Thread: Self adhesive chrome

Tweet

Anyone know of any that will stick to cloth? I need to replace some real chrome (too far gone) on my cloth interior. I have tried the exterior chrome molding, will not stick to cloth.

Thanks,
Jack

Chrome mylar is the only thing that comes to mind. Not real chrome, but it has a mirror finish. I've never heard of chrome on cloth.

Yeah, my old DeSoto had chrome on the door panels. Was originally clip on.

Thanks for the info,
Jack

PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) might stick to cloth. This is the same stuff that is used to install trim and labels on new cars....a bit of heat helps it to bond. However, cloth presents a reduced contact area....I will go try and see if it bonds. We have PSA in 1" wide strips.....I think in the 0.010" thickness. Thicker would be better...much better. If it bonds, I can probably send you a bit....will the 1" wide work? If so, how long of strip to you need. Remember that gluing the stuff on with PSA will result in the chrome trim being "flexy" with the cloth.

mike in tucson

OK, did the experiment. I took a piece of aluminum (simulating the trim) and a shop towel (simulating your cloth upholstery). I put a 6" long x 1" wide strip of PSA on the aluminum and removed the release liner (paper backing). I applied the shop towel to the PSA and pressed it down. Next, I used a heat gun to heat the towel side of the stack and then rolled it down using a
2" diameter roller. The cloth stuck marginally, in shear it was pretty good and I could lift the aluminum with the towel. However, in peel, the towel pulled away easily. Normally, when we attach a engine controller to a heatsink (G10 to aluminum) the stick is instant and it does not pull apart.

Mike in Tucson

Thank you very much for going to so much effort Mike, but doesn't sound like the solution. When I bought the roll of chrome molding at Auto Zone, and it had 3M adhesive backing, I was sure I had hit a home run. But would not stick at all.

I really appreciate it,
Jack

That stuff should have PSA on it......were you able to apply heat and pressure? Usually, we heat to about 100 F or so to get the stuff to adhere. The cloth is probably not good enough surface to make good contact since the individual threads are relatively loose and pull away.

Is there a way to use the sticky to adhere the strip to a plastic push-in button? You could push the Christmas tree into the door panel thru the cloth and used the flat face of the Christmas tree to stick the chrome to.....but then, you would have to have a row of closely-spaced insert trees. Next thought....can you screw a strip of aluminum to the door thru the cloth....the aluminum strip is thin and about as wide as the chrome.....then stick the chrome to the aluminum....hidden screws.

All great ideas robot, couple I have considered, but haven't tried.
No, I did not heat. All I have is the wife's hair dryer, how hot do they get? I am sure I can borrow a heat gun if hair dryer not hot enough. I would like to try that first.

Jack

If the hair dryer feels hot to your hand, it is over 100 deg. However, I am inclined to think the stickup needs a smooth and firm surface to get good adhesion....How come chewing gum sticks to your upholstery so well and the adhesive doesnt? It's probably because the chewing gum gets into the fiber weave rather than laying on the surface. Maybe you can do a Google search for "gluing cloth to metal" or something similar.

Also thought of velcro but the thickness of the velcro would space the trim too far away from the cloth.

No, the hair dryer did not work.
I have some brown rubber molding used as weatherseal for windows and doors. Sticks to the fabric door panels just great. Can barely pull it off, but material much to thick to use.

That's a large part of the problem...everything that sticks to the upholstery is too thick.....like I said, chewing gum.....sticks to everything

i see headliners glued in with yellow permatex .. or JB weld will stick to everything .. i patched a cigarette hole in my cloth toyota seat with it

Originally Posted by robot

.....like I said, chewing gum.....sticks to everything

Ain't that a fact. I have small dab on my seat (grandson), it'll be there when rest of seat is gone.

Can you post a photo of what you are attempting to do? That may help with some creative thinking on possible solutions.

Originally Posted by rumrumm

Can you post a photo of what you are attempting to do? That may help with some creative thinking on possible solutions.

I will attempt to post a picture, haven't gotten that process down yet.
I'll get back to you. Could not get er done .

Jack