Glueing vinyl to vinyl (headlining)

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JimC

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The ceiling panels on my boat are 4 mm plywood covered with vinyl (not foam-backed). They are held up by screws going into wooden transverse battens which are bonded to the grp. I've had the panels down a couple of times to fit extra lights & wiring and some of the screw holes are getting worn. I'm considering replacing the screws with 1 inch velcro tape on the battens and the panels. I think it should be strong enough to hold the panels to the curve of the coachroof. The question is what to do with the holes in the panels. I couldn't fill them in a way that wouldn't show so I was thinking of simply sticking another layer of vinyl on top of the existing to conceal them. Any thoughts on this and, in particular, can anyone recommend a suitable adhesive.
 
Hawke House stock a vinyl adhesive Tradegrip SAF60 or BOSTIK 1782.

You used to be able to buy tubes of something, IIRC, called "vinyl weld" or "vinyl mend" or something like that but i have not seen it for ages.

The adhesive for PVC inflatables will probably work well too

But IMO the result will not look elegant more of a bodge!

Vinyl covered screw caps look neat / decorative. I used screws and covered caps as well as Velcro.

I used ordinary Velcro but the heavy duty stuff will probably be better for you and has been recommended here recently




 
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If you are going to buy new vinyl why not recover the panels properly, removing the old covering? This would reduce the weight of each panel and give the velcro a better chance. You would need to use the best quality velcro and staple it to both panel and deck head. If you do remove the old vinyl then the new can be stuck on with solvite wall paper adhesive. (Honestly it it the thing to use).

Yoda
 
solvite wall paper adhesive.
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Or a water proof PVA wood glue. That is what Hawke House recommend and sell for he job and what I used.

137_medium.jpg
 
I had some water-based contact adhesive some years ago from Hawke House - what a brilliant idea I thought! After 12 months it all started to fall off so had to re-prep the grp(possibly the most unpleasant job there is in the world), buy more vinyl and glue using a high-temp solvented adhesive. No adhesion problems there but working with solvent based adhesive in a confined space even using a decent face mask is the second most unpleasant job around and still not without hazards.
So brill if this PVA works. Does anyone have feedback?
 
If the problem is just the screw holes why not use some sort of Rawlplug or even thin wedges of wood (maybe matchsticks) and remain with screws - might maker a better job of it :)
 
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I would stick with the screws. Dovetail the worn holes with a small chisel or a drill; then mix some araldite, put it into a small syringe and force it into the worn holes. Cover the holes with a piece of masking tape to keep the araldite in place, when it cures drill new pilot holes and replace the screws.
 
apogee said:
I had some water-based contact adhesive some years ago from Hawke House - what a brilliant idea I thought! After 12 months it all started to fall off so had to re-prep the grp(possibly the most unpleasant job there is in the world), buy more vinyl and glue using a high-temp solvented adhesive. No adhesion problems there but working with solvent based adhesive in a confined space even using a decent face mask is the second most unpleasant job around and still not without hazards.
So brill if this PVA works. Does anyone have feedback?
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The PVA works just fine for sticking foam backed vinyl to wooden panels.

Solvent based contact adhesive is still AFAIK the only satisfactory adhesive for sticking to the GRP.

From HH website

ADHESIVES: Special contact adhesives are used to bond the fabrics directly to the hull, coach roof or panels and both surfaces should be coated for the best results. SAF 111adhesive spread on to the hull side etc., and TRADE TACK sprayed onto the reverse side of the foambacked fabric. Unfoamed vinyl will need SAF 111 on the substrate and reverse side of the vinyl. Bostik 1782 is used for lapping & finishing. For bonding foam backed vinyls onto removable ply panels WA40 can be used as an alternative to contact adhesives coating the board only.​

If using the solvent based adhesive in a confined space an organic vapours respirator mask AND good ventilation are essential.

3M 4251 Mask is a very efficient mask as it prevents breathing in of the solvent fumes given off from solvent borne contact adhesives etc.

OVM3 Mask is an economical organic vapour mask for the smaller job.​
 
Thanks for all suggestions. I think you've convinced me to stay with the screws and make good the over-enlarged screw holes in the battens. VicS, your ceiling looks very smart, can I ask where you got your vinyl coated screw covers.
 
BERT T said:
I would stick with the screws. Dovetail the worn holes with a small chisel or a drill; then mix some araldite, put it into a small syringe and force it into the worn holes. Cover the holes with a piece of masking tape to keep the araldite in place, when it cures drill new pilot holes and replace the screws.
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I had exactly the same problem on our old Mirage and what I did was to drill out the existing hole to 1/2" and epoxy in a correctly sized piece of wood/ply. Worked fine for the rest of the time we owned the boat. I'm sure the idea above would be OK too. Incidentally we found using a bradawl was good for locating the screw holes in the battens when refixing panels.
 
JimC said:
Thanks for all suggestions. I think you've convinced me to stay with the screws and make good the over-enlarged screw holes in the battens. VicS, your ceiling looks very smart, can I ask where you got your vinyl coated screw covers.
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They came from Hawke House but of course I was buying all the new vinyl etc etc from them at the same time so match exactly.

Headlining Buttons : Description
BOARD FIXING BUTTONS/STUDS to match your headlining.

We manufacture these special buttons in all our range of headlining colours so that you can be confident that they will compliment your lining boards that are covered in our fabrics.

Headlining Buttons : Price (£)0.54 Headlining Buttons each (Various Colours)​
 
I meant them as a way of making good the over-enlarged screw holes in my ceiling panel support battens - such that the woodscrews would be replaced by M4 machine screw which would then stand any number of lower/re-fit cycles.
 
Length of dowel, drill bit to match diameter of dowel, small quantity of D3 PVA glue. Drill old holes out, glue in dowel. Good again for as many years as the old holes have been. Ok, maybe a few less years as you'll be screwing into the end grain, but near enough.
 
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