Gluing velcro on Digitech X series rubber bottom, possible ?

[frank_p]

I am making my pedalboard so I am putting velcro on the bottom plates (rubber in some cases) of my stompboxes.  Now, I have a problem with my digitech X-series digital reverb.  I am not able to glue auto-adhesive velcro, even with contact cement.  On the rubber of the Boss pedals (especially when they are old and hardened) there are no problems. But this reverb look like is wanting to act like a T-fall pan.  Do I have to remove the rubber bottom or somebody have a solution or an other kind of glue to propose me ?  I am on this for long time because I didn't know I had this much boxes...
Yes G.A.S. ...

[davent]

Would something like an outdoor double sided carpet tape do the job? Is the rubber heavily textured? Maybe double sided foam tape?

3M Foam Tape http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673105&bmUID=1223171997462&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443296930&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

dave

[frank_p]

Dave, Thanks, I am going to see for that tape for sure.  But perhaps it will not work...  The rubber bottom have a very oily/greasy feel.  Ex: you would not be able to make a "SKWIIIIIIIK" sound when passed on wet glass.  Even the company sticker that is sticked to the rubber is as easy to remove as a Post-It on a piece of paper... 

[davent]

OOh, that doesn't sound very promising! Is the rubber coated then with something that might be removed with a solvent of some kind, varsol, mineral spirits, acetone, alcohol, soap and water, naptha etc... They've used some sort of glue to stick it to the case so there's got to be something out there that will do the job for you.

dave

[frank_p]

I've tried with methanol and and isopropyl alcohol 90%.  Gonna try with a "heavy" soap  ,next step might be acetone... 

[frank_p]

No, No, NOOO.  Heavy soap, acetone, paint solvent; NOTHING is working.  Gonna scrap my velcro for nothing...  This blend of polymer might have to much petroleum oil in it, or too much polyethylene wax...  This box is meant to stay on the floor and nothing else.  Think I am going to pull out my knife to rip that rubber soon.  AARHH !!!

Gonna go on an other Boss box now, otherwise I am going to throw that thing outa the window.

[R.G.]

The simplest thing to do is to either
(a) peel off the rubber coating and put on the velcro
or
(b) make a new bottom out of thin sheet metal by tracing then cutting and filing to match and use this new bottom for the velcro.

[frank_p]

Thanks RG.  I think you are right.  It seems that there is no way to have a strong bond on that polymer. Going to carefully remove the rubber tomorrow.  But I don't want to touch to that thing again tonight...

Now, I am on that RAT with rubber foots that holds the box together also, and that big screw for the battery door...


Metal plate, again that is looking to be a good choice !

[Marcvv]

maybe you have thought of it, maybe not, but is it not possible with this pedal to just turn the bottomplate and use the other side to put the velcro on?

It works with the older pds pedals.....

just a thought.

Marc

[MarcoMike]

mh... not sure the digiverb plate is "reversible"...
and this post sounds strange to me... well, last year I bought a used digiverb, it came with velcro on the bottom, just the opposite velcro side I use on pedals (I use the wooly one on pedals and the hooky on the board, this pedal had the hooks instead) so I had to remove it and it was a really hard work!!! I almost gave up... and now it's more than a year that my auto adhesive velcro strip stays there...
I guess this doesn't help... good luck!!

[jaysg]

make a new bottom out of thin sheet metal by tracing then cutting and filing to match and use this new bottom for the velcro.

I've done this for my two Boss pedals...TU-2 & CE-2 fwiw.  I've searched the net over for someone selling these, just since there's some need.   I've only found a guy doing Wah bottoms and he's charging more than I would think reasonable.   That said, my first quote on a brushed Al plate for all single width Boss pedals was about $6.50 in lots of 25.   I have to look at some other shops.   Maybe that's why the Wah guy wants about $20 per.

[hday]

I knew a gal that used the screws to hold down the velcro so she didn't have to glue them. Depending on the pedal, this can work great.  You could also get a long strip and wrap it around the bottom plate and screw it in as tight as it will go. That will be a little easier than making a new plate.

[frank_p]

Oh ! Plenty of options !!!  Really wonder how the guy succeeded to glue something on it...