Ah patches... it's like a drug for the military. If you're like us, you probably have a lot of patches attached to your tactical vest, jackets, or bags. Some have even lined the inside of their vehicle with them, while others have used them to decorate their safes. However, in these places, no one sees them! And it would be a shame not to let everyone enjoy your superb collection. So here's how to fix that. But first, a little warning! Follow this tutorial at your own risk. We are not responsible for your safety or what may happen to your clothes. Be careful and protect your eyes. The final result may vary depending on the materials used. Here are the steps we followed to create a nice, sturdy patch board.
Budget and common sense:
You can create a simple patch board for less than €40, provided you have the right tools at hand. We calculated that it will only take you about 45 minutes, including drying time, to make this board. Here's what you need: - A wooden (or chipboard) panel of the size you want - Super Glue type adhesive - Velcro fabric - Nail or staple gun - Scissors or cutter - An open and clean workspace - Optional: spray adhesive
Step 1: Build the support
A patch board first requires... a board. I like to use a medium-density fiberboard. This material is neat, perfectly flat, smooth, and offers good adhesion to glue. You can get it at any hardware store. Sometimes, you will find pre-cut panels. You just need to adjust the size. For this model, we used a panel about 60 x 90 cm. It cost us around 10 euros.
Step 2: Cut the fabric
When everything is ready, roughly cut the fabric. We chose a Velcro fabric that looked like the Dapper product: a perfect advantage for me. You can also find "Velcro" fabric at Castorama, Bricorama, a craft store, or on Amazon. Make sure to always keep the Velcro side of the fabric facing up to prevent the material from getting dirty with debris. Then, place your panel in the middle, keeping spaces ranging from 7 to 12 inches on the edges. You can take more margin if this is your first practice. Cut the excess margin with scissors. Then remove the piece to the side.
Step 3: The first layer of glue
It's now time to assemble the board. For my part, I use DAP Wellwood Contact Cement. You will find this product or an equivalent in most DIY stores for about ten euros. To make your patch board, a quarter of the product is enough. It's strong and sticky enough for both wood and Velcro fabric. I first started by spreading a moderately thick layer on the MDF with a 5 cm brush (cheap brush, also found anywhere). This is where you need an open and clean workspace. The glue gives off a fairly strong smell that could cause severe headaches, or worse. Once this step is finished, let it dry for a few minutes.
Step 3: The second layer of glue
After the drying time, apply a second layer on the support. At the end of the second layer, make sure all edges are well covered. The idea here is to put enough glue so that the fabric holds well, preventing the whole from detaching. After that, let it dry for a few more minutes.
Step 4: Place the fabric
Now comes the most difficult part: attaching the fabric to the board. There are two techniques to do this. For my part, I was lucky with both. You can choose the option that suits you best.
Step 4A:
If you are used to DIY or painting, you will probably know the shine or texture of the glue when the second layer is half-dry. It is still sticky and not completely dry. If you are at this stage, place the fabric directly on the half-dry glue.
Step 4B:
The other option is to use a spray adhesive. If you choose this technique, make sure to spray the support and the inner part of the fabric with a fairly large amount. Before the product dries, attach the fabric to the board. You are probably wondering what the contact cement is for. Honestly, I'm not a big fan: the classic 3m spray glue is particularly expensive. Moreover, I don't find it sticky enough, no matter the quality mentioned on the box. And it even happened that the material to be fixed came off. However, by using it after applying the contact cement, the latter regains its sticky aspect to be even more effective.
Step 5: Smoothing the fabric
Once the fabric is attached, smooth the whole with your hand starting from the middle. Make circular movements by moving your hands away from the center of the board. Continue pressing for several minutes: the time for the half-dry glue to soak into the inner part of the fabric. At this stage, you either succeed or fail:
- If the glue is too wet, you will see the product rise to the surface of the fabric. Not very aesthetic, but it's not the end of the world. You just have to put a patch on it!
- If the glue is too dry, the adhesion will only be temporary. If this is the case, simply go back to step 3, spread a new layer of glue, and try again.
Step 6: Fix the edges
Now that the precision work is done, it's time to reinforce the edges. Turn the board over so that the back is facing you. Then simply pull the edges of the fabric outward and then backward.
Start by pulling the middle of each side, gradually moving towards the corners. This will make the front of the board more uniform, without bumps or folds. To do this, adopt a firm grip, like wringing out a wet towel. Once the fabric is well stretched, start stapling. It is best to space the staples 3 to 4 inches apart.
Step 7: Fix the corners
This can be tricky, but you just need to apply yourself by folding the corners and stapling. If the fold is too thick at the back, it is advisable to cut the fabric. Unlike the gluing step, you can fold the corners inward to see if it's good. If not, redo the work until it's perfect.
Step 8: Eliminate excess fabric
If you have excess fabric at the back after stapling, you can eliminate the non-essential parts. To do this, use scissors or a cutter. That's it! Enjoy your masterpiece! You can place your new patch board as you wish. The simplest way is to fix the board against the wall. You can do the fixing with screws. Otherwise, you can hang the board on a frame like a normal picture.
Now, proudly display your patches in front of your friends. And of course, help them design theirs, now that you are a specialist!