Your cabinet looks great John. In another lifetime, I worked in
automotive trim, including the old landau roof treatments. This
material is still available, similar to Tolex, and much less
expensive. The main difference is that the landau material has
a "fleece" backing, which helps in adhesion (especially at 80 mph).
The grain called "Levant" is nearly identical to the grain of Tolex,
but there are other grains as well. This material is readily
available at an upholstery supply house, or even from an auto
upholstery shop, but it will be more expensive at the shop. Many of
the supply houses only sell wholesale, but I've known of many that
will sell to walk-ins on a cash + tax basis.
It's very important not to use a cheap can of spray adhesive, as most
of them are sensitive to heat, and will actually let loose over time.
The 3M is very good, and will not fail when used as you mentioned.
Another alternative is to use staples in places where they don't
show, and stretch the material tight.
This is a great alternative for those whose woodworking skills are
not well refined, and for those who don't want to invest in expensive
hardwoods.
~Terry
--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Speth, John" <john.speth@c...> wrote:
> Hi group-
>
> I know there are a lot of Tolex covered cabinet naysayers out there
but here's my example that shows it can look good. Take a look at
the files section of the MOTM group under the Tolex Cabinet folder.
With MOTM, you get that "black beauty" look. Please excuse the bad
photography.
>
> Tolex is a little expensive but it's very forgiving to work with.
It also takes a beating well and looks good in a studio (IMO). The
basic steps are: build the cabinet, paint the wood to seal it for
better adhesive results, cut and apply the Tolex with your favorite
adhesive (I used 3M Spray 77), and attach hardware. Spray 77 works
best when used just like contact cement.
>
> John Speth