As some of you know I am remodeling my theater room. My left side surround is being moved forward and I had to use about 6ft of Axiom flat wire, terminated with the blocks.

I don't think the adhesive back is designed to work with flat/matte types of paints, as it is coming off the wall in spots.

I cleaned/dryed the surface of my existing dark blue wall, which was painted in flat paint...After about 20 minutes of first putting the product on my wall, I noticed a few locations where the white backing was working away from the wall. I took a dry cloth and rubbed along the entire length to make sure it pushed against the wall.

The next step was to put a light texture over the location where I put the wire, and the followed up by re-painting the wall.

About 10 minutes after I put a light organge peel texture on the wire, I noticed it coming off the wall in even more locations. I am not a happy camper, I thought this was supposed to be industrial adhesive backing?

Anyway, now I have to wait until the texture fully drys to see what I have left. I didn't put a heavy texture on, but the extra weight I did add must have caused the issue.

I'm hopeing it will stay enough intact that maybe I can find some 3M spray adhesive or something to carefully apply behind where the white backing is coming off the wall and secure it before painting.

I would think flat paint would be the easiest for something to stick to. I would think semigloss, eggshell, etc. would be harder to stick to.

I would not be a happy camper either randy.

I would think that opposite. It is easier to stick to smooth/slick surfaces that rougher (albeit very fine) surfaces. Think scotch tape on a window vs. any painted wall. It sticks REAL well to the glossy/smooth glass, and just "ok" with the painted wall.

Sorry to hear that you are having troubles Randy. Have you tried "priming" the tough spots with something like:

3M Super 77


Mask off the wall, spray some of this stuff on the wall and maybe the back of the flat wire. Let is sit the recommended time so that both pieces (the wall and the wire) get dry and tacky. Stick the extra sticky flat wire to the now sticky wall.

I used to sell that stuff when I worked for an industrial distributor here in Des Moines. The problem is the wire is already installed on the wall, and only coming off the wall in certain locations. I just went down and the texture was pretty much dry and I was able to push the flat wire against the wall again, which is holding for now. I'm sure it won't be by morning. The 77 spray usually comes with a straw, so I might be able to be carefull and apply a little in those locations not holding. thanks for the help.

Yeah, but don't let THAT fool you.

It tastes like crap.

Boy, you really don't know how to use some of that cool stuff in your basement, do you?

I have installed this and found the adhesive very strong. In fact there was a small spot that touched the wall before I had it in the proper place and I had to pull it off, resulting in the paint and some of the paper to peel off of the drywall. Once I had it installed in the right spot I put several coats of drywall compound on top of it before painting. I’m a little surprised that you are having difficulties.
May I ask which side off the flat wire you peeled off? Was it the white side or the clear side?

clear side (or red as Axiom calls it), the side with the adhesive. Like you as I was positioning it, a little of paint was pulled off as I fine tuned my attempts lining it up with the line I pre drew on the wall to make sure it was level. I really think it had to with me not cleaning the wall with an alchohol solution. The wall was last painted like 6years ago, with a medium organge peel texture.

Just got home will run down and see how it looks...thanks, guys. I did order the wire about 3-4 months ago, but I would think the shelf life would be longer than that...

Randy, your other problem is that orange peel doesn't make a smooth and even texture for adhesion.

Last effort would be to mud the 1" wide (or whatever) "line" of the cable. Adhesive won't stick to raw mud or vinyl patch, so you'd also have to prime it.

Or, I could come over with my Sawzall and holesaws. We could get it all done and put back together, real pretty like, for less than $9000.00, plus airfare and lodgings.

Oh, wait! You're in Iowa, which I only fly over.

Hey guys, well I finally got it all looking good. It actually all fell off the wall, the only thing holding it up was the terminal blocks at each end screwed into studs.

Anyway, I was able to mask off an area below and above where I wanted the flat wire, sprayed the wall with 3M 77 spray, and a thing coat on the back of the wire (adhesive side) and it is holding very flat to the wall now after 3 hours with no sine of coming off.

Next will be painting the wall tomorrow.