bowdrill cloth application

[Ross B.]

Has anyone applied bowdrill cloth to C1 weatherstriping. I can find no one who has any knowledge of its application, even the vendors who sell it. They do sell tape but I need info on how to install just the cloth.

[Mark F.]

Re: bowdrill cloth application

Has anyone applied bowdrill cloth to C1 weatherstriping. I can find no one who has any knowledge of its application, even the vendors who sell it. They do sell tape but I need info on how to install just the cloth.

Hi Ross,

these guys aren't corvette specialists, but maybe they have installation suggestions...?
they mention bowdrill on there FAQs page - but not how to install it

https://www.worlduph.com/info/about_us/

and they have a large list of installers who might help, too?

https://www.worlduph.com/info/installers/

[Richard M.]

Re: bowdrill cloth application

Ross, I've done it on a 56-58 top which was added to my HT only 59 in th 70's.

See This Thread

I've heard that the Bowdrill available today is not as good as the quality of what I got from Steele back then.

Rich

[Garry B.]

Re: bowdrill cloth application

Ross, I used to cover and sell the window curtain w/s with the Bowdrill cover. I had to quit because the quality of Bowdrill cloth that I used to buy from Steele Rubber went down hill. In fact I bought every piece of the earlier cloth they had and used it all up. The cloth they sold was pre-glued so I made a template and was able to cut and apply them fairly easily. The second run of cloth from Steele Rubber would not stick to anything, so someone didn't keep an eye on the quality of production. I let them know and frankly they didn't care. That has been several years ago and I guess it's possible that they have had enough complaints that they have corrected the problem. It's worth checking it out. Otherwise, you are relegated to applying the contact glue yourself and making the best of a bad situation. Good luck.

[Steven B.]

Re: bowdrill cloth application

I helped a fellow 3-4 years ago with his Chev. I don't know if he got the bowdrill from Steele or Chev of the 40's but quality was not good. We had to use a spray adhesive on the cloth and rubber. Applied it aligning one long side, not top or bottom, and slowly moved to other side watching for wrinkles. It helped to have someone hold the W/S steady as you have ot pull it up and lay it again to get rid of wrinkles.
God Luck! Steve