• When tying drawstring covers always use a square knot. (What's a square knot? It would be very difficult to explain in words here...perhaps you can check with a former Boy Scout!)
   
• Hot water is necessary to activate the shrinkage properties of most synthetic dampening covers. If the water is too hot, however, the cover could be damaged. The best guide to temperature selection is to use a water setting that is as hot as you (i.e. your hand) can comfortably withstand.

How to Keep Your Covers on the Roller

Whether you use covers with drawstrings or the shrink-on type, they don't always stay put.
Here's some suggestions that should help.

Is there anything more frustrating than spending a half hour or more mounting a new dampening cover only to have it "walk off" the roller an hour or even a day later? Here are some tips to minimize the possibility of this happening.

The most important advice is to read the manufacturers instructions completely and follow them exactly. Various brands of dampening covers may have subtle but crucially different mounting characteristics. What works for one cover may work against another.

If you are using a shrink-on cover, always center the cover on the roller and begin wetting the surface in the very center and slowly work the stream of water out toward the ends. This will allow the cover's tendency to shrink inward along its length to take place before the ends are wet. When trimming any excess material from the ends leave as much excess overhang as possible. All shrink-on cover tend to creep inward after being run-in on press. Trim too much off initially and the cover will likely "pop" off the end and have to be replaced.

For added insurance, run a thin bead of cyanoacrylate glue (marketed as “Super” or ”Crazy" Glue) around the stitching and the knot of drawstring covers. This procedure will keep the knot from unraveling and will minimize the effects of  abrasion on the drive gear side which (often shears the drawcord and/or the stitching). The same glue method may be used on a shrink-on type cover, but only if the cover is dry. The best procedure is to mount the new cover at the end of the work day and add the glue the next morning when it is dry. With either cover type be careful to keep the glue off the cover surface...adhere the glue to the sides only.