Need help with vinyl fabric repair.

[montygram]

I have an attache case that is wood with a vinyl fabric cover, and in between there is a thin layer of foam. It's at least 20 years old and the vinyl is cracking in many places. Does anyone know if I can put a coat of polyurethane over the vinyl to keep it together, or is there a better way of dealing with it? I have used a fabric glue on vinyl in the past, but that was only for a couple of spots. In this case, there is major cracking and it will probably be best to try and cover the whole surface, both in terms of future cracking and also for cosmetic reasons. Thanks in advance.

[willshak]

I think I may have a similar model, which is at least 35 years old. It was retired some 20 years ago, when it was replaced due to extreme wear and damage from being thrown into the back seat af a car almost daily for 15 some years. None of the cowskin grained vinyl cracked from brittleness, but all 8 of the vinyl corners were beat up and the the wood dovetailed corners broke apart, and they were mostly held together with black plastic tape. If yours is like mine, the vinyl top and bottom edges are tucked into the sides rather than folding over the sides. I still have it in a storage cabinet, more for sentimental value than any other reason. If I were to replace the top and/or bottom vinyl of mine, I would cut the old vinyl as far into the folds as deep as possible, get a new piece of matching vinyl and glue and tuck it into the fold. Another suggestion would be to have it repaired by someone experienced. I suppose some furniture restorers might have the ability.

[C & E]

As an ex-upholsterer I would recommend that you take willshak's advice and retire the case to sentimental duty of some kind. Store your important insuranc papers or the like in it but the vinyl is long past its intended life. It did a good job for you. Give it the ease that it deserves in its declining years.