T-molding not staying in the groves!

mikdawg

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I am applying some t-molding to my cab and it is not staying in the groves. Need some advice on what the best plan is. My thought is to nail/staple the ends and then apply glue into the groves and apply the molding. Has anyone done anything different that might work better? Best glue to use?

Thanks for the replies!
 
Construction glue (the stuff that expands a bit when drying) would be good i think, but you'll never be able to get it out if it needs replacing.
It's better to bondo the t-slot and cut a new groove when the stuff has dried.
 
Many people will tell you to Bondo the groove and recut the channel. If you have significant swelling, then you should do that as part of an all around restoration. That being said, I frequently use small amounts of hot glue from a glue gun on areas that are a little loose...especially around bends. Some will freak out at that idea because they say you can't remove it again. Well, you can by heating it up with a heat gun, and honestly, when do you think you're going to be replacing the T-molding again? Just glue it.
 
A little bit of strategically placed hot glue will do wonders. And it will still come out fairly easily if you have to remove it, as long as you don't go nuts with it.
Just don't use any real adhesives (like carpenter's glue, Gorilla glue, epoxy, etc.) because that will just be a nightmare if someone has to replace it again.
 
I had a disaster with hot glue and t-molding on a Robotron restoration. Hard to explain, but.. Imagine that you could just evenly seat the t-molding where it won't hold in well, but in places were the slot is tight, you can pound it in a bit farther so it seats flatter..

The slot was blown out in places from the old t-molding being removed. I tried to put some t-molding in, apply some hot glue, etc..and it was an uneven mess. Add to that the heat from the glue distorted the molding. I ended up digging all of that back out..and digging the rubbery glue out of the groove is the worst... then gluing strips of wood into the groove, flush cut those protruding strips with a flush cut bit, then recut with a 1/16" slot cutting bit.

Sounds like a lot of work, but wish I'd just filled the old slot and recut in the first place. Some may have passable results gluing the t-molding in, but my experience was that it ends up uneven and not 'flat' against the panel edge.
 
I use a low temp glue gun and hold it until it sets. You can only go a couple of inches at a time...but you should only be doing it for a couple of inches anyway...
 
t molding fitting

i had a ms.pacman where it just wouldn't stay in ,so i stapled on end on the back ,and beaded the grove with wood glue twice,and on the corners cut out a notch so it will bend easier and flattened it and stapled the bottom and applied pressure for 5 minutes with my hands basically stroking the t molding and it dried took the staples out looks great and wont come out,but when u want it to you can get it out :).
 
You could always bondo the groove then use a Router to recut the groove.

Just did this with a silent scope, but the entire cabinet's slots were blown. Applying the tmolding was like working with a real cabinet again. I have had to re-mold a few cabinets so I prefer this solution to glue. However if its just a few inches that are blown out, something like liquid nails works sufficiently.
 
I saw where a guy used strips of duct tape on each side of the tmold and it fit snug, I have not tried this, I have always bondo'd and recut but it sometimes makes me nervous on a nice original cab, I have one now and am contemplating all options, Might try the glue gun..
 
I saw where a guy used strips of duct tape on each side of the tmold and it fit snug, I have not tried this, I have always bondo'd and recut but it sometimes makes me nervous on a nice original cab, I have one now and am contemplating all options, Might try the glue gun..

This. If the groove isn't toally blown out, run a piece of duct tape encompassing both sides of the portion of the t mold that goes into the cabinet groove. You'll never see the tape again, and there will be no glue mess.

-Mike
 
Lots of great ideas! My cab is on its third life now, so it has seen its time. I got a glue gun today but the duck tape idea sounds interesting. I may try that first and if it does not work, go with the gun. I will report back my findings!
 
Another option would be a homemade wood filler - mix sawdust and glue, work into the slot, recut with a slot cutter. Anyone doing a lot of cabinet restorations should get a router..you'll find some good uses for it.
 
T-molding complete

Well, I started with the duck tape and was very suprisied at how well it worked. There were a couple of spots that I had to double tape it but it worked great. No mess, no clean up! It has been in there for 8 hours now and no sign of it coming off. Probably not the most professional way to do it, but no one would ever know. Thanks for all of the help.
 
I also use hot glue gun, with good results. If you need to remove the glue a nice sharp razor blade and a needle nose pliers pulls it all right out without damage
 
I saw where a guy used strips of duct tape on each side of the tmold and it fit snug, I have not tried this, I have always bondo'd and recut but it sometimes makes me nervous on a nice original cab, I have one now and am contemplating all options, Might try the glue gun..

Yes, cutting a strip of duct tape about 1/4" wide and wrapping the stem that goes into the groove works wonders, like a shim.
 
I always use hot glue, but with a twist- we've got one of those reusable gel ice packs in the freezer. I'll lay hot glue in the slot, apply the t-molding and then wipe over it with the ice pack to set the glue instantly.

That avoids having the molding potentially deform from the heat, or move out of position. Because the pack is gel, it molds easily to the cabinet shape.

When I'm done, I throw the ice pack back in the freezer and my Wife never knows the difference!
 
WOW. bumping this thread, the duct tape idea is brilliant!!! never thought of that and saved me from buying glue and messing this up!!
 
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