TR2/3/3A Gluing vinyl to cockpit capping?

[karls59tr]

Any suggestions as to the best adhesive to use to bond new vinyl to the aluminum capping on the cockpit surround?

 

[PeterK]

I used contact cement but I didn't glue it all at once.
Here's what I did:

First I laid the capping on the vinyl upside down and rolled it to mark each edge on the back of the vinyl with a sharpie. Then I brushed cement to the marked lines and on the capping. Wait longer until the glue has dried to tack. Then marry the two pieces, smoothing as you go but avoid too much stretching and leaving edges without glue until the next day.

Next day, revisit yesterdays work, then apply glue to the edges and enough under the capping to wrap the vinyl, cut v-shaped reliefs around the curves as you think you need. Smooth around the edge and hold/clamp as needed. Squeeze clamps and wood scraps work well. Too much squeeze pressure may flatten the vinyl grain. It will be apparent that yesterdays work helps holding today's work where you want it.

Then one more day when everything is set, flip the capping over and trim any excess inside the capping with a razor knife leaving enough material underneath but not too much which can cause fitment issues.

I've also used 3M vinyl spray for other things but plain contact cement worked just fine. For the amount needed, brush cap bottles work really well and you use a new fresh one each time.

 

[CJD]

I think any good contact cement will work. I mainly wanted to add that I learned the hard way that the 3M contact cement in a spray can has a limited shelf life. Be sure to toss it after a year on the shelf, as it loses it's strength after that.

 

[martx-5]

I used 3M #90 spray adhesive and Weldwood contact adhesive in the bottle for places i didn't want to get overspray all over, or in tight spots.

The doglegs will require some careful work to get them wrinkle free. I was using leather, so water and heat helped a lot. Vinyl shouldn't need the water. Also, I made a jig (courtesy of Geo Hahn's great idea) to help with stretching the leather (vinyl) on the doglegs.

Geo Hahn's first three pics, mine last...

 

[karls59tr]

Thanks to all for great info.

 

[RandyInUtah]

I just finished recovering my capings in leather and the contact glue I used worked great. Purchased a product called "Barge" at Tandy Leather supply. It's an old time glue that shoe makers used to glue soles and heals on shoes when people still had their shoes remade.