How to Glue Tolex
Tolex consists of a flexible and hard-wearing vinyl material most often used for Fender amplifiers, musical cabinets and guitar cases. Specialty glues to properly bond Tolex to wood or wood substrates is commercially available to make your repair job a durable one. You can use Tolex glue, a non-flammable, water-borne adhesive that will not stretch or shrink the vinyl material when making repairs. Clean up excess glue easily with a bit of warm soapy water and a sponge.
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Instructions
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Make sure both surfaces appear clean before bonding. Scrape off any residual glue on surfaces and rinse with a damp sponge. Allow surfaces to dry thoroughly before gluing.
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Apply a thin coat of Tolex glue with a brush to both surfaces. Extremely porous surfaces may require two thin coats; the first to seal the surfaces. Apply the second coat only after the first has dried completely and is transparent.
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Allow the glue to "flash off" for 20 to 30 minutes before bonding the two surfaces together. Glue should be glossy and transparent, not cloudy, when bonding the materials together.
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Line up the two surfaces carefully before bonding. Some types of Tolex glue create an immediate bond that you will not have a chance to reposition once the surfaces meet. Press slowly together, applying even pressure over the seal.
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Use a pinch roller or j-roller to help secure the surface seal and strengthen the bond. Roll slowly from one end of the surface to the other.
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Tips & Warnings
You can shorten the flash off time by applying forced air drying or heat.
Tolex glue by Mojo offers a more flexible glue with the ability to reposition pieces when bonding.
Do not apply Tolex glue when surface temperatures fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit--it will not bond well.
Store Tolex glue in temperatures above freezing; freezing will degrade the product.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit amplifier image by Darko Draskovic from Fotolia.com
