just pull it off or scrape it?
From what I gather here, the new tolex is glued in place.

 

[fitz]

I always wondered what it would take to take the old tolex off and redo the entire cab? Is that difficult to do or even worth doing?

I've done complete re-do on a few cabs.
The ones I've done mostly just peeled off - never used a heat gun.
It's not an effortless process, but not as bad as what I've read about most other people's experience.
For small bits and stuck spots, I just use a 4" drywall knife to scrape / pry off.
I'd be glad to share some pointers on some details if you get past the wondering stage.

 

[LiveeviL2000]

I've done complete re-do on a few cabs.
The ones I've done mostly just peeled off - never used a heat gun.
It's not an effortless process, but not as bad as what I've read about most other people's experience.
For small bits and stuck spots, I just use a 4" drywall knife to scrape / pry off.
I'd be glad to share some pointers on some details if you get past the wondering stage.

That would be great

 

[fitz]

even worth doing?

Price up the tolex you want.
Keep in mind that you'll need to buy increments of length in yards.
A 1960 sized 412 is about 120" / 10' (+ a few inches for a bias-cut splice) around for a single piece wrap.
So that's 4 yards of tolex, or about $100-$160, depending on style.
But at 50" wide, that's enough width for 2 cabs and a head, or lots of wasted width...
Add other $20-40 or so for contact cement or tolex glue.
DIY gets pricy quick, although I do this stuff for a hobby, and I know people who drop that kinda ching on a round of golf.

 

[LiveeviL2000]

Price up the tolex you want.
Keep in mind that you'll need to buy increments of length in yards.
A 1960 sized 412 is about 120" / 10' (+ a few inches for a bias-cut splice) around for a single piece wrap.
So that's 4 yards of tolex, or about $100-$160, depending on style.
But at 50" wide, that's enough width for 2 cabs and a head, or lots of wasted width...
Add other $20-40 or so for contact cement or tolex glue.
DIY gets pricy quick, although I do this stuff for a hobby, and I know people who drop that kinda ching on a round of golf.

I have a 212 I want to redo.
For about $150. That’s not that bad.

 

[syscokid]

I'd try some DAP Weldwood contact cement.

This is what I eventually tried and it was a success! Looks like the Weldwood contact cement comes in various sizes, and I went to the local hardware store to get the smallest size they had available, which turned out to be a 3 oz bottle can for $10. I think I used 50 cents worth for this small repair job! I think this type of stuff has one year shelf life, and we'll see what happens the next time I need to use it.