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So back in the day when I first started, I would buy my supplies from companies like Rochford supply or Sailrite. Then I finally got an account at Trivantage, and couldn't believe how much better the prices were, especially for fabrics.
Well, they've revamped their website recently, and apparently their prices too?  Oh, and don't get me started on the shipping charges.

Last night I was shopping for YKK release buckles for 1" webbing, for example. Trivantage wants $1.31 each. I checked Sailrite, and they have them for .55 each, and they charge about half of what Trivantage does for shipping.
I will still shop at Trivantage for fabrics, but I'll take the time to check elsewhere for other items.
Does anyone else comparison shop, or do you rely on your trade wholesalers to give you the best price?

Customer wants a cover for a swim platform/deck at the back of a Malibu Skier. I've never done one, believe it or not.
So, would you just make a cover with bungee in the hem? Would that be enough to hold it on during travel, or would you put a few snaps on the underside?
Thanks for any input.

So, I'm recovering jetski seats, and the seat is made out of hard black plastic. When I try to staple the cover to the plastic, the staples rumple, like this:





I've tried to turn the pressure on the compressor up, and then down low, nothing helps. Is it my gun?? I've stapled through plastics before with no problem, and when I test the gun on wood it's fine.
Also, the original cover was stapled on.
What gives?

So how is this done with one piece of vinyl, no sewing? I've stripped the old vinyl off, and I haven't tried to cover it yet, but it seems nearly impossible to get it wrinkle free everywhere. Can you just use muscle and heat to get the job done? I will be using marine vinyl.

I'm reluctant to seam it, because it would seem like more opportunities for water to get in.

http://postimage.org/image/u4h4nlj0d/

The last few jobs I've worked on were from customers who said they had tried other shops (closer to them) but were turned down. This puzzles me, because they're not particularly difficult.
For example, one was a Jeep tonneau cover that the guy wanted modified because he modified his Jeep (removed the rollbar). So he wanted to take off the boots on the cover that come up and velcro around the rollbar, and patch the holes. Simple, right? It was. It only took me about an hour and a half. He had taken it to a few places that do canvas, and they looked at it and turned him down. And it wasn't dirty, it was a brand new tonneau.
Do you guys turn down odd jobs? I actually welcome them.
There are also local upholsterers here that won't do restaurant booths.

Hi guys,
I need just enough leather to replace a ripped seat insert in a 2005 Ford Mustang. Is there anywhere I can just get a piece of leather and not have to buy a whole hide?
Thanks!

Hi guys,
I'm attempting my first cover with a webbing ratcheted perimeter under the rubrail.  It's a 19' Malibu Skier.
How many ratchets should I use on this? The owner has access to both sides of the boat and the stern when it is in the slip.
Is one enough?
Thanks!

How would you guys go about repairing these rips in a Jeep top? Any way to make it look pretty?



http://postimage.org/image/v4nx3a7el/



http://postimage.org/image/os8rtg4cd/

Feeling kinda down today. Yesterday I made covers for half a dozen restaurant booths (have been doing the whole restaurant about 6 at a time), and got to the last one and the cover wouldn't fit. It was about 3 inches too small. I made the really stupid mistake of assuming that the two larger size booth seats were the same size, because so far, after about thirty booths, there have only been two sizes. Anyway, of course I didn't have enough fabric to correct the mistake and had to order some. Otherwise they would've been done and the money collected. But no.

Then today, I got some fabric in that I ordered, and it was totally the wrong color. When I investigated, it was  my mistake. I ordered the correct color according to Naugahydes color names, but from the wrong line (ordered Universal when I should've ordered All American). UGH!!
I swear I'm never this careless, but I've got to eat the cost for these two jobs and it's annoying. Not to mention the buildup of stuff in the shop that's not moving out in a timely manner.

Has anyone ever been this boneheaded two days in a row??

