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Facebook, IMO, is one of the best advertising tools you can have. Its better than word of mouth advertising, as folks can actually see your work and read praise from your customers.

Yes, JS, but how do you get people to come to the facebook page, other than your personal friends?
I'm wondering if anyone pays for facebook ad campaigns? It's much easier to update a facebook page vs. a website, but my website address is much easier to say than my facebook page address.

Most of us only need to advertise locally, and I can't figure out how to do that yet. Most of my business at this point is word of mouth.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heavy-Duty-Sewing-Services/202042173167299

I tell people about my facebook  page when I am discussing potential jobs with them. I also tell them about my website. I let them know there are pictures on both. Pictures are worth a thousand words, and having positive customer feedback on a face book page is also a plus. I have found that most people who have facebook will hit the page and look at the pictures and comments. If they dont, then they can review the website. As more people like the facebook page the more will find it.

I have been in business for 3 years and only do word of mouth. I also have business cards, and decals on the rear window of my truck. For the first two years I didnt gross very much in sales. This year I am about to surpass what I did last year and its only March. I have visited marinas and left cards. Given cards to marine repair shops and mechanics. Hung them up in Ben and Jerry's shops. Generally, just spoken to people.  I have asked my friends to put the word out too. Any little bit helps.

My biggest job has come from my website.
My third most jobs have come from other companies referrals
My second most amount of jobs have come from a fishing tournament I sponsor through my business.(single form of paid advertisement)
My most jobs have come from word of mouth.


There are other factors in my local area that influence canvas and upholstery work. Specifically, the other guys doing it are either loaded with work, to expensive, or just a plain asshole.

It has taken me a while to figure out what works, but my business seems to be taking off. This is something I didnt expect to happen this quick.

Quite possible. I'm no metallurgist, but stainless steel is a very hard metal. However, it is also more brittle than regular steel. Since galvanization is nothing more than a coating to steel or iron I would be willing to bet the stainless staples would drive right into the plastic. Personally, no matter the application of the water craft, I only use stainless. Galvanized will eventually rust because the zinc coating will wear off.

Facebook, IMO, is one of the best advertising tools you can have. Its better than word of mouth advertising, as folks can actually see your work and read praise from your customers.

I did three jet ski seats this past summer and used the Harbor frieght 20 gauge staple gun and stainless steal staples from Manart. I had no issues stapling the vinyl to the plastic. I did use 3/8" stainless staples. I had my air pressure regulated at about 80 PSI. That gun sucks, no doubt, but I had limited issues with it. I did notice that I would get the same staple issue that you have when i didnt hold the gun tight to the plastic.

Done.


https://www.facebook.com/gloucester.canvas?ref=hl

Thanks Scarab. I sew mine boxing side up as well. I just can t seem to get the corners tight with a setting of 7.5 or 8. If i move it down to 6 they tighten up nicely.

I was wondering what size stitch lengths everyone uses for sewing Marine enclosures and for upholstery?

I ask because i am having difficulty with my stitching around corners on upholstery when using pre-made seaquest  welting. I have a welt foot with the cut out in the rear.  I typically use a 7.5-8 stitch on enclosure curtains and upholstery. I also tried a shorter stitch length(6) on the upholstery and it seems to tighten the vinyl to the welt better. I am using a consew 206rb5.

I have a 206RB-5. I can tell you it sews 207 thread just fine. use a 24 gauge needle. For 138 I use a 20 or a 22 gauge needle, depends on the job. I also have three different bobbin cases for the different sizes of thread. I have labeled the accordingly. I did this particularly because I didn't want to have to adjust tension on the bobbin case every time I changed thread size. Basically, i change thread size, change to the bobbin case i have setup for that thread size, sew some practice stitches on what I am sewing while adjusting the upper tension.

The largest needle the 206 handles(per the manufacturer) is a 25 gauge. They also state it will sew one thread size larger than the 207. Thats not something I think I would want to attempt. I just rolled out 48 Herculite 90 covers for a local shipyard using 207 thread on the 24 gauge needle. The job went quick, the machine was flawless. The thread the job called for sucked. not much 207 will fit on the bobbin. I added a touch on tension to the bobbin winder and it seemed to help.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/living/minnesota-sewing-trade-class/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

I'll throw my 2 cents in here. I did threes jet ski seats from bombadier jet skis. they were all one piece seats with the seperate  knee leg comfort piece just below the helm/handle bars. I used seaquest vinyl from Manart. Seats - easy peazy. Slight heat, little stretching, stapled them down. The comfort pieces - pure hell with regular vinyl Lots of heat, plenty of stretching, had to do one twice, had to put them on a certain way, took two people. Next time, ill use All sport or some other stretchy brand of vinyl.

Wow. I havent been on here in a while and I just read this thread. Just got an education on 2 products. I will be looking into them myself. Thanks for the education on Recacril and sattler. Sorry if I hijacked the thread.

just refinished my sewing table and I am looking to make some snap on covers when I am sewing clear window vinyls such as strataglass, crystal clear, aquaview, etc. What materials does everyone use to cover their tables for sewing window vinyls to keep them from getting scratches?


Any input is appreciated.

Thanks!

that was 1 inch binding and a 1 inch binder.

 

It looks to me as though the stitching is very close to centre of the binding in jsquail's shots.  I immediately wondered if the stitching allowed the raw edge of the glued and folded allowance of the binding to be visible outside the stitching.  I can't tell from the pictures.  (a "no-no"). 

First thing i checked. its right on the edge of the raw edge. I did have to adjust mine over a bit to get it to hit that edge.

http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n549/G_Canvas/7e4bb397.jpg

Can I use this image on my website?

Use anyone you like. I can retake them if you want.