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Smart move Mike! ;)
Gotta have fun in your life! Are you really working too?

Great information! Just what I needed today. I have a friend asking me to repair damaged vinyl. I told her the best thing to do would just replace the entire piece. But I will point her in the direction of the product mentioned here for repairing vinyl and let her do the research and make the choice to repair it herself or pay a pro to upholster the piece.
Love this forum!

Nora,

I have done vinyl and leather repairs for going on 26 years..........

Probably the best product that I have found over the years to do leather and vinyl is produced by Refinish Coating.

http://www.refinishcoatings.com/aboutus.html

Hello Everyone!--

Well, I've got a new machine and it is a Pfaff 545 H4. I see that there are quite a few of you here who have this machine, so perhaps you can help me out. I'm working on the machine myself, as it has not been run for a few years and needs lots of little adjustments.

There are a couple screws that I need to get for it, I think that I need just one more part number though before I order.

Needed parts:

(Stripped) Screw #91-000-699-15   (goes below the bobbin area)
(Stripped) Screw #11-174-086-15   (at end of needle bar - holds the needle in)
(Stripped) Screw # (?)  Need part #, This is the Screw that holds the needle bar in position

About the last screw on my list, I think it is also referred to as "screw 2" from the directions I am using on Page (9) of the "Pfaff 1245 1246 Adjustment Manual"
Wish I had a part number for the screw. Anybody?

Also, if anybody knows what these parts cost, that would be great too.

Thanks in advance!

Update on the SewQuiet 3000 Servo Motor...
Shortly after I posted that my motor was fixed, it pooped out on me again.

Oh well!

Love the shop, love the air conditioner. I had to put one of those in late this summer, it was so hot in WA State that I kept leaving my shop - way to hot to hang around, and it is upstairs. Heat rises, so I had a really hot shop!

Anyhow, great set up!

U

P   !!!! 


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^

up to the top
::) (oops, couldn't resist) :P

Chris,

Great Idea! I really like the names that Cheryl came up with. Mojo is Cool sounding!

About branding your products, great idea! Because Graphic Design, Screenprinting & Embroidery have been a part of the services I offer for a long time, I've done much of this type of work for my customers.

For a label that you put on every product, it's a good idea to put your phone number along with whatever name brand you choose to use too, that will bring lots of orders when people see your work and want it! A web address is a good idea too. Or, just a web address and then put the rest of the information on the website.

I'm not doing this myself right now, but plan to do it soon. The shop I worked in last did this and most of the calls we got everyday were from people who saw our canopy covers being used and they used the info from the labels to call and place orders. I'd say about 90% of those calls (or better) resulted in a sale. Pretty good return for the investment (cost to produce a product label) and the quality of your work speaks for itself. "Win Win" I say!

Stitcher Guy,

Thanks for the ideas, these are great! Looks like the flap idea is a winner, Customer decided he wants those. Cool idea just to put grommets in the flaps. Hmmm I like the idea of the webbing loops too, but grommets in the flaps would probably be easier.

I'm so glad you took photos of your work and shared them! You deserve a box of chocolates or a case or beer! ;)

Kind regards,
Sue

CanVas,

I like the webbing loops for tabs idea, that's great!

Thank you for your thoughts on the mark up price. Initially, I thought I should double the material cost, but I'm really giving him a huge break and he knows it. I plan to have him paint the bumper on my car later! He is a painter and does some very nice work. So that is another reason for the low mark up price. There are so many ways to figure pricing though, so I do appreciate your ideas here.

Yes, I think you are right in suggesting I should check his pattern. I told him I want to go and see the trailer and check his pattern against it. He wants to save money by cutting the time that I spend doing this, but since he does not sew, there is a strong probability that he would not make a pattern the way that I would make it. This is the first time I've worked with him on a project and although he is a great painter and masker, that is not the same as what we are going to do making covers.

Oh I should also mention that I have had the experience of somebody sending me their pattern (windshield cover for an airplane) and going by the pattern to make a cover only to find they had something wrong and guess who has to get it right? You!

Thank you again CanVas!

Chris, I'm skirting the entire 5th wheel. Turns out, it is 34 feet long with (2) tip outs that need covering as well.

We do get freezing pipes here, and I used to have a travel trailer and do recall the pipes freezing in it. So, I wrapped the pipes and hoses going to the trailer with heater tape and that solved the problem. I always wished to have a skirt on the trailer, but never did.

My Customer has expressed concern about the wind and cold getting under his trailer and losing the heat. Again, he lives in his trailer, says he pays quite a bit to keep it heated and he thinks it will help the situation. I think so too.

I did ask him the other day if he wanted the front of the trailer for storage underneath to determine if I should make a way for him to get in and out of it easily. Surprisingly, he said he does not plan to use the space underneath and said not to worry about that. Hmmm.

Thank you Chris for the ideas! Very helpful!

Where's the BEEF? :P :o ;D :'(

PDQ,

Good luck in your new business location, sounds like a great one!

I know the feeling, paying rent and all that. I moved into a new space at an Airport last May and pay rent on the first each month  :o but have been able to keep up so far with the increased business which provides the money. However, when something unexpected comes up as it did this month, I'm pretty strapped.

Think positive, work hard, put on a happy face and make your shop a fun place to visit, but not too fun or you'll never get any work done! :P

Kind regards,
Sue

If yu're dealing with extreme cold/wind ; you can sandwich insulation between two layers of fabric to keep even more heat in.
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Darren, Thank you for the explanation on this. In the climate I'm in (and Customer too) we have lots of rain. Not so much freezing, but some days cold enough to have some ice and snow (close to Seattle). I can give the Customer the options though, thank you for your thoughts on this.

I have put lots of batting into engine covers for aircraft. I thought you were speaking of insulation, but wanted to be sure.

Darren,

Thanks! I must remember to put big enough pockets in the hems to allow a little hiding place those snoring drinkers! Haha!

I will study up on awning rail and Kedar welt, since I don't know those terms yet. Actually, my Customer did express some concern over the "air tightness" of it, so this is indeed something to consider for technique.

Darren, I don't understand the part about styrofoam vs. fiberglass batts, but maybe I'll find something on it by doing a search. Thanks too for the information on June's instructions for moisture sealing. I'll check that out too.

Thank you kindly,
Sue

Mike, hope you are still taking it easy and feeling a lot better!  ;)

Quite a range in price it looks like, but that is good to know. I'm sure that the size of the trailer would also determine price of course as it changes the amount of materials and also the time to do the job.

I'm really glad to have this forum to come to, very helpful information. Thanks so much for your help here!

Kind regards,
Sue