correct vinyl top glue pattern

[aaronz28]

I can't seem to find any info on this -

but every original vinyl top i've seen has a "checker board" pattern visible - which i believe has to do with the way the glue was put on...

has anyone successfully recreated this on a newly installed top?

[69pace]

Wow. My 72 Impala had a vinyl top and when I removed it the glue pattern looked like rows of figure eights overlapping side and bottoms. Figured it was laid out by hand. Wonder if the checker board was already on the vinyl and some how activated maybe a heat process?

[aaronz28]

seems like the checkered pattern is in the vinyl itself, not the glue

[HawkX66]

I can't say that I recall any checker pattern on my vinyl top... Glue or otherwise.

[lakeholme]

I can't say that I recall any checker pattern on my vinyl top... Glue or otherwise.

X2
I've looked at a lot of vinyl tops, and never noticed such a pattern -- in glue or material
Could you post a picture of what you are talking about?
It would be great if someone like JohnZ could tell us the how, when and where about vinyl top placement at the factory...

[aaronz28]

sure - watch this video -  its short - but you can clearly see a checkered pattern in the vinyl... this is a replacement top -

i've since learned that its not the glue - but in the vinyl itself - something bout the machine that puts the grain into the vinyl...

i had previously only noticed it on my original vinyl top cars- which is why i assumed it had to do with the factory glue, or install process - but i was wrong..

it seems that of all the manufacturers of replacement tops - only a few make them correctly to get the correct appearance -

https://youtu.be/SYT8K_QT4f0

cheers

[Sauron327]

 Patterns are on original tops and cannot be seen on old, weathered tops. It has nothing to do with adhesive application.