Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Great_Kazoo

Great_Kazoo

New member
I've just started at looking at the possibility of having one of my amp cabinets stripped and re-Tolexed. The stuff that's on it now is looking beat and actually developed a split on the bottom. I've just started looking around on the Web about finding someone whom I can pay to do this, but a lot of the threads in different forums talk about how easy it is to do.

Anyone here familiar with the process? I'm not the handiest with tools, but this sounds like it might be worth taking a whack at. Is it that straightforward/easy to do? :reporter:
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I'm pretty hand with tools and do my own work most of the time and I'll never re tolex an amp again...tried it one time and it looked like poop...
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Great_Kazoo said:
Anyone here familiar with the process? I'm not the handiest with tools, but this sounds like it might be worth taking a whack at. Is it that straightforward/easy to do? :reporter:
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If you know and are experienced what you're doing, then easy isn't the right word for it. As far as the process is concerned it can be done if you have patience and attention to details. Sort of a cross between tailoring and working with upholstery.

My suggestion is to mock up a something similar to the cab shape and practice on that first.

I hope you're talking about a straight cab.
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I was gonna say it's pretty easy but then I actually thought back to my first re-tolexing jobs that I did and reconsidered.

Corners are the trickiest part; a little practice on a mock up of a corner is definitely advised. Water based adhesives definitely make the job easier for a beginner in that they allow for some repositioning if you place the piece wrong initially...but...you have to pressure roll the entire surface to assure good adhesion.

You also have to make sure you use enough adhesive; two to three coats on the tolex and two on fresh wood...one coat is usually enough for the wood for a replacement job.

I form/cut my corners in place rather than cutting the whole thing out ahead of time.
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I always liked my tolex job results. All have covered all my amps and cabs in same tolex, which i dig a lot.
Full ack about what has been said about corners - those require some patience.
So far I liked Pattex contact adhesive most for edges and corners.

Tell us how you decide (and post pics^^)
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

i wouldn't say its hard, but fer sure there is a technique to it.

it would be good to practice on a few things first
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I can barely wrap a Christmas present. I sure as hell ain't gonna try and re-tolex one of my cabinets.
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I've been upholstering a loooong time and Tolex is tough to work with. It's the same material as used on vinyl top for cars...they call it 'non-expanding' for a reason,,,,,it don't stretch. Gotta use contact cement, a roller or spray if you have the gear. Straight pieces can be pre cut but yeah, the corners, especially the uber fat Marshall cab or Fender angle tops are tricky. Single edge razors and a sharp sissors, a laminate roller or mallet are pretty much what you'll need. Simple cabs can be done fairly easy for a first timer, just take yer time and study to old cabs cuts. I never got a present from Jolly so I can't comment on his wrapping skills...:smokin: but we have talked about Tolex many a time...hehe I found this killer acid green Tolex on ebay.
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Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

I want to redo my 5150 stack in white so that it looks like this.
 
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Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

butnut said:
I've been upholstering a loooong time and Tolex is tough to work with. It's the same material as used on vinyl top for cars...they call it 'non-expanding' for a reason,,,,,it don't stretch. Gotta use contact cement, a roller or spray if you have the gear. Straight pieces can be pre cut but yeah, the corners, especially the uber fat Marshall cab or Fender angle tops are tricky. Single edge razors and a sharp sissors, a laminate roller or mallet are pretty much what you'll need. Simple cabs can be done fairly easy for a first timer, just take yer time and study to old cabs cuts. I never got a present from Jolly so I can't comment on his wrapping skills...:smokin: but we have talked about Tolex many a time...hehe I found this killer acid green Tolex on ebay.
dsc00459ss.jpg
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That rig gets me every time.... so cool! Great job!
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Thanks bro....now I told ya Jolls...ya gotta move over hea and I'll do that for ya! hehe..white is pretty sick, I'm gonna do my Orange cabs one day, maybe white...
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Yes, getting the right fit on the corners and open back panels are the part that I figured would be the trickiest... I'll probably keep trying to track down somebody local to do it for me.

Thanks for the feedback, everybody! :)
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

This was my first Tolex attempt. A few blems, but a big improvement from the dirty old original black that was on there. A good practice/learning experience.
frontpanel.jpg

Then I did this one... Learned a few tricks on the above combo that helped me get better results on this one, But Tolex is very fickle stuff to work with! Cutting it on a perfect 45 degree angle takes some skillz. So in a nut shell, It's not gonna be easy till' ya done a few. Then it's probably still a pain.
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Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Gearjoneser said:
^^^ That Gibson/Bogner rig looks amazing. That's the first time I've seen that pic.
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Thanks bro...it's a Marshall cab I found, it's the smaller 4 12 as Bogner only makes a 2 12 cab for the Alchemist...fits the head perfectly! I bought the Marshall plastic cab corners just in case my corner cuts on those FAT corners looked bad...they came out aces...whew. The best part of that cab...is the back!:naughty:
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Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Goddamm! The back of that cab is ridiculously cool!

That whole rig is A+

I've done some tolexing jobs before, and they're difficult, but I've done a decent job. Seeing that green/black Bogner rig makes me want to do another one!

The things I learned was to sand the heck out of the wood first, removing all the glue. Then use 3M Industrial spray glue for the big panels. A roller or hammer helps knock it down flat.
I used carpet seaming glue to get the folded parts to adhere.
A razor knife with new blades and a lot of patience. That's how to do the corners and folds.
 
Re: Replacing Tolex on cabs easy?

Thanks guys...my secret tip for really locking down the tolex in a rounded corner....super glue. A 'burnishing' tool or upholsters regulator is what i use to hold and press those corner cuts while the glue sets up.
I did my Champ in a more traditional Blonde tolex....but green does sound kool too...the slant front top corners take some planning before you cut. I'm really thinking about changing my Orange cabs now....:eyecrazy:
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