Source for Tolex?

[ChrisM]

Do yourself a favour and have a really sharp knife and a couple of back up blades.

Keep your workspace clean and tidy and it makes the job just a bit less painful.

[Structo]

I have a couple tutorials by Jim Seavall (Scumback Speakers).
One is for tolex and one is for tweed.

[Structo]

Tolex

[Structo]

Grill Cloth

[jaysg]

I've bought from Jenkins Sound. He tries to sell heavier duty tolex. Apparently, a number of styles, including all the snakeskin & cats aren't as heavy duty. Automobile upholstery places have materials for landau roofs/fake convertible tops which are similar to identical.

[Runaway J]

You can often get degraded material really cheap at manufacturers factory outlet stores.
It comes from running-in of the production machines and may have minor variations in color
or surface grain. No problem as you need only small pieces for amp or speaker cabinets.
(I paid 12 EUR for 5 m dark brown synthetic suede leather.)

[PlinytheWelder]

Here's one of my favorite Tolex installation tutorials.

http://jam4jmessageboard.websitetoolbox ... id=2378719

[Structo]

Thanks, I added that one to my collection.

[malt]

Silvatone has some nice info on tolex installation http://www.silvatone.bravepages.com/

[Decko]

Gents,

Good reads here... the tutorials are excellent.

I plan to cover a bass amp and a guitar amp head.

Any word on piping?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Danny

[rp]

Here's another alternative.
http://www.garysupholstery.com/products.html

WOW! I knew something like this had to be out there. What fun!

[Ken Moon]

Gary's is very helpful and will send free samples - too bad the samples are only about an inch square.

Be careful what you buy - I bought some very expensive leather-like vinyl called DuraTouch (IIRC), and it was beautiful and soft and impossible to use on an amp. The backing was too thick and fluffy and the outer material was too stretchy.

[rp]

I looked through the options, my worry is that I don't waste too much money & time making some really ugly amps. But it's more fun to be unique.

[Andy Le Blanc]

The best thing I've stumbled upon so far is a spray application of adhesive
on the fabric backing. Thick on the cab, but controlled on the tolex.
With metal or plastic corners the time to cover is in minutes.
Cutting in corners simply takes practice, but a controlled spray is essential.
You wont melt the tolex as the driers flash off, or risk over application that
happens with a roller or a brush, and the time to apply is greatly reduced.

[Monkey Boy]

Here's a place with some good prices
http://www.fabricdirect.com/acatalog/Vi ... -Yard.html