Adhesives

[W2INR]

We have solved many world problems here in QSO  so I thought I would ask for help on this problem.

The convertible top on my car is coming apart around the rear window. There is a stitch that has held it together since 1995 but the thread is rotting I guess.

The top is in great shape and replacing it is around $1200.00

I am looking of an adhesive that would work in this situation. It might buy me a few more seasons. There will be a lot of movement, some tension, wet, cold and hot temps .

Any ideas?

[WA1GFZ]

Gary, How about Bob, ZM, ask him

[W2INR]

I have sent an email Frank. Waiting on return.

Seeing you next week??

[WA1GFZ]

Just told my boss today that I want to take next Friday off.
I'll be there if the wx is ok.

[WA1GFZ]

BTW I was at a sporting goods store a few weeks ago getting some fishing line and there is some interesting stuff that would make good HD thread if you want to try and sew it..

[WA3VJB]

I sent you an email.

[w3jn]

Liquid Nails is a HIHI Fine Business OM adhesive that's pretty flexible.  I don't know that anything will effectively repair a crapped out convertible top but that could be a start.

[WBear2GCR]

Call Loctite's customer service line.

They are serious help, industrial style.

I got a really tremendous industrial adhesive from them that is a two part, one half is a Heptane "catalyst" spray and the other part came out of a syringe tube - it was pricey, but it REALLY worked for the specific application. I've used the stuff since and it is friggin indestructible and incredibly STRONG.

Obviously not the stuff for your application, but those folks know and make specialized adhesives that are way better than the consumer grade stuff that you get in stores, for specific material combinations.

You can order via the internet from a distributor, or if you have a company affiliation, you might even get a "sample."

                              _-_-bear

[W2INR]

I sent you an email.

Thats great but I have not received any from you  as of right now for the last three weeks.

Will it fix my convertable top?

G

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Oh, that post was for you. I thought it was for Frank, since it followed his post. Nothing like nebulosity!

I sent you an email.

Thats great but I have not received any from you  as of right now for the last three weeks.

Will it fix my convertable top?

G

[W1RKW]

G,
Why not restitch the area?  Has to be less costly than replacing the top. 

[Pete, WA2CWA]

A quick Google search (convertible top patch) turned up this:

How do you repair ripped seams on a convertible top?
Answer:
You may wind up wasting your money trying to repair it yourself... it may be dry rotted since it has seam problems... and the rest of the seams will begin to follow suit coming apart... Your best bet probably would be to bite the bullet and get a new top from J.C. Whitney or some other discount auto parts place and do the replacement yourself... At least you know the entire top will be good and should last for a while...Otherwise go with a duct tape job for the time being... Good luck...

Lots of other info up there, but it seems like the most common short term fix is some sort of "patch".

[WA3VJB]

UGH, never J.C. Whitney on a Saab.
Too much cross-cultural distortion.

Just leave the top down Gary and roll the windows up if it gets too cold.



My dad tried using the stitch-in-time method on the top of an '86 Caddilac that my folks have.  They never put the top down, and it worked for about ten years. Now the same top is looking a bit ragged on the edge again.

Frank's right about the lacing cord available at camping/fishing stores.  It's used as tent lacing, and is often a waxed, stranded thread about the size of 26ga wire.

I've used it for custom cable bundle lacing, to get that old-fashion cat gut look.

[N2udf]

Gary,
Look for a product named Goop at hardware stores.I used it for a truck bed cover(worked OK FB OM)..Lee,N2UDF.

[W1RC]

Gorilla Glue is supposed to be good for this kind of job.

[WA3VJB]

I thought Goop was hand cleaner ?


Oh wait, other stuff with the same name.


http://www.eclecticproducts.com/ag_thumbs.htm

[Pete, WA2CWA]

No wonder my hands stuck together every time I tried to wash them. I was "gooped" by Goop.

[W2INR]

Good input!!

I think I am going to use some Goop where it was heat welded and then run a stitch  where it came apart.

The cost Bob to have it fixed professionally is around $600.00. The entire top has to be removed for this 12 inch failure. All I really need is to make the trip out east and back without the top ripping of and I can deal with this in th spring. The car gets put away Nov. 1 for the winter.

Here is a shot of the before I try to fix this!!
 

[k4kyv]

Construction adhesive might work.

I was working on my porch roof on a hot sunny day a couple of years ago.  It's a flat metal roof, and the hot metal caused the synthetic soles on my work boots to separate from the rest of the boot.  One of them actually expanded in size about 1/2"

Rather than throwing the boots away, I trimmed the soles back to fit the rest of the boot.  I had to cut a strip out of the middle of one to get it to fit back.  Then I glued the whole thing together with some kind of construction adhesive (similar to Liquid Nails, but not the same brand).  I am still wearing the boots.

[W2INR]

Success!!!

It is not pretty but I believe it will work just fine. My hands are killing me from stitching for 5 hours but I got it. Now I need to clean the top, load the car and head east

Thanks for the help

[WA1GFZ]

So I guess gary doesn't own a thimble, or thought to tape his finger tips.

[W2INR]

Pliers Frank

Push thru pull out push thru pull out push thru pull out - - - - -

[WA1GFZ]

sounds like a pita job.