I am gonna make some home made grappling mats. I already have the padding and a tarp I will us to cover it. My question is....
what is the best type of adhesive to use?
I want something that is gonna last and that will not dry hard. I was thinking about using sealant or caulking, but I'm not sure if that will act as a good enough adhesive. Please, anyone with experience of this subject let me know. Thanks in advance.
God bless,
Steve
ttt
Are you gluing layers of padding? If so, use Master's contact cement. You can probably get a shoe repair place to sell you a gallon. It will stay flexible and not break down from moisture.
If you are talking about gluing the padding side by side, don't bother. Just get real good packing tape or wrestling mat tape and but it together to tape it. Once it is covered by the tarp and framed around with molding, it won't seperate.
I suggest that you don't glue the tarp. Use molding to anchor it down around the pad. This way you can change it if you need to later.
ttt for myThrd, this'll be a good thread.
I'll be gluing layers of carpet padding together as well as covering it entirely (top & bottom) with a tarp. I want something that I can roll up and store in my barn.
I plan on using about 4-5 layers of carpet padding. I am also planning to use 100mph tape on the edges of the tarp and then sewing them together with fishing line.
What is Masters contact cement? Never heard of it.
Thanks for the help so far, y'all.
Steve
Master's is a cement used in leather and shoe work. It will stay flexible. Other Brands that will work, but take longer to set are DUALL 88 and Renia. If it matters Master's will dry yellow. The others dry clear. You coat both sides thinly, wait five to ten minutes and press it together.
On porus surfaces like carpet, you will need to coat it and dry it twice before sticking. I'm thinking you could just glue it every few feet in stripes instead of trying to coat the whole surface.
Steve,
if you are using carpet padding, you need to cover it with the 12X15 painter's canvas drop cloths instead of a tarp. Trust...they're bulletproof and last forever. Also....for the money....just put elmer's glue all between the layers of carpet padding. Let that cure for about 48 hours. Use lots. It's cheap and it'll work fine. Then....put the bottom tarp down and glue the padding to it. Then put the glue on the top and glue it to the top side of the padding. Another 24 hours to cure and seal the sides with upholstery thread, or have an upholstery shop sew it with an upholstery sewing machine. Also "doable" are metal grommets, velcro, more glue, duct tape, etc. Three or four of these and you got all the space you need.
If you want, I can tell you how to make a spring loaded floor/judo type of floor out of old tires and some lumber.
later,
Ronnie
grappler240@aol.com