Why I hate Auralex

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:18 pm

Hehe...Okay, so I don't HATE Auralex, but they sure have pissed me off.

Don't get me wrong - I like their products and I think they are actually a decent value. The trouble comes when you need to take them off the walls.

So, I'm in the process of converting my basement from a theater to a mastering suite.

I had used a lot of 1x1 and 2x4 Auralex tiles to tame reflections in the theater, but for the mastering suite, I need bigger, badder stuff. So, I had to take down the Auralex.

First offender - TubeTak -
Auralex suggests that you make and X on the back of the tiles and then work around the perimeter.

Well, I went to take this stuff off and it was PERMANENTLY bonded to the wall. I tore off so much drywall getting this stuff off, it's not even funny.

Instead, a dot in each corner (small dot) and a small dot in the center will suffice and is what Auralex SHOULD recommend. This would hold the tiles JUST fine and when it's time to remove them, you don't have to do as much drywall mudding, primering and painting!

Second offender - Spray Tak -

This stuff should be illegal and Auralex should be sued for what this stuff does!!! First, Auralex has the audacity to suggest you spray both the surface AND the tile with a healthy coating. Then apply and voila.

Well, true - the stuff does work. But again - seriously, you don't need ANYWHERE NEAR THAT MUCH. A little spritz in the corners and center will be just fine.

Getting this stuff off is a friggin NIGHTMARE. I had put several tiles up with this stuff and when I went to peel it off every tile just ripped into shreds leaving chunks stuck to the wall...

If I tried to sand what remained to get the wall back to normal, it only melted the glue and made an even more impregnable bond. No, instead, I had to rely on caustic chemicals. "Oops" brand remover is what I had to use. I spent 8 friggin hours inhaling this sh*t yesterday trying to get Auralex's GLUE-CRAP off my walls.

As such, I got HIGH off my ass and woke up with a terrible headache and even worse cough this morning. Oh, and YAY! I get to re-primer and paint every surface in my basement today!!! I can hardly wait!

If there is ANYTHING to be learned by my experience - it is:

Use the Tube Tack but use it VERY sparingly. It's FAR easier to do a little mud/primer/paint than it is to scrub the hell out of the walls with stuff that literally eats RIGHT through plastic and latex gloves and will make you ill!!!!

</rant>

Thumbs Up

J

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:33 pm

Isn't this a hush title?

It sounds as you're surpriced that glue glues.

Eric
.

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:37 pm

eric_desart wrote:

Isn't this a hush title?

It sounds as you're surpriced that glue glues.

Eric
.

Hehe....

Nope, not surprised that glue glues - more surprised that Auralex recommends using SO much of their glue. It would be far more responsible of them to explain how much glue to use given different scenarios. In other words - they suggest an OVERKILL of glue which makes their product impossible to remove without SERIOUS frustration.

Besides, I still love and purchase Auralex stuff.

Very Happy

J

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:42 pm

Cucco wrote:

Why I hate Auralex

Cucco wrote:

Besides, I still love and purchase Auralex stuff.

Is this guy really a mod? Shocked

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:47 pm

Now keep in mind, that I am usually wrong in this forum, but I have read that some people glue the foam panels onto pegboard, add furring strips on the back so there is some air space behind, and then hang that on the walls not using glue (or maybe just a bit in the corners to prevent it from vibrating/buzzing).

=RR=

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:48 pm

ZZTop wrote:

Cucco wrote:

Why I hate Auralex

Cucco wrote:

Besides, I still love and purchase Auralex stuff.

Is this guy really a mod? Shocked

No reason to be a smart ass.

If you'd bother to read my FIRST sentence of my post - I actually said:

cucco wrote:

Hehe...Okay, so I don't HATE Auralex

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:50 pm

redrabbit wrote:

Now keep in mind, that I am usually wrong in this forum, but I have read that some people glue the foam panels onto pegboard, add furring strips on the back so there is some air space behind, and then hang that on the walls not using glue (or maybe just a bit in the corners to prevent it from vibrating/buzzing).

=RR=

Not a bad idea.

I was thinking about using acoustical cieling tiles as the backing with some strips.

Ultimately though, I think I'm going in a totally different direction. I should be done here in a week or so, I'll post some pics.

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:20 pm

T-pins have worked fine for me.

