
Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
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- Victor III
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Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
What glue do you use for cylinders? Is there anything that is quick drying but won't eat away the material? (Metallic soap
)

Last edited by Victrolaboy on Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Nick Hoffmann
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
There's a fellow called the Record Doctor (and he's a real dentist) that repairs wax cylinders. I don't know if he uses glue to get the repair started but he uses wax where the broken portions meet. It's very important that you have a smooth transition across the crack so you don't to further damage to the cylinder as well as damage to your reproducer stylus. I'd be very cautious doing any repairs to broken cylinders. Jerry Blais
- Curt A
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
If you really want to experiment with fixing black wax records, the repairs are done from the inside. That being said, the repair has to be made so it doesn't interfere with the way the record fits on the mandrel. I have repaired them before, just for experimental purposes by using a metal pick heated with a torch to melt the wax back together like welding it...
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"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
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- Victor VI
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
Just to set the record (pun intended) straight, they are made from a metallic soap.....not wax....
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- Victor III
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
Thanks guys! I was just curious about repairing cylinders because I was bored this afternoon and I wanted to see if I could put a cylinder back together that shattered. It was an Edison grand opera cylinder.
-Nick
-Nick
Nick Hoffmann
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
Yes I know they were made from metallic soap but I always say wax even though I know it's not really wax.gramophone78 wrote:Just to set the record (pun intended) straight, they are made from a metallic soap.....not wax.....
Nick Hoffmann
- Lucius1958
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
The later 2 minute Edisons used a soap that was closer to the Amberol formula: while harder, it was also more brittle, and can be nearly impossible to repair once cracked...
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
If you want to try glue, use WeldBond glue - available online or at Michaels. This is an industrial strength universal glue that is also water soluble before it sets up, so the excess can be cleaned off with a damp paper towel... I have tried it on cylinders and it adheres well. I also use it to repair cracked shellac records.
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
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- Victor III
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
Ok I will try the Weldbond glue. Thanks!Curt A wrote:If you want to try glue, use WeldBond glue - available online or at Michaels. This is an industrial strength universal glue that is also water soluble before it sets up, so the excess can be cleaned off with a damp paper towel... I have tried it on cylinders and it adheres well. I also use it to repair cracked shellac records.

Nick Hoffmann
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Re: Question on what glue to use for repairing cylinders?
Late to the party but I've had great results from using Gorilla Super-Gel.
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https://sekaphonographcompany.com/
https://www.discogs.com/artist/15771255 ... hison-Seka (more links here!)
Samuel M. Seka
Custom 33, 45, 78, cylinders, call +1-989-898-1461 The Seka Phonograph Company - est. by my great-grandfather
The Electrola Archives - Archives
Seka Phonograph Company - Records
Samuel Murchison Seka - Own Music