Holding up a headliner...finally...

[boogiethecat]

Wanting an easy-to-install headliner that would soak up some sound as I drive the bus, I got some nice foam backed automotive headliner from Keyston supply, a reputable supplier of that kind of stuff, and along with it bought 8 cans of "special high temperature headliner spray adhesive" that was the STUFF according to them. It wasn't cheap either. 
  I happily installed the liner and it was great.... until of course our first hot day, then the whole thing fell on the floor.  I took the bus to Keyston and asked them to tell me what happened, they queried me about how I did the application, said I did it right, and shrugged their shoulders.  Great.
  So I tried a few adhesives recommended on this board, it all still fell when it got hot. 
I even considered the thought of screwing the stuff up but whenever a drill bit goes thru it (steel surface above) it caught the liner and made a mess, and I was about to give up...then came the flash... supermagnets!

I just got 100 of the lil buggers, 1/2" diameter 1/4" thick and wheee, it works perfectly!  They stick like nobody's business, look nice, will never fall, and the big plus is that any time I need a supermagnet, I sure know where a few are...

Cheers
G

[Chaz]

That is one heck of a thought, Boogie! Too cool.
By the way, I've talked with several different people (auto upolsterers) about headliner glue, and they just use what they call good old "yellow glue". I think it's just contact cement that they spay out of a gun. I may be trying that soon. I'll let you know. Oh..... but I will be applying the material to plastic panels.

  Chaz

[Lin]

Something worth knowing is that many glues are not what they used to be depending on your state.  Some ingredients may have been changed due to air quality regulations.

[jjrbus]

I'm cheap and like to do things myself but I looked at the headliner and decided to hire a pro!!! I asked around and found the "best" guy in the area. $300 for a couple hours work!!!! He used a hi temp 3M product. Year later it is starting to come loose. Take it back he fixes it, no problem. year later it is starting to come loose. I'm too far away to take it back.  I redid most of the loose areas myself and so far it is holding.
I'm thinking I used thin luan underlayment for the curved part of the ceiling. There are some problems with some types of luan being too oily to hold adhesive. A sealer might have been a good idea!  He may have stretched the material too tight in the curve?
There must be a better way!!!!!!                         Jim

[edroelle]

Chaz, was type of plastic panels are you planning to use?

I used latex contact cement to hold carpet to the ceiling, successfully.  2 coats and let dry.  1st coat let dry overnight.

Ed Roelle
Flint, MI

[Chaz]

Not sure to be honest, Ed. They are already in there. They are kind of "orange peel-y" on the exposed side.
  I will probably have to investigate as to what cement to use. My upolsterer can probably tell me. I think they may be ABS.

  Thanx Ed!
    Chaz