I killed my dash today

[David Hodgkins]

I've been working on the roadster trying to get it ready to pick up the painted body so today I was hoping to do the dash install. I covered it earlier this week in felt and a couple of days ago covered the face in faux leather from JoAnns fabrics.

I purchased some weldwood contact cement and applied it to the edges and the back of the dash, waited for 30 minutes as directed and tried to fold the dash covering over the back of the dash. Nothing. No stick at all. So I sprayed it with 3m contact cement, waited for it to get tacky and tried to fold it over the dash edge again. NO GO. It pulled the weldwood cement right off the back of the dash.

I got this overwhelming desire to do something incredibly stupid so I picked the dash up and it accidently hit the ground with tremendous force, twisting it and basically ruining it. (No pics, I wasn't in the pic taking mood at the time)

Oops.

I immediately called Glenn Evans http://www.factoryfive.com/images/banners/ffforum/ast_468.gif (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=644) and made arrangements to ship my destroyed dash to him. He is making me a new one from thicker aluminum in my pattern and crinkle-coat powdercoating it.

S@*#w the "leather" dash! AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!

I feel better now...

:)

[Don DePontee]

LOL I can relate, rest assured Glen will make you a beautiful dash, on a side note, I always have a 2x4 and a big hammer to focus my negative energy on trust me it works and saves me A LOT of money.
Don

[frankeeski]

Dave, I can totally relate. I to made the mistake of trying the Weldwood contact cement as recommended by many. Worst mistake I ever made. The Weldwood melted the foam on the back of my leather. I salvaged the leather and knowing I will eventually redo my dash with new foam on the back when I go to paint makes me feel a bit better but......................If I had it to do all over again I would use the Scotch 33 Adhesive from the start and be done with it. Sorry you had to go through this all. Hopefully others will learn from "our" mistakes. NEVER USE WELDWOOD CONTACT CEMENT TO ADHERE YOUR DASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I sure hope everyone heard that.

[Gale K]

There's got to be a dash comisery club... I fought the same battle and about lost my religion somewhere around five times while attempting to cover (then recover) my dash!

On the second round, I used 3M Supertrim (forum suggestion). If I ever redo the dash again, I would seriously consider the powder coat option.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Not going to help you at this point David but as an FYI for other builders 3M Super 77 works well. For the folded over 180 degree wraps such as at the bottom lip or dash ends I lay wax paper over the vinyl then use 1/4" wood latice strips and clamp it with either spring or "C" clamps for a half hour or so.

Jeff

[Marty Prario]

I tried the 3m and screwed up my dash. It just would not stick, so I paid a pro $80 for new material and a install. 4 years and going strong.

[rich grsc]

Weldwood, well its for wood.

[skullandbones]

Hi David,

I used the 3M Super 77 adhesive and the edges promptly let loose a couple of hours after I used wood wedges to hold initially. I think in our area of AZ, there is probably a humidity factor and heat of course. I may have also not cleaned the edges as good as required. I forgot about it for a while then went thru the ritual again and it worked. I think these little setbacks happen a lot more than reported. But I'm sure you will be happier with the new dash.

I'm glad it wasn't something that went wrong with the body. It must be true when they say you should not, "P***off a Wookie!!!!!" WEK.

[Jeff Kleiner]

BTW, my success with Super 77 is with it applied to BOTH surfaces.

Jeff

[cobrajj]

Dave, Here's what I used to attach the supplied covering. Cleaned aluminum with brake cleaner, sprayed & waited 15 min to get tacky, then pressed flat with heavy catalogs overnight. No looseness or lifting after 1 1/2 years. Jim ( Also applied lightly to foam surface)

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/jjcobra_01/IMG_4449.jpg

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/jjcobra_01/IMG_4424.jpg

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/jjcobra_01/IMG_4421.jpg

[riptide motorsport]

yep, hit and miss....some get lucky, some don't :(

[j.miller]

stall tactics..........Dave just doesn't want to be done with his car.........it's ok Dave, even when it's finished it will never be done.

[PhoneGUy]

Just finished my dash using the 3M 77 and it worked great. Easy to work with and tacky as all get out. I was full of anxiety after ready posts like this and others, worried a bunch for no reason at all.
https://picasaweb.google.com/107573727189916460824/PublicAlbum#5723182552202053650

Put me down for works and would use it again. BTW, the weather in Michigan this week was above 80 when I completed this. I turned the heat on in the garage to 68 so that it would stay warm overnight when the temp dropped down to 55.

[frankeeski]

Just finished my dash using the 3M 77 and it worked great.

You just can't go wrong with 3M-77 or 3M-90 for ease of use and performance.

[pipe_dream]

I'm sure the powdercoating will look nice and should be pretty durable. Wish you the best.