Which Headliner Adhesive? Contact Cement, Spray Glue, etc

[NewTechnicIan]

Hi all,
I'm putting up the foam padding for my headliner right now in my '73 standard bug. I went with a Sewfine Tweed one piece/low effort kit.

When I was talking to the folks at Sewfine they actually said that Weldwood contact cement from DAP would work best for long lasting results on the headliner, but I would need to spray it instead of brushing it on the fabric, or it would risk bleeding through the fabric and discoloring. I have a Home Depot spray gun that I could use but I don't know what nozzle to use, etc.

I also see people using 3M 77 or 90, just spray can adhesive stuff, and that seems to work pretty well too. I'm kinda thinking of using that? Does that have any issues with bleeding through headliners?

If anyone's used the Weldwood stuff I'd love to see results! Thanks all!
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My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[slagathor]

i used 3m 90 on all the insulation, carpeting and headliner in my bug and it works extremely well and it was super easy.

however

when i first started i had used dap carpet adhesive that you had to "paint on" and it was a giant messy disaster which is why i went to 3m 90 spray. the dap bleed through the insulation and carpet (i started with the hidden carpeting before doing anything) and when i tried a lighter coat of it, it never dried...at all. it sat in the sun for weekend and the carpet still peeled away from the backing board i was sticking to to.

do your self a favor, 3m 90 and be done with it

[peteandvanessa]

I also installed a Sewfine Tweed headliner on my 1974 Std Bug.

I used 3M High Strength 90 Spray Adhesive for the foam and headliner, which worked well. No bleed through on the headliner at all and it's been up for nearly two years so far.

You shouldn't get bleed through, the glue get's sprayed on to the Roof, then the foam padding is stuck to that. For the headliner, I used the spray glue only where it wouldn't be seen (around the windows where the glass rubber covers and holds the headliner)

For over spray onto the body work I used a clean cloth with WD40, which removes the over spray easily.

I considered using weldwood, but it much slower to apply than the spray glue.

And another tip, get clips, lots and lots and lots of clips!!!!


Details are here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...;start=300
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My 1974 Standard Build Thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My Son's 1971 Bay Window Westie Build Thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7295189#7295189

[zak414]

Use the 90. I tried the 77 and it failed miserably. I had good results with DAP contact cement too. Have to find the stuff in the red can though.
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1962 Bug
40 HP Engine
28 Pict Carb rebuilt by Volkzbitz
Big Cap Distributor rebuilt by Tasb

[NewTechnicIan]

Ok, so it sounds like the 3M 90 just has a good enough track record to trust and it's not worth risking using the contact cement on anything that will show.

Question then, do you spray the 3M 90 on both the headliner and the padding/what you're sticking it to? Or do you just spray it on the padding/where you're sticking it?

Thanks!
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My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[zak414]

Spray it on both surfaces.

In my experience, spraying the padding is a bad idea. If you don't stretch the headliner material over it perfectly it's nearly impossible to pull it back away from the padding to reposition it without ripping the padding apart. You should really just apply glue to the headliner and the part of the body that the headliner will make contact with.
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1962 Bug
40 HP Engine
28 Pict Carb rebuilt by Volkzbitz
Big Cap Distributor rebuilt by Tasb

[TX-73]

I used a combination of brush and spray , both seemed to work well. Contact adhesive works best if both surfaces are sprayed and allowed to tack dry. Like Pete's build my headliner install is in my posts.
I taped off edges where I didn't want spray, makes for accurate installation.
lots of clips !
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My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
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[NewTechnicIan]

Pete, TX-73, I've pored over both your threads for hours as you've built your bugs. Incredible work. I'm definitely using your builds as bibles as I go.

I got a bit thrown by the person at Sewfine telling me to use weldwood but then she said you have to spray it so I guess I'm back to using the spray adhesive anyway since I don't have a good gun for spraying the weldwood stuff thin enough that it won't show.

Thanks!
_________________
My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[peteandvanessa]

[NewTechnicIan]

Awesome! So you're saying don't spray the adhesive all over the fabric, just really where it needs to stick like at the windows and edges?

Like for example on the B-Pillars, spray only where it's going to be hidden below the rear quarter cards and where it'll be under the windows, or do I spray the areas that will be touching the padding too?

Thanks!
_________________
My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[peteandvanessa]

[pistolpetecowboy]

There's a 6 part video on youtube showing a cloth headliner install. Good tips, materials, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onqn7ZvzRps

I also used 3m 90 on my vinyl headliner and padding. BTW:Solvents in 3m 90 will melt lacquer paint.
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70 Beetle, 70 Beetle, 71 Beetle, 71 Super, 73 Super, 74 Beetle, 2000 Vintage Speedster, 2020 Jeep Renegade, 71 Squareback

[NewTechnicIan]

Pete, Duuude that picture is perfection. I can see now that I could probably use either of the adhesives doing it this way and not worry about discoloration in the visible areas too, but I'll probably go with the 3M stuff anyway since it seems to be the easiest to work with.
_________________
My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[peteandvanessa]

[vamram]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm at the start of a new headliner installation and thought I'd add my 2-cents.

My experience so far is that the Permatex spray on headliner is the best, better even than 3M 90. The difficulty i'm having is preventing overspray because of the way the stream travels in waves.

I'm also trying the Weldwood in sections, but the initial hold is definitely better w/the Permatex. We'll see how it goes.
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