Big problem with VintageVibe Tolex glue - looking for advice

[shmuelyosef]

.....if I had any hair, I'd be tearing it out.

Just for background...I have worked with my hands for >40 years on a variety of things. Been a machinist and custom furniture builder, and repair woodwind instruments on the side.

Bought a Stage 73 that had been dropped about six months ago. Case was busted but piano was still mountable on the base. Got the piano tweaked to perfection (been playing and maintaining my own Rhodes since 1975).

Decided to build a new case...came out real nice; finger joint corners, Dyno style semi-permanent half lid...made some nice walnut cheek blocks that look cool...destined for a permanent home in my studio.

Decided to tolex it...bought tolex and a couple quarts of contact cement from VintageVibe. Found these instructions at the VintageVibe site:

Tolex Glue:

Water based, this is the best glue you could ever want for your professional tolexing.  You can brush it, roll it, or spray it on.  This glue can go on and be repositioned a week later if you want, you can cover your tolex and leave it alone for days and come back and still apply it on your cabinet. No more toxic fumes, this glue gives you all the time in the world to get the job done right.

stage rhodes 1-2 quarts

....sounds pretty simple

Started the tolexing yesterday. Mixed the glue by shaking vigorously and then letting the bubbles settle out like latex paint. Started with the main case sides, first one went well following the corner process on the YouTube video. Second one had a little problem getting the glue to stick, but a lot of pressure and rubbing fixed the problem, although I used a couple of furniture tacks and real contact cement for the fold over tabs and corners on the inside.

Today I confidently brushed the glue on the remainder of the case and the large piece, let it dry 30 minutes like they suggested on the web site. Couldn't get anything to stick at all. Both sides feel tacky, but they just don't adhere to each other except a few small spots here and there. Tried a second thin coat of glue and shorter dry...then waited longer...still same thing. Nothing sticks.

Any advice or prior experience with this glue? Do I need to strip everything and rescrape the cabinet? The glue is sticking well to the wood and the tolex...the remaining (tacky-feeling) surface just doesn't stick to the other one...

[Speechless]

It sounds like you are not  letting it dry long enough before contacting the surfaces together. I have not used the glue from Vintage Vibe just water based contact cement from the hardware store. It needed to dry until it changes completely from milky white to translucent. It should feel dry to the touch not tacky. The drying time varies with temperature and humidity but I usually had to wait about 3 hours.

[shmuelyosef]

It sounds like you are not  letting it dry long enough before contacting the surfaces together.

You are exactly right...I left it overnite and everything went swimmingly. I must have just been getting increasingly impatient as I gained confidence. It's now going very well, and I'm just about done. I have only used solvent-based contact cements before, and they (of course) suffer always from sticking too much. This stuff is great, and seems to form a good bond with pressure.

One other thing I discovered...doesn't stick to aluminum unless you roughen the surface (I used 120 grit sandpaper). This is a Dyno-style case and the stiffener rail is aluminum.