In only 8 minutes and 38 seconds you can recover the rear seat of a car  ;). And no listings required (I know, some seats don't have them, but half the people are gonna start ripping open their bucket seats and say "What's this? This wasn't in the damn video!") I can't even believe I still can get business with a video like this going around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9qllpW7yWI

Oh, and in the video, he's using regular foam that you can get at Joann's, but when someone asks in the comment section where to get it, he refers them to their website, where they will have foam "buns".

I swear I'm not affiliated with "The Family Handyman" in any way, but I've been inspired a lot lately by their articles:

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Woodworking/Workbenches/diy-workbench-upgrades/Step-By-Step#step7

Does anyone know anything about this machine? My local craigslist has one for $50 in decent shape. I can't really find any info when I search on it, except to find people who are selling it who claim that it does sew leather and canvas. But if you've ever looked at ebay, pretty much everybody makes that claim about every sewing machine, even though most of the time it's a flat-out lie.
It's pretty old, which makes me wonder: how was canvas sewn before the invention of the walking foot?

Hey guys,
How do you clean regular dirt that gets imbedded in vinyl? So far the only thing I've tried is Clorox wipes, and nothing happened. The item in question is a chiropractic table that's been in a storage unit for a while. Looks like just dirt, no stains.
Thanks

Check it out:

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Home-Organization/Tool-Storage/air-compressor-cart

I will be building this tomorrow!

So I'm in Northeastern PA, and it's cold here. My shop is in a 12 x20 wooden shed, which is sort of insulated (just the four walls, not the ceiling or floor). So in the morning before I have breakfast, I turn a couple of space heaters on, and in about an hour it's bearable enough to work in (but not what you would call toasty). 
Overnight here it gets pretty cold...sometimes as low as -10 degrees. My question is: Is the cold bad for my sewing machine? Can the type and amount of oil that it uses freeze?
Thanks in advance,
Jo

photo uploader

I hope the link works - using a new photo hosting site.
Anyway, this is a chiropractic table somebody emailed me a pic of. What is going around the lower edge? It looks like hidem and snaps? If that's what it is, then does anyone know why?
Thanks

Next job is a 1972 BMW 2002 interior. The customer bought the oem fabric from a company in Germany. It's supposed to look like this:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26774117@N06/8193953535/"; title="bmwseat by joannelange, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8193953535_09a29bc5d8.jpg"; width="400" height="284" alt="bmwseat"></a>

Just in case all that above didn't work, here's a link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26774117@N06/8193953535/

Here's the problem: As you can see in the pic, the textured vinyl has heat sealing for the channels. But the fabric that the customer brought is just plain textured vinyl. I test sewed a piece, sewing with 1/4 foam and spacing the lines 1 1/4" apart as on the original, but I can't get the definition like is in the picture. Is there any way to heat seal vinyl, or does it have to be done at a factory?

Thanks.

p.s. ( photobucket website has been overhauled and I can't get into my account, so I'm using flickr.com. I hope you can get to the photo from the link.)

Hi everyone,

Just finished this top, and have this wrinkle on one side only. Sorry for the poor quality picture, but I had to hang out my 2nd floor window.



I don't have straps yet, but when I put some tension on the frame the wrinkle looks better, but not gone.
Would you put a dart in it?

Thanks for any advice,
Jo

Hi everybody,
I have a 1998 Bayliner Capri, and am doing a camper top/enclosure. There are snaps riveted along the front windshield, but not on the side glass. The clips come in 3/4" or 7/8", but the trim piece actually measures 1 1/8".
I've looked high and low and can't find anything other than the standard sizes.
What are my alternatives? Would any of you try to drill the snaps in? I fear breaking the glass. Help please!
Thanks in advance.

Ok, I haven't seen the boat in person, but this is a picture the customer sent of his existing bimini/convertible something or other:



and here is the rear view:


First of all, aside from the wrinkles, does this look weird to you? Like maybe it's on backwards?  What is it supposed to be...unfinished convertible top? really weird bimini? There are no snaps on the side windows, or the rear of the boat. He wants a new enclosure like this:



Will I be able to make it with the existing frame?

Thanks y'all.