scottlollar

A friend of mine asked me to replace the base on his roach. In the grand scheme of things, this shouldn't be a problem. Except the rows of hair were sewn & glued together and then coated with more of the glue.
It's like rubber cement or something. He's had the roach for years and the 'glue' is still sticky. It's tearing up the hair, just trying to get the base off the roach.
I've thought about using acetone to take the glue off, but I'm afraid what that might do to the base cord or tying thread. I thought about using 'Goof Off', which normally removes glue from fabrics pretty well without staining, but I think it has acetone in it. Any ideas?
I'd hate to have to remake a roach for this guy, one because his is a nice roach, and two because that is a lot more work for me...

__________________
Scott

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quick to judge,
Quick to anger,
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear walk hand in hand.
--Neal Peart(from the song Witch Hunt)

luvstraightdancrs

Try PM Powwowbum.....he might have an answer for you.

powwowbum49

Scott

That sounds like one of Dennis 'Hawkeye' Hawkins' (who has passed on now) roaches. If it is then it is not glue but rather some form of vulcanized rubber and if you remove that stuff there wont be any hair on the roach afterwards cause hawkeye did not tie those roaches. He just vulcanized the hair into the rows. I have never successfully repaired one of these roaches...mainly cause I would send folks wanting one fixed back to him, however that is not an option anymore. I will inquire with one of his old buds from back in the day and get back with you.

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PB49

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Pablo Picasso


My comments are based on what I have been taught and my experiences over the years I have been around the circle. They should in no way be taken as gospel truths and are merely my opinions or attempts at passing on what I have learned while still learning more.

scottlollar

I mentioned that to the guy who owns the roach. He didn't think the roach was very old. But, he does know someone who has a similar roach and I will find out from that person this weekend who made it to be sure.
And it might be rubber, but it is deteriorating - kind of like it's melting, sort of - so I don't think its vulcanized. It might be a latex or softer rubber of some variety, because it seems to react to moisture in the air - the more humidity, the 'looser' the base is. The hair doesn't lose its shape in humid weather, but the base does, if that makes any sense...
But, I think you are probably right on who made the roach and how he made it. I can't find any evidence of it being tied, and I can't find any evidence of a base cord or anything else. Man, I'd like to know what his process was... if for no other reason than being able to repair/re-base any others of these if they come along.
Thanks for the help...

Fat Albert

I agree with Powwowbum49. It sounds like one of Hawkeye's roaches and all I can tell you is that he hated doing the roaches that way. His wife explained that process to me and frankly it was done that way to produce more roaches for Crazy Crow back in the day. She does not share that info in its entirety simply because she does not want to see them made that way any more. There are a few who know bits and pieces and I did not bother to keep the information in my head because it was a short cut. The bottom line is that you can't do much with them to repair them other than cut the hair off as close to the base as you can and then go back and tie it to a new base. Hawkeye would have rather tied the roaches from day one but the idea was to make cheaper, less time consuming roaches. You get what you pay for and that is why he hated them. That guy made the best I have ever seen even today (no offense to the other roach makers) and his sense of humor is legendary.

scottlollar

The more I talk to people about this, the more convinced I am it was one of Hawkeye's roaches. If so, that makes the roach quite a bit older than we initially thought. But, that's allright - fine wines and age, right? I spoke with another person who had a similar roach. He was able to sew through the rubber right into the roach base to 'tighten' it up. I think I'll end up doing the same thing with this one. I'll keep you informed on it.
Thanks to everyone who responded, and even to those I talked to in person about this...