Recommendations for the best headliner adhesive

[chicane]

I am putting in brand new OEM headliner material ($$$) to replace my sagging headliner. I need some recommendations for headliner material (preferably aerosol) that can stand Mid-Atlantic temperature changes including high summer heat. I only have one chance to get this right. Thanks.

 

[Stooge]

ive used 3m in the past , cant find a link for the pourable cans but they have an adhesive specific for headliners http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3M-Super-77/Super77/SprayAdhesive/Product-Information/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE204A00000000_assetType=MMM_Article&PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE204A00000000_assetId=1114288968002&PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE204A00000000_univid=1114288968002 but ive also had good luck using their convertivble top/ weather stripping adhesives depending on what the headliner form is made out of http://3mcollision.com/3m-fast-tack-trim-adhesive-08031.html
usually use a cheap hvlp gun from HF or home depot since i dont have to be too careful with them

 

[jjjrmx5]

The best?

3M yellow adhesive glue that only comes in 5 gallon pails.
Around $100 a pail.

It's what the pros and the mfgrs use.

Use with an HVLP spray gun and done.

Use the **** in the spray bomb can at your own peril.
It is not the best nor what the pros use.

I see pros work doing it with the good stuff every day.
No spray bomb cans in sight.

 

[383 240z]

I second the 3M product. I used regular contact spray when I worked in the rod shop. Sand the old foam off COMPLETELY get rid of all the dust. New landau foam, (scuff it up before gluing it down with 80 grit sandpaper) then lay your new headliner up. I lay it out, fold it in half left to right, spray one side, fold the headliner back over and make sure its placed correctly, then fold over the other half, and spray it.

Most important thing is read the instructions on the can. It is a contact cement, usually they have you spray both surfaces let them tack up, then apply the material. Keith

 

[mayday0017]

3M Super 77 Spray Bomb stuff is great, not the Yellow stuff which we used mostly, but I have used a few hundred cans of the 77 in my life and never had a single problem with it. Have used it for carpet, vinyl, & cloth and never had any fail and bonds well enough to stretch the cloth,vinyl, or carpet and still hold with out letting up any.

 

[chicane]

The best?

3M yellow adhesive glue that only comes in 5 gallon pails.
Around $100 a pail.

What is the exact Number of this 3M product?

 

[chicane]

I second the 3M product.

What 3M product? They make a lot of stuff.

 

[383 240z]

http://www.uline.com/BL_8103/3M-Sup...gclid=CO-01_yKnbYCFYKDQgodz2MAtw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[jjjrmx5]

What is the exact Number of this 3M product?

Let me run out to the mfgr. floor and get a part number at lunch.

I even bought a 5 gallon bucket for home use on my own projects.
It's the only thing I use on headliners.

And where I was before we built and sent cars to the Middle East so it holds up to both heat and cold.

 

[egnorant]

I have always used 3M super 77 for foam backed material.
Replaced one in a 1991 Ford that was 11 years old...that was 11 years ago and it still looks perfect with East Texas heat and wet!
The big trick is to remove ALL the old foam from the backing.
Best I have found is a wire wheel on a drill...but be careful and patient.
If you look, you notice that the adhesive is rarely the problem...it is usually the foam deteriorating.

3M super 90 was used for a vinyl material to fiberglass and has held great for 6 years.
The only problems I have ever had were due to bad surface prep.

Bruce

 

[chicane]

Let me run out to the mfgr. floor and get a part number at lunch.

I even bought a 5 gallon bucket for home use on my own projects.
It's the only thing I use on headliners.

And where I was before we built and sent cars to the Middle East so it holds up to both heat and cold.

Do you need a special nozzle for a sprayer to accommodate thick adhesive? Also, how do you clean your sprayer afterwards.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Do you need a special nozzle for a sprayer to accommodate thick adhesive? Also, how do you clean your sprayer afterwards.

No special nozzle.

We use Binks and DeVilbiss guns that are bottom feed typ. alum style.
Old skool and not fussy.

We do fab up special Devilbiss whips with a pressure reg knob since the rotary compressors crank out 150 lbs of air at the floor's hoses hook up. And we can't control that. But it does need to be dialed down to control spray pattern, especially with glue.

Clean up with laquer thinner since the glue is solvent based. Mineral spirits is Ok but I;m not a fan. MEK works in a pinch.

Hell, even a cheap HF bottom draw paint gun will work for spraying glue.

Headliners are finese work and knowing what you are doing along with good quality materials is the big challenge.
Getting them out and in and not having finger prints or dimples is the battle.
It's not something you wanna do many times in ur life unless for a living thus why the shops charge so much.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Opps, forgot to add details.

We use 3M High Performance Contact Adhesive #1357 (Scotch Grip/Scotch Weld)

The one that is light yellow and is MIL-Spec.

Normally called "yellow glue" in my world. LOLZ. Can spray on, roll on or brush on. We spray. And keep acid brushes around for edge work and hand work to brush on with.

Seems Grainger is now stocking it in quart and gallon portions and the pails.
Not cheap. Around $50 a quart IIRC.

Again, we use the light yellow/yellow stuff for deacades with no problem for headliners. It seems to also have a green option but I have no idea if it is the same.

If too much $$$ then take a look at the 3M Headliner and fabric adhesive #38808.
Spray can and around $20 a can.

