16-10-2015, 04:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 16-10-2015, 04:41 PM by Radio Fixer.)
David's way is doing it in one hit which I have never tried. I have seen one result of someone who had and it was not taut and he had got adhesive on the front face of the cloth. Easy to do as you lower the piece into place and try to say fix and stretch out the top. The rest of it and not taut is draped on the adhesive covered surface.
I should have said a little more about the choice of cloth: obviously no distinct pattern is easier but also the weight of cloth is important. Much I have used has been proper repro speaker cloth whereas some sold is just off cuts of possibly curtain or upholstery fabric. This is not intended to have any stretch as you don't want to keep shortening curtains. Whatever material you have after ironing lay it on a clean surface and try just gently stretching it out with your fingers, in both directions. If it is really stiff then it isn't IMO suitable. Find something else. If it moves under gentle pressure just get the feel of it in both directions. You certainly need a little stretch as without it it will sag ... I have been there. Spraying with water and drying usually is a failure although you will find some who say it works. IMHO the reason it doesn't is that modern fabrics are petro based and designed not to shrink anyway.
I would fix the top trying to smooth it out evenly with a degree of stretch you will have to guess but I have a feel for it now. When dry you can turn the cabinet around and let it hang down and see if its looking good !! Then, me being right handed, I would do the left side and check as before. If all still looking good then go for the right side and bottom in one go, the only way.
David's adhesive may be better possibly applied by brush. I certainly wouldn't spray the whole surface and if it has bars or fretwork then no way. I have used my way of doing it on several radios including Bakelite where I used Evo Stick.
On baffle boards this is the glue I use:http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000NJZXHS/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1445013337&sr=1&keywords=3m+spray+adhesive
They all say "clear and non staining" but I don't trust that. To the critical eye, get it on the front and it can be seen, often not at first but months or years later, odd that. I trust 3M products having used them for photo mount for years.
Good luck with it.
Gary
I should have said a little more about the choice of cloth: obviously no distinct pattern is easier but also the weight of cloth is important. Much I have used has been proper repro speaker cloth whereas some sold is just off cuts of possibly curtain or upholstery fabric. This is not intended to have any stretch as you don't want to keep shortening curtains. Whatever material you have after ironing lay it on a clean surface and try just gently stretching it out with your fingers, in both directions. If it is really stiff then it isn't IMO suitable. Find something else. If it moves under gentle pressure just get the feel of it in both directions. You certainly need a little stretch as without it it will sag ... I have been there. Spraying with water and drying usually is a failure although you will find some who say it works. IMHO the reason it doesn't is that modern fabrics are petro based and designed not to shrink anyway.
I would fix the top trying to smooth it out evenly with a degree of stretch you will have to guess but I have a feel for it now. When dry you can turn the cabinet around and let it hang down and see if its looking good !! Then, me being right handed, I would do the left side and check as before. If all still looking good then go for the right side and bottom in one go, the only way.
David's adhesive may be better possibly applied by brush. I certainly wouldn't spray the whole surface and if it has bars or fretwork then no way. I have used my way of doing it on several radios including Bakelite where I used Evo Stick.
On baffle boards this is the glue I use:http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000NJZXHS/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1445013337&sr=1&keywords=3m+spray+adhesive
They all say "clear and non staining" but I don't trust that. To the critical eye, get it on the front and it can be seen, often not at first but months or years later, odd that. I trust 3M products having used them for photo mount for years.
Good luck with it.
Gary
