Premium Members RodCrombie Posted June 29, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 I have an old style 3a vest and like many things is starting to show it's age. Specifically the velcro on the waist belt is starting to wear out. How do I replace it? Is it just a matter of me taking the stitches out and then restitching, (I'm assuming by hand) some new fuzzy velcro? Any ideas, suggestions would be welcome. Thanks all Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted June 29, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Find the adhesive type, 2" wide and put that on the (cleaned and de-greased) plastic, after you have removed the old stuff by hand. Than go to the shoe repair shop or a leather shop specialized in repairing bags and such and have them stitch the velcro again. Rob van Gelder, Bangkok, Thailand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted June 29, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Than go to the shoe repair shop or a leather shop specialized in repairing bags and such and have them stitch the velcro again. The guy here in LA that does back straps and other mods would be the right guy for this I think. I've forgotten his name at the moment, but hopefully someone else will chime in with the right info. He does good work and he's inexpensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members AdamKeith Posted June 30, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 Peter Abraham added back straps to my master vest. I think he does other Vest Mods. Regards, Adam Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted June 30, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 30, 2004 On my old III vest I had the velcro replaced and than with the nylon seat belt straps I made the new belts, same procedure, adhesive 2" velcro and stitching. But I put velcro on both sides so that I could have a 3 strap, with velcro on 1 side that will cover and hold the 2 side straps together. This helped very well agains loosening during the take. Rob van Gelder, Bangkok, Thailand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbalsdon Posted July 7, 2004 Report Share Posted July 7, 2004 Initially I took the leather straps from my Master Film vest and some new velcro to an old Greek cobbler. He was unable to stitch such heavy leather but sent me home with instructions to apply Contact Adhesive Glue to the back of the velcro and the areas where it attached to the leather and leave it to dry overnight before attaching. In the morning I was to heat the glued areas with a hot hair dryer before fitting them into place and then beating the hell out of them with a rubber mallet. Following this I took them to a saddle maker who could stitch the heavy leather and as well stitching the edges he ran another line of stitches along the centre of the velcro. Better than new now, but what will we do when all these craftsmen who built things to last have passed on. Phil Balsdon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted August 8, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 8, 2004 There's no Greek cobbler like an old Greek cobbler, I always say. I do a fair bit of vest mods and re-builds, always have. I use the self-adhesive Velcro, BUT- very key- I use a heat gun to greatly soften the velcro down, and I use very very coarse sandpaper to roughen up the surface first. Works like a chahm. Peter Abraham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members jay kilroy Posted August 11, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 11, 2004 I have seen Peter's work, TOP NOTCH! The 3A vest you did for Mike looks and works like new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted August 12, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 12, 2004 Hey thanks, Jay !! I was afraid you wouldn't even FIND the vest bag tucked up into that big pile. :D One does what one can. The biggest alteration I do to older vests isn't replacing the plastics and straps, although I do a lot of that. I re-work the chest strap system totally to one I came up with. It leaves you with a single strap, and can be tightened down as hard as you can stand it but released quickly and easily. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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