Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

So I bought a bunch of this 72 in wide hull liner material last year thinking to use it as a headliner, on the floor and partway up the sides. Hull Liner Seems like pretty good stuff. The company was real good to work with.

Anyway...I glued up the 1/8 birch panels this morning for the headliner. And laid the fabric out...





Here's the questions...I know I need spray automotive headliner glue to fasten the hull liner to the 1/8 birch ply.

Do you need to seal the birch first with poly or a varnish wash?
And do you need to spray both the back side of the fabric and the birch with the headliner glue (or just the birch?)

Thanks all...Juneaudave

Uhhhh read the can And I would seal the birch really good in case water gets in there some way. Even humidity can get to the back of material and get a mold started. Just ask Heikki.

What is the birch going against? If there is airflow behind it, I wouldn't worry about sealing. I tend to like the "let it breathe" approach where feasible. In my limited mind, sealed surface just drive the moisture elsewhere. If it's going against another solid surface, I would seal it up and drill a few weep holes here and there in the birch just in case moisture gets behind it. Then it can dry out during those dry Juneau summers.

$.02

Uhhhh, I guess this did seem like just another stupid question...So I ran out to the store and got some glue...and the can says apply to both the fabric and the surface, mystery solved. The can doesn't say anything about sealing the backer, but I think it couldn't hurt.

Thing was (with my pea-sized brain), it seems like the last time I did one of those glue in place headliners, the backer was only a formed stiff cardboard-like material...and the glue was not like a contact cement where you stick it and its stuck...you applied it to one side and could move the material around a bit to get it to fit. Old age I guess....

Miriam C. wrote::D Uhhhh read the can And I would seal the birch really good in case water gets in there some way. Even humidity can get to the back of material and get a mold started. Just ask Heikki.

Auntie M your very correct, I learned this part the hard way. But I got it done.

Seal the Birch most definitely,,, The weather in Alaska and Scandinavia sure is a lot different that that of California..

Mold will grow fast if it gets in..

Better safe than sorry.. Also all the beautiful work youve put into this tear Id say SEAL IT.
This is just my opinion.. I did just that.. and Ohh I like the material your using .. now I want some too..

by the way I also used the best Marine Grade Finnish Ply I could buy. And its sealed.

Heikki

Juneaudave wrote:So I bought a bunch of this 72 in wide hull liner material last year thinking to use it as a headliner, on the floor and partway up the sides. Hull Liner Seems like pretty good stuff. The company was real good to work with.

Anyway...I glued up the 1/8 birch panels this morning for the headliner. And laid the fabric out...





Here's the questions...I know I need spray automotive headliner glue to fasten the hull liner to the 1/8 birch ply.

Do you need to seal the birch first with poly or a varnish wash?
And do you need to spray both the back side of the fabric and the birch with the headliner glue (or just the birch?)

Thanks all...Juneaudave

Gee look at all the color possibilties..

I found ours there too that we,d like to install.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/ ... 9_25793685


Classic Finn

I know you bought your glue, however is it the contact cement variety or headliner spray? it makes a difference because of the weight of the fabrics. Foam Backed headliner is a lightweight material, while hull liner is a bit heavier. I have replaced many a headliner for a customer who did a DIY with the wrong type of glue. Check to make sure the nylon in the fabric will bond well with the wood. You should not be able to pull the fabric up easily. If you can, then use another glue, preferably the type used for vinyl tops - 3M Rubber And Vinyl Adhesive 80, which is a contact cement, vs 3M super 77. Would hate for you to use the wrong kind of glue and have it sag after about of month of varying weather conditions.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtlxMtN8&XEV76EbHSHVs6EVs6E666666--

You never know about some of those Yahoo merchants...but this guy boxed that stuff up, called and worked on getting me the best deal in shipping. The headliner material is different from that hull liner, but I looked at those colors pretty closely also.

BTW...I did shoot down that panel just now, so were all sealed up. I'll give the glue and hull liner a try tomorrow morning!!!

Dave,

Please keep us updated. I am curious how this is going to turn out. I might want to try it myself in the future.

Thanks.

starleen2 wrote:I know you bought your glue, however is it the contact cement variety or headliner spray? it makes a difference because of the weight of the fabrics. Foam Backed headliner is a lightweight material, while hull liner is a bit heavier. I have replaced many a headliner for a customer who did a DIY with the wrong type of glue. Check to make sure the nylon in the fabric will bond well with the wood. You should not be able to pull the fabric up easily. If you can, then use another glue, preferably the type used for vinyl tops - 3M Rubber And Vinyl Adhesive 80, which is a contact cement, vs 3M super 77. Would hate for you to use the wrong kind of glue and have it sag after about of month of varying weather conditions.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtlxMtN8&XEV76EbHSHVs6EVs6E666666--

Thanks Starleen...I've already made the 3M Super 77 mistake in the past...dag gum it!!! I used that stuff to put in a headliner for my daughter and sure enough...off it came as soon as it got hot.

This headliner glue thing is a mystery to me. What I bought is the 3M Super Trim Adhesive 08090. It says "for lightweight headliners" and "high immediate bond strength" and "repositional during assembly" and "water resistant". I have no clue if this will be the ticket. I'll test a small piece tonight and see how it acts....if you have different thoughts please let me know. I figured someone out in T&TTT land would have experience with this. It sure isn't as simple a thing as one would expect!!!!..Juneaudave

Yes, 3M Super Trim Adhesive 08090 will work just fine. We use it for thick headlines and carpeting installs. Be careful to get a good light web covering buildup (on both sides) to prevent over saturating the material and bleed through. If it does bleed through, Ronsol lighter fluid is a good clean up (use sparingly – it will dissolve the glue under the fabric as well) Fold fabrics in half – do not crease! Do one half, covering both the wood and the fabric and starting from the middle work your way out – gently smoothing out the fabric – works even better if you have an extra set of hands – repeat for the other side. Try to get it right because it is a contact adhesive and not much time before it cures, you may not get a second chance. FYI - 3M General Trim Adhesive Clear – 08088 is good for the foam backed healiners. Good luck

Would that 3M stuff be a good adhesive for exterior Vinyl / Canvas panels ?

Tombstonebilly wrote::thinking: Would that 3M stuff be a good adhesive for exterior Vinyl / Canvas panels ?

That beats the heck out of me, Starleen might know...meanwhile back at the ranch...

I rolled that hull liner out this morning on the sealed ply. Much to my dismay, it was all wrinkled up. Because I'm in Juneau, the supplier couldn't ship the 72 in stuff on a roll via UPS ground...and had taken the roll and carefully folded it in a box. Well......

So...here's what I've been trying to get the wrinkles out and relax the fabric.

I rolled it out and have been gently smoothing it while applying heat via a blow drier while spritzing with water via a sprayer. As I work it, I've clamped the ends (trying not to stretch the hull liner) to keep it tight. Seems like it is working...hope this turns out!!! Once it relaxes, I'll give the glue thing a try.

Ok

Just what is "Hull Liner"? Some special cloth? Cloth on foam?

Would that 3M stuff be a good adhesive for exterior Vinyl / Canvas panels ?

Yes, it is a contact adhesive in spray form (3M Super Trim Adhesive 08090). it will stick down a vinyl top to metal and most other substrates. used it all the time in classic car restores.

Just what is "Hull Liner"? Some special cloth? Cloth on foam?

Hull liner was developed for the marine industry as an inexpensive way to cover all those Fiberglass panels that might get seen, but never used. It is mainly used in bow sections to cover any exposed glass such a fishing pole storage bin, behind control panels etc. its main function is to cover the fiberglass aesthetically