The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

What glue do you use for cylinders? Is there anything that is quick drying but won't eat away the material? (Metallic soap )

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

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...

Just to set the record (pun intended) straight, they are made from a metallic soap.....not wax.... .

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

gramophone78 wrote:Just to set the record (pun intended) straight, they are made from a metallic soap.....not wax.... .

Yes I know they were made from metallic soap but I always say wax even though I know it's not really wax.

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...

Bill

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.

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.

Ok I will try the Weldbond glue. Thanks!

Late to the party but I've had great results from using Gorilla Super-Gel.