Tolexing - Plexi Style

[ZampraZ]

Alright so I want to tolex a head cab like this:
http://www.maxguitarstore.com/store/...res/1987x3.jpg

My question is with the decorative bands (or whatever you call them). What are they, how are they attached? I've tried to find info about this but I've failed.

All help is appriciated

[stingray_65]

both on the face and on the cabinet it is called piping.

the piping on the face has a flage on it and is stapled in place

the piping on the cabinet is pressed (hammered) into a groove cut into the wood.

[scole]

so what size is the groove?

[Tinkerer]

When I did my Marshall head I used the blade on my saw bench which is 3mm or close enough to 1/8" to cut the slot. The tolex is glued into the saw cut on each side but not into the base of the cut, then the bead (string) is pushed into the cut which locks the tolex in place. No need to glue the string, but if you prefer to glue it in, I'd suggest a super glue gel. The cut only needs to be 3/32" in depth. Weber sells the stuff for 10 cents/foot.
The piping which goes around the face of the head can be a pain to locate, but a little heat with a hair dryer or a heat gun (very carefully) makes the job simple.

Hope this helps.
Tinkerer

[ZampraZ]

I live outside of the states so I won't be ordering from there. Will anything in the correct size work? Or is it some form of special material? (This piping)

[Tinkerer]

It's nothing special, the string is just tubular plastic, 3/32" in diameter and gold in colour. The piping around the outside of the face is larger in diameter, about 1/4" and has a flange on it to enable stapling to the timber. You could probably buy them from an auto, or marine upholsterer.
As I said earlier, Weber sells the string but no longer sells the piping. Mojo and Antique Electronic Supply have both. I too live outside the USA, (Australia), and have sourced the piping locally, but can't find the string, so I just bought an amount of both when Weber's carried both lines. I'll probably buy the string from either one of the others if I need any more in the future, and pick up the piping locally from an upholsterers supplier.

Hope this helps you.
Tinkerer

[stingray_65]

I see piping (also called welting) advertised on ebay often, perhaps there is an ebayer in your country selling it.

it is often used in upholstering.

i had seen one marshal style cab where they used brass wire (brazing rod most likely) for the cabinet piping.

Ray