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:44 pm

T-pins are definitely the answer for drywall situations. I have a concrete wall that I also needed to bond some sheets to and I found that using 3M super 77 spray adhesive works fairly well. On a new application, prime the sheet with a few coats of the adhesive, letting each coat dry before applying another. Then, coat again and stick it to the wall. This should keep it stuck just fine all fall, winter, and spring just fine, but I have found that when it gets really hot in the summer, they tend to peel off from time to time, but reapplying a light coat and attaching again fixes that problem. Best of all, no damage whatsoever to the walls or the sheets.

Presto!

Tyler

RO Admin Joined: Mar 20, 2000 Posts: 4352 Location: Canada

A re title would be my suggestion then. Saying/ starting a title with, you hate someone, or something and then taking it back in a sentence make no sense to me. Seems rather harsh if is isn't really your intention here, Auralex has been RO's main supporter for 3 years so we owe them more respect on this topic.

Do you hate Aurolex? Or is this about glue? or... That is what this title should be IMO.

Cheers!

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:14 pm

Chris -

I mean this with all due respect.

I plan to keep the title as is. You may change it if you like, but here is my reasoning for keeping it:

1 - I really am quite personally mad at them right now. I've spent 14 hours yesterday and 4 today cleaning up after the de-installation of their products. I'm currently coughing up the lining of my throat due to the use of the only chemicals I could find which would dissolve the glue (and yes, I wore a mask!)

2 - I feel that the installation instructions are irresponsible on their part. I mean, 8 tylenol will definitely kill a headache, but it's a bit overkill, don't you think. I just think Auralex could at least explain their installations as such to say - if you plan on ever taking this down, try using this much of product A or that much of product B. However, if you'd like a truly permanent install, try a lot of product A or B.

3 - By listing the title of this post as I have, people will see it and read it. If my title were "Acoustic Foam Glue Troubles" - I suspect far fewer people would read it.

I don't believe that your business relationship with Auralex will be in any way affected by the comments of one individual. As I said, I still love their foam products, but I feel that the company could do a better job explaining the installations. (And no, I don't feel that the "Temp Tabs" are a viable alternative to a good, temporary installation using quality adhesives. I and many others have complained of the temp tabs not being able to hold more than the 1x1 panels.

Sorry if I offend anyone with my use of the word hate, but right now I am in a big love-hate relationship with Auralex.

J. Thumbs Up

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:03 pm

bigtree wrote:

A re title would be my suggestion then. Saying/ starting a title with, you hate someone, or something and then taking it back in a sentence make no sense to me. Seems rather harsh if is isn't really your intention here, Auralex has been RO's main supporter for 3 years so we owe them more respect on this topic.

Do you hate Aurolex? Or is this about glue? or... That is what this title should be IMO.

Cheers!

Chris,

after reading through this no less than 3 times - I am going to leave the title the way it is.

It is an attention getter - and quickly lets the readers know that he really doesn't "hate" Auralex.

ALthough I would point out to Cucco that manufacturers of products do NOT suppose that anyone purchasing their products are intending to use them for anything less than the usefull life of the product - which is why they recommend installation techniques that will not fail.

This is no different that installing paneling using the adhesion method rather than nails (liquid nails).

If you remove the panels in the future it is expected that you will be repairing the wall board surface.

If your intent (when purchasing any product) is to only install it temporarily, then it is your responbsibility to contact the manufacturer and ask them what you should do in that case.

Sincerely,

Rod

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:32 pm

I use 2" x2" 3M sticky-back velcro, in all four corners. Depending on the wall surface (textured??), sometimes along the sides and tops too. Freshly painted walls will give you adherence (sp?) problems , but after a week or two of "paint curing time" , should hold. I've not had much luck this way on ceilings though. And, chances are when trying to remove the velcro months later.......ripps off some paint along with it. You could try an old painters trick, first put down some 3M blue painter's tape first, then the velcro, as that tape will come off easier, later.

Just my experience.

=RR=

(help my current gobo thread....somebody!!)

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:57 pm

LOL

I bought some Aurelex a year or so ago and also read the instructions and was rather amazed about how much sticky stuff they wanted me to use. I thought that they recommended using that much as a way for them to get a little extra $$$ by making people buy more tube/spray tak.

Anyway, my plan from the beginning was to glue them on to something in 2x2 squares that way I could move them if needed and I wouldn't kill my freshly painted walls.
I ended up using pegboard to mount the Aurelex on. While walking around home depot I saw it and it seemed like that would make it real easy to hang them up. It did and it works well. I've got a couple hanging normally and a few hanging in a diamond shape.

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:00 am

Industrial strength velcro has always worked for me, though you could also use nails. Laughing

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