Topics

Well maybe a couple Bimini questions here.

  I'm going to attempt my first Bimini tops for our own Pontoon boat soon. I'm very good at patterning most anything but never did a top. I'm looking for some tips and tricks here. I looked on you tube and only found a guy doing windows. It was an excellent video over an hour long and he did a great job but it want a Bimini.

  What I have is the main top and a rear top that attaches to it with zippers. Like you guys and gals are saying, two zippers ending in the center. Also will do the zippers in the pockets. I'm thinking like this and please tell me if I'm wrong.

  Do you recommend the double sided tape?

  Patterning one side from center and running the pattern a couple inches around the sides of the framing to allow it to run on the side that much. The just cut here and finish with binding.

  My main concern is where the two tops come together at the zippers. Do I allow anything or just bind and add a zipper here like Mike explained above. I'd like tho have like a flap that covers the zippers but cant picture it (making it).

  Also do I have the frame a little loose and tighten it after the install? Or should I just make the top tight on the frame as it will end up?

  I do have these two tops existing so I can look at them while doing this and they are made very well. But I don't want to take them apart for patterns as I want to keep them.

  So throw out some needed tips on how to proceed. And thanks in advance.

  I might have more questions later :)

I just made new covers for the seating of our Pontoon. Nice red Surlast. I have a green Sunbrella top and were thinking about changing it also. I would consider trying it myself but it isn't all that simple and wonder if I had it done by someone if it would come out right. This is the story.

2 Biminis. One main and one rear section. zipper together. These tops are used all the time. And these are the only ones I may want to replace.

Side curtains, another front top, a rear drop and a front clear drop all attach to the existing tops with zippers.

In other words a full camper.

So there are many zippers next to each other and I doubt I am good enough at canvas work to do all this and have it work.

Do you guys think it would be doable to make this change and leave the rest of the camper parts as is but still usable.

Or should we just live with the green tops? The red covers are only there when were not. But the color looks so good with the red fence I did last year.

Thanks.

I just had a brain storm. DUH....

I don't need the 2 tops made with all the zippers. I can just have new ones made, keep the green set for the camper and I'm all set. Sometimes the old brain just doesn't computer quickly LOL.

Now to think out doing this myself. I wonder if I can and make it nice and tight.

Mike and other marine folk this is for you.

  I have to replace the covers on the seating and console of our pontoon. I'm thinking Surlast but would appreciate recommendations. These are not the seat upholstery itself but the covers I put on to save the upholstery. I want to use something thin, and pliable. Draw strings and snaps will be installed. Inexpensive is also a consideration.

I hope everyone here has a great Christmas and a prosperous 2014. It's always nice to stop in a see what you all are doing. Some will be doing more next year some will be doing less. What ever you doing make it the best.

Nothing to say today I guess.

I bought an extra set of standard flat feet for my machine so I could modify the outer one. I had one setup years ago with one of the legs cut off. It worked well but I can't for the life of me remember which leg was cut off. I think this might be called a zipper foot when one leg is gone. I sew my zippers with the zipper on the left and the fabric on the right. So should I cut the left leg off?
  Thanks guys and gals.

A conversation in another unrelated forum brings me to as you canvas guys and gals a question. In the attached image the bimini top will not fold to the rear only forward due to the rear bracket. What is a good way to fix this. The top can't be reversed as the back is different than the front.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/minichillosupholstery/media/ab0_zps50d59c6b.jpg.html

Wondering if your on here. PM if you'd like

Nice break in the workload.

What have you guys and gals found that will glue vinyl double welt to itself? We found a hot glue that will do it but it is $1000.00 minimum. Don't need that kind of investment. I have tried a brush on I think it 66 or something that work on one sample but not another sample. I don't like the look of stapling dw on so I need to find a glue that will do the job.

I understand pfaff has been bought back in 2010 by another company Mauser Spezial. We will be going to look at a 1245 this coming monday and wonder if any of you have any experience with this new company making pfaffs?
 

Anyone use one? If so how good is it and any comments?\
  Thanks

Hey guys and gals,
  I am about to start a new sectional for a customer. Frame build and upholstery. I've done these before and always on the fly so to speak. Does anyone have any pics of bare frames? It might make it less time consuming if I have pictures. I do rough drawings but have to work in all the pieces as I go. I've never found decent pictures. Well not since computers anyway.
  If you have some please let me know.
  Thanks.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas an a Happy and prosperous New Year. Another one down already. They just fly by so fast.
  Stay safe and enjoy the Holidays.

I have been looking for parts for a Bimini top. I found the aluminum at a decent price but the fittings are tuff. I need to add 2 supports to my personal boat's Bimini to replace the straps. The tubing is 1 1/4" square. I would need slider, 2 ends and 2 mounts. If any of you have these in stock and would part with them please let me know. Not asking for free but I hate paying retail for anything related to my trade.
  You can e-mail me if you want paul@minichillosupholstery dot com. Of course that needs to be slightly edited :)
  Thanks.

Who handles this now a days? Not Never sag with the built in spring holders just flat steel webbing. And Strong Hold nails.
As a side does Burch Co. still offer supplies? I see no mention of it on the site.

Not being all that familiar with boat work I have a question. I made a cover for our sundeck. I cut the length to its finished size and plan on binding the edge and then installing the snaps. Normal. My question is what and how many layers of fabric should reinforce this area with. I though a layer of sunbrella and a second layer of vinyl over that, all on the inside. Does this sound sufficient?

As I posted a few days ago the rear sundeck is done for our pontoon boat. I need to find an inexpensive fabric for covers to keep the sun damage down. The rest of the Upholstery on the boat has covers made out of a very thin vinyl. A little stretchy which is good but I don't have anything in my books like it. I do remember it from years ago. It's the fuzzy back stuff used in boats for years. Very soft. I don't care if this is what I use anyway. I have worked with Sunbrella Surlast and like its weight but not the backing. Any ideas? I want to keep at 5-6 bucks a yard if I can.
BTW I finally put all the canvas on the boat today. WOW what a difference. Fully enclosed with windows and screens. Might get out a month earlier and still be warm  ;D

I've been looking for these hinges and thought they would be easy to find. My mistake. I need these to hinge two rear upholstered seat tops on a pontoon and a smaller one for a small door. Anyone know where I might find them? I've looked all over the Internet and even a salvage yard.

I probably asked this question a year or so ago when doing this set. Customer to Joannes and the fabric didn't hold up. Now I have to do this set again. I'd like some input on the strength of Acrylic fabric used in the form of a sling seat. I have used Sunbrella for canvas work and it sure seems like it would hold up and not stretch but never used it in this application. The customer is not all that fussy in color but wants it to be nice. I am researching fabrics this time for them. Lesson learned on their end. I explained the fabric they bought last time wouldn't hold up. Funny thing is I bought some poly fabric at Joannes 4 years ago for to sling stools we own. They have been out in the Florida sun for 4 years and they still hold my 200 lb a8s. I'm just leery of taking the chance with a customers job. I think I was just lucky.
  I'd even consider the loosely woven fabrics used on outdoor patio chairs. But I would need a supplier for that. And I'd rather see them in a nice looking fabric. It is for a pool lanai.
  So what ya got for me people?
  Thanks.