Galley sides in fabric?

[Ira]

For those that have followed my galley saga, an idea hit me yesterday:

Do you think I could I use contact cement to put fabric on the sides, and then varnish over? I'm sure there's a ton of great themed stuff out there, and the size I can get it cut to should be perfect.

Is our resident seamstress Doug in the house?

[Chris C]

Fabric or wallpaper. Either would look good and cover any blemishes you might have. Good solution. Remember, it's not a mistake if it can be corrected.

[Ira]

I figure that I'll look for a fabric I like, buy a half-yard, contact cement it onto a small piece of luan, let that dry, then varnish to see what happens to it. I'm sure the varnish will really darken it, so I gotta look for something that's predominantly light.

[doug hodder]

Ira...that would work really well...but I would do a test first... lay fabric directly on the wood, no adheseive on it...and brush it with varnish..see if that works, I would think it would soak through and adhear...when doing the sides I'd spray varnish on the wood out of a cheap spray can...use that as a glue to stick the fabric to...after you get the fabric positioned, brush on the heavy stuff to protect the fabric...just my thoughts on it. and this is very typical as to how to put fiberglass on the hull of a boat...although I lay my cloth dry and squeege the epoxy into the fabric...same technique however...Doug

[Ira]

Hey, great idea, Doug! Just use the spary varnish as the adhesive!

Another edit:

What do you mean cheap spray can? You mean just buy spray varnish, right? Like they sell at art stores?

[doug hodder]

You could also try using a lacquer Ira...you can get them in crystal clear...but they typically aren't made for exterior uses, unless you get the automotive stuff...like Krylon in a can...just read the labels...and I say "cheap spray can" as you don't need really good stuff...just enough to hold the fabric in place till you can paint it out with your top coat...Doug

[Ira]

Hey, I'm excited about this--there are some cool fabrics out there!

I'll just get a can of spray varnish from the art store. Also, this should be fairly easy trimming the fabric out around any corners.

[cracker39]

Why not use the Minwax Polycrylic clear gloss? That's a water-based polycrylic finish that is said to be crystal clear. It may not come in a spray can, but can be brushed on for the base adhesive coat.

[doug hodder]

Good idea Dale...I don't use it so it didn't even cross my mind! Doug

[Ira]

The thing is, I would want something REALLY thin for the base coat. There's going to be some awkward trimming with scissors/a blade, and I don't want anything too gloppy that'll get on the fabic surface before I'm really ready to apply it.

I'll get a can, and do a test with both.

But are you saying that this stuff ALONE may do it? That it's gonna soak through anyway to the surface?

[Jiminsav]

Ira, glue it down first..if you spray enough stuff to soak through, it will run down the sides like a waterfall.

[Ira]

Ira, glue it down first..if you spray enough stuff to soak through, it will run down the sides like a waterfall.

That's what I'm thinking--get it on there and then use the Poly. Otherwise, it's gonna be a mess.

[GeorgeTelford]

Hi

or what about....

spray the wood to seal it and provide a "glue" to hold the fabric in place, then spray the outer surface to seal.

[Steve Frederick]

3M #77?
Spray the wood, apply fabric, then top off in varnish??

[Ira]

3M #77?
Spray the wood, apply fabric, then top off in varnish??

That's what I'm thinking. The 3M will hold it well. Just think that the Polycrylic might be a better coating though.