1957buickjim Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I replaced my headliner recently and I have a few wrinkles to get out along the edges. The question is should I use a hair dryer, heat gun or clothes steamer to get them out? It is a traditional headliner, vinyl face, with fabric backing. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.<!-- google_ad_section_end --> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Did you try YOUTUBE video's. Seems like they have EVERYTHING covered with a video.I'm sure it can be done, and I wish you well, keep us posted.Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Don't use a heat gun--that will stretch out the vinyl, not shrink it. I have never had any luck with a steamer on a vinyl headliner. Steamers work great on a cloth headliner, but the vinyl is relatively impervious to water or steam, so it can't get in and do its work. The only way I know of to get wrinkles out of a vinyl headliner, is to cut it, pull it tighter, and re-staple it onto the staple strips or re-stick it on the jagged teeth that hold it in place. ANother thing that sometimes works, is to cut the first inch or two of the listing strips, which allows the edges of the headliner to be pulled tighter towards the jagged teeth and away from the bows as they curve at each side of the roof. I hope that's clear--it's kind of hard to describe without showing you what I mean.Pete Phillips, BCA #7338Leonard, TX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Checking Youtube I read where on a vinyl headliner a fellow with a Trans-Am DID have luck with HEAT. I'm no expert, but he used heat, VERY LOW HEAT AND GOT RESULTS. I would test on scrap first though. Pete seems to know from experience, so go slow. One fellow mentioned that most of his wrinkles went away from the sun beating on the roof of the car.Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kingoftheroad Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I'm no expert either but, I had a new headliner installed in my car some years ago and the guy used a heat gun to tighten it up after he installed it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 Pete, Dale and King..Thanks. I was thinking that I might first remove and attempt to re-attach the headliner, trying to tighten it up first in that manner. After that, I will assess the wrinkle to smooth ratio and see if it is better. I guess I was thinking that the heat / steam would work similar to the way the plastic shrinks when you are putting temporary barriers for the cold over your windows. Tape / Secure the edges and then use a hair drier to heat / shrink out the wrinkles.Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 JimYou may never get all of the wrinkles out if you bought a reproduction liner. Your best chance would be one made from you old one: cut and sewn exactly. I ended up re-sewing overhead to get mine right. (I'm glad I installed a headliner, but since I've had all the fun I can stand, I will not do it again.)Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I worked the wrinkles out during installation by working one section at a time and then letting the liner relax overnite before moving on. That and a gazillion spring clamps worked pretty well. How the factory installed a liner in probably under 15 minutes is well beyond me..............Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Willie and Bob...you are soooooooooooo right! I have had way to much fun for one person with this headliner, but I must perservere, since I am the only one to do it..15 minutes? I might as well try to build a Saturn V Rocket in an hour at the same time...it might be easier than the install of the headliner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 It took me a week, Jim, and the liner had to sent back because the front panel was sewed on backwards. It took me a full day to figure that one out. I'm glad for the experiance but I would not volunteer to do another. The 15 minutes was just a guess but I'll bet I'm not too far off................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Headliner wrinkles? Jim, get over it. They're a sign of wisdom and dignity.As if. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 Thanks Rob...now my head looks like my headliner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Thanks Rob...now my head looks like my headliner About a gazillion spring clamps will take them out...........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Starting from the nape and working forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Hehehehehehe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 I don't have a gazillion spring clamps, maybe a few less than that. Starting at the nape, eh? sounds a bit sketchy to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 That's just the wrinkles. Any missing "headliner" should be filled in by a professional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 It's tragic when vanity and private medicine collide... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Apparently I am using the spring clips in the wrong place to get the headliner wrinkles out. Are you sure about using those type of clips, Bob? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 That's the way I did it, and on a few other places they won't let me mention here..........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I remember that wetting the wrinkles and drying them with a 100 watt light bulb was the common way in the 1960's. It sounds like it could be a lot less exciting than a heat gun.Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serb Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Rob, Jim.........Too Much!!Jim, PM and email sent to you, check them out.Stevo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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