Sticking stuff to bare/painted metal?

[skooliedave]

I've seen people sticking carpet up on the inside walls of their skoolies, etc...I've got some black pleather (vinyl leather-textured stuff) that I'd like to stick on some metal surfaces of my bus. Any thoughts as to the best way?

I've tried contact cement before, and when the metal heats up, as it inevitably will, the rubbery stuff just gets gooey and turns loose. Anyone tried something that worked?

--Dave

[KC10Chief]

3M 77 spray glue. You can get it at Wal-Mart. I have used that on auto headliners before and they get hot too. If you can find the industrial strength stuff (I think the number is 72 or something like that), that's even better. It should stick the stuff to your wall just fine. You could also try some double sided carpet tape. That stuff is not ever going to come off! It's kind of expensive if you're doing a big area though.

[skooliedave]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I was thinking of some sort of construction adhesive, which would also be very stout, but 3M's spray glue may well do the deed. I'm going to sand away any peeling paint before I put it on, though, lest the whole works just peel off.

--Dave

[KC10Chief]

I just thought of something. You ever seen carpet squares? They use them in offices a lot. The glue they use to stick that stuff down might do the trick. You can buy a tub of that at Home Depot or Lowes. I'm just not sure though how well it would stick to metal. You might want to read about that.

[lapeer20m]

i attached vinyl to the inside of my last skoolie, and i used self drilling tek screws. I think that tek screws at the top and 3m adhesive would do wonders.

[skooliedave]

Since this isn't a smooth area, but the dash, which is lumpy all over, doing a wood frame thing probably would be contra-indicated. My plan is to do the dash and the frame around the dash, replacing screws and bolts that are already there with nice shiny stainless ones. Ditto the forehead panel, but use a row of screws at the top, as well, that are not present now. 3M spray adhesive will hold things smooth and flat for a good long while, I suspect.

Thanks for all your help, folks. My goal is to make this rig ready for Burning Man '08. Whether I can get away to *go* or not is another question, but I'd like to have my ride ready.

--Dave

[the_experience03]

If nothing else works, I'm reasonably certain that the yellow 3M weatherstripping glue that I affectionately call moose snot will hold. That stuff holds just about anything after it sets up.

[crazycal]

We call it elephant snot. Good thing you said something. I wouldn't want to look like an idiot if I asked for elephant snot in your neck of the woods.

[the_experience03]

We have a few more moose up here than elephants. Most people are aware of what moose snot looks like, but elephant snot...not so much.