Again, I've seen 2 to 5 headliners a day modded or fabbed from scratch with OEM fabric or with non-foam fabric and the only thing used was the 3M yellow glue.

YMMV, but it's all I will ever use.

Any more questions PM me.
Looks like I gotta help do a buddy's Mk4 Jetta headliner in the next few weeks if the weather co-operates.
Glorious. Getting that thing out is like a monkey trying to f%^& a football.

 

[pfctblu]

Interesting to hear from the pros here. When I did some leather work in my car I used V&S 1081 as it came highly recommended by the custom shops.

 

[Herb]

Use a lot a ventilation! Use a fan to move the air, don't rely on just having the windows open. Years ago I did the headliner in my '67 Bug, doors open, rear side windows out, no fan. I used 3M contact cement with a brush in some places, and spray cans in other places. It's been 25 years and none of it has fallen off or loosened up yet. Back to the ventilation- Boy was I sick after that job! Dizzy and puking for 2 days, headache for 4 days. Use a fan!

 

[LEVE]

A few decades ago I used 3M 77 for headliners. It was cheap...as I worked for 3M. Then I switched to Weldwood Carpenter's Content Cement. I just brushed it on the material and the metal and it held for another decade, when I gave the car away.

The caveats:

• If you use too much it can bleed through the material.
• If there's a headliner shell made from Styrofoam, the adhesive can dissolve the foam if too much is applied.

 

[jjjrmx5]

The caveats:

• If you use too much it can bleed through the material.
• If there's a headliner shell made from Styrofoam, the adhesive can dissolve the foam if too much is applied.

3M Super 77 tends to find its sweet spot in doing paper and lightweight work vs. items that see a lot of thermal change like cars and the like I have found over 2 decades of use.

But you are exactly correct.

Spray glue too heavy and it will soak thru your headliner fabric.

In fact spray too heavy but not soak and you get a second problem of dimpling. If not let to dry long enough before adhearing fabric to liner the foam will be laden with glue and retain a flat shape (meaning you fill the open cells with glue and it will stay flat when pressed) anywhere where you handle it = finger prints aka dimples.
And they DON'T go away. Game over.

Let it sit too long to dry and the VOC's evaporate and the glue will not adhere and fail over time.

Again. It's a science and an art.
Kinda like herding cats.

LOLZ.

 

[Big-Foot]

3M Super 77 Spray Bomb stuff is great, not the Yellow stuff which we used mostly, but I have used a few hundred cans of the 77 in my life and never had a single problem with it. Have used it for carpet, vinyl, & cloth and never had any fail and bonds well enough to stretch the cloth,vinyl, or carpet and still hold with out letting up any.

This is the right answer. 3M 77 Bomb can is DA BOMB...

 

[Stephenforeman]

It's very easy to find a good one these day. You can find it on amazon or any auto stores.
I have been trying many of them but the 3M is really good. You should try it first. Read this one https://innovatecar.com/best-headliner-adhesive/ or other to know before purchase one.

 

[K13]

I have talked to a pile of upholsters while working on the interior of my truck and to a t everyone said DO NOT use any adhesives that come in a spray can they do not hold up to the heat that happens inside a car. Almost universally they have recommended this:

http://www.dap.com/dap-products-ph/weldwood-landau-top-trim-high-heat-resistant-contact-cement/

 

[Buster21]

I am in the process of re-doing my headliner, I ordered the material through our local upholstery shop, I asked her if I should use something like 3M 77 to glue it on, she just looked at me and said "no", she said remove the headliner clean it up and bring it back to her, she said they have industrial adhesive that they spray on with a gun and she would only charge me the cost of material. So that would be my advise, take it down clean it and have a upholstery shop glue it on. Just my 2cents.

 

[Retlaw 66]

^^^^ sounds like good advise.
Do our prep work and see if a pro can finish it for a reasonable cost.

I did it myself with pro-quality materials.
Used the pro quality Weldwood Landau Top & Trim HRR, one of the best for the high temps a headliner will see.
I bought a gallon on eBay, $45 shipped, and used 2 qts for my 48" x 78" headliner in my 2001 Cherokee. That's a decent deal considering what 2- $20 spray cans would cost.... and I won't run out when I'm 90% done!
Bought the headliner material at Joann fabrics, $30 with a 30% off coupon. They have lots of coupons, so do a search. Just missed a 60% online deal, would've been $18.
I used an old spray gun to apply, and a 3" paint roller to press fabric onto the shell.
Still smells pretty strong 2 days later, maybe I should've waited longer to install it.

 

[Steve_P]

I went to my local upholstery shop and bought the material from them and they sold me quart of adhesive for a few $. I sprayed it with a cheap siphon gun and no issues - held up for 10+ yrs in a daily driver. Not sure if it was 3M but it came out of a 5 gallon can. Just bring a clean container and get a qt of the good stuff from a local shop

 

[cheechi]

I can't remember if I used 3M 77 or 90. I did mine with fabric from Jo Ann on two Nissans and they are both still just as good as when I did them 6+ years ago.

 

[speed bump]

About 7 years ago I used 3m Super 77 spray for the insulation an head liner in my 71 F-250 and it has held up just fine. Make sure you read and follow the directions if you want good adhesion though.

 

[dogdog]

DAP HHR is also what I have heard.... not sure about the other spray able 3M stuff.