I need to replace the speaker cloth in my Kriesler 11-81a mantle radio. I've identified some cotton muslin cloth that is a fairly close replacement for the original. It needs to be glued to the plastic grill from the inside. The surface area is not large. I'd need a glue that adheres to plastic and fabric, and which is not too fast drying. I'd need time to smooth out and adjust the cloth in various ways. Anyone with any ideas on what to use? Has anyone does this before?

Go to Lincraft or any material shop they have the proper glue.

Done it many times.
PVA hobby glue is my choice, fine on plastic and fabric, slow drying enough to stretch the material and it dries clear.
Every hardware and craft shop will have it.
Harold

Do you have the original fabric? To me it looks like a crepe & is possibly acetate? If it gets wet it matts up & like crepe bandage you steam it to revive it.

I have an 11-81A here repaired & waiting to go home: It has its grille cloth.

I would suggest a water based Acrylic, like Quick grip as there is the risk that at some stage it will again need removal. Some actually mount the fabric on a cardboard stretcher first. Often one can use a tape to hold the fabric whilst it is glued (Paint brush) and then trim access fabric once its dried using a scalpel.

Water based quick grip can be thinned.

Thanks for the replies. PVA glue can be peeled of smooth plastics (some people use it to clean vinyl LPs), but in this case I think it'll be ok since there will be remnants of the earlier glue left after I remove the old fabric. I'll try that first. The cotton muslin I have is a close substitute, but not exact. It'll do, but if anyone knows a more accurate substitute let me know. I have two version from Spotlight, one with a more close weave than the other.

I've always used PVA as it is water soluble and can be re-wet if needed to make adjustments. It will still stick to shiny surfaces and should only lift if the surface hasn't been cleaned or the joint has been forced in some way (a child pushing in the grille cloth, etc).

It seems a bit drastic using it to clean records. I'd just rinse a record under cold water if there was something stubborn on it.

For speaker cloth , I use micador Adhesive and you buy it from Art shops . its a spray and its clear.made in Australia . The good part about it is you can pull the cloth back off if you dont get it right the first time around. its sticky but takes time to dry so thats handy . fabric safe .Last week I used it to make a 4ft fabric lamp shade and it worked out great. pete

Pete, I've got a big Murphy TA160 radio (https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/murphy_ta160.html ) , the veneer is lifting from the top, bits and pieces are missing from the front, I'm thinking of stripping the lot off and replacing it with new veneer, is that the way to go ? I've done a similar job if you check my cabinet repairs.

Hmm yes sometimes if the veneer is lifting.look up Hide glue .Its great for veneer as it can be removed at any stage . you boil it up and paint it on .
pete

Thanks, I saw some youtube and description of it, is this the same glue that's used with "iron on" material ? If it is, could I paint it on the new veneer, let it dry and simply iron it on after the other surface has been cleaned up ?

Dont use iron on veneer glue back Its horrible to work with on Radios. buy Raw veneer and put your own glue on it. you can use pva glue , but hide glue works much better. you will need to make a veneer hammer or use a DVD case and drag it across the veneer your gluing while pressing down on it hard will remove any air bubbles . the veneer must have no air bubbles under it. we wet the veneer with water4, then put the glue on ,,,then place it in place and then drag the dvd case across it to remove the air bubbles....pete