Hot glue on Tolex?

[Rich M]

I have a HR Deluxe I'm cleaning up and would like to tack some loose tolex tabs down with hot glue, due to the short working time. Has anybody done this? Does the repair hold? I have contact cement, but hot glue would be very quick and dirty.

[rooster]

Stick with contact cement. You have to sand off the old stuff, but it's worth it in the long run. Any stuff that leaks out while you're working can easily be removed from the cab with your thumb by rubbing it, once it's dried.

rooster.

[John Phillips]

I use superglue for small tolex repairs. (Actually, cheap stuff is better rather than super thin high-quality Loctite.) Works perfectly, but don't put too much in and have it squeeze out since it marks the surface. You get familiar with the quantity when you've done a few of them... start in less obvious places.

To make the whole thing look really smart afterwards and cover any minor scuffs and tears, use black boot polish (I like Kiwi brand :)). The idea isn't to heavily coat the surface, just to fill any small marks and then polish all the excess off.

Don't use 'Back to Black' or any other silicone-based automotive type stuff, it leaves a slippery residue that you can't get rid of, and looks too unnatural anyway.

Here's a good example of a superglued and Kiwi'd amp -

http://www.theangelconversations.com/pics/Marshall2203_1.jpg

It was a real mess when I got it, probably over a hundred small tears and the whole thing was scuffed and dirty. Luckily very little vinyl actually missing though.