Canvas Sewing

B

BarrenRiver

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Does anyone do their own canvas repair or sew their own canvas?

With the wife sick and lots of time on my hands I purchased a machine, and some end rolls of Sunbrella. Just playing so far, making a tote bag with zipper and used the embroidery machine to embroidery the side of the bag. Yesterday I started making a new fly bridge cover, (It may hit the scrap pile…LOL). Sewing two 10' pieces together is a hell of a lot different than a dang tote bag.

I have never done any major sewing before this, so I'm in learning mode.

I have some repairs to do to the enclosures this fall, so I thought I might learn and be able to do them myself. One thing I have noticed is that I need a governor installed on the foot peddle
 
We've just started doing our own repairs etc. Picked up a Singer 500A industrial last year. Great machine. The wife is a seamstress and I'm like you, in learning mode. Handling the materials is a skill to be learned. It certainly isn't intuitive. One thing we found that helps is a binding tape gadget that folds and feeds the tape into the needle so all you have to do is guide the material into the gizmo. It's like a third hand. So far we've only completed 1 zip in clear panel. 5 more to go! I've gained a new appreciation for those that do this for a living. It's hard work!
 
i have redone all of my canvas on my own. it is an interesting learning curve for me.

the biggest single tip i can give you is get some seam tape. it will make life much much easier.
 
Cripes Danny, next thing we know you'll be doing needlepoint... - and wearing Crocs...!!!

:D [:-bigeyes][:-bonc01] [:-jump] [:-bouncy][:-jump2][:-bigeyes] :D
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

Cripes Danny, next thing we know you'll be doing needlepoint... - and wearing Crocs...!!!

:D [:-bigeyes][:-bonc01] [:-jump] [:-bouncy][:-jump2][:-bigeyes] :D

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Vic......Nooooo needle point for me, but I didn't think I would be doing the embroidery work either....but that's all I did last fall and winter...got the machine for the wife the year before, but she is unable to use it now, so I learned the hard way...made a baby quilt for the first grandbaby and now have another to do, when the second one is due Sept 6th. It was a good get away while at the inlaws house..hell anything would have been a a good get away...

I've always been one to be busy doing something, might not have amounted to much,, but at least doing something...and this sitting is hard,,,so its something to pass the time...

I also bought the grommet and snap hand press....Just curious as to where some of you find the best prices on your canvas, zippers, grommets, snaps etc etc..
 
I just started doing my own canvas work and found out the following: need that seamstick tape & plenty of staples to hold things together, best sewing machine is a walking foot machine...but they are expensive. If you want to use a home machine, get a vintage one that is all metal with all metal gears. I picked up a vintage Singer industrial and it does the job, but its too fast. I'm gonna try slowing it down by adding a speed reducer pulley that will also increase torgue. Check sailrite dot com for lots of info and supplies.
 
I bought a sewing machine on ebay and have had fun this summer doing repairs. One tip a canvasmaker told me. When replacing windows leave the old ones in place while you sew the new clear vinyl on, then cut away the old vinyl. this will help keep the original shape. Took 2 weeks to do the right side first and 2 hrs to do the left side. Next i'm working on perftex screen for the sides LOL
 
quote:
Originally posted by blueflew

Check sailrite dot com for lots of info and supplies.

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I got the Ultrafeed LSZ-1 from them

22408739-177x150-0-0.jpg
 
i have a machine from sailrite also. they are great folks. i had a warranty problem....and they just sent me a new machine.
 
I picked up my Press-n-snap tool and all the snaps, grommets etc. from Weimann's Interiors on e-Bay. The Press-n-snap tool wasn't cheap ($150 w/dies) but I think it was one of the best investments I've made. E-Bay item #260237362331 Zippers and material we got from The Sunbrella Store, again on e-Bay. Great Lakes Skipper on e-Bay has lot of surplus OEM materials such as binding tape etc. I've sourced the clear plastic for windows locally.
 
I started doing my own sewing with a home machine and a set of curtains for a Regal 277XL I had. Then it was a Sailrite machine and a finally a true industrial one($$$).

I had people start asking me to do repairs and small jobs and it progressed to the point where I now have my own (side)business doing canvas and upholstery. I don't advertise - word of mouth has kept me busier than I want to be at this point.

There was a definite learning curve and many, many hours of practice on different projects before I felt comfortable doing work for others, but now - after a few years(and some tutoring from an upholstery guy who has become a friend) - I've done everything to boats from putting wood floors in them to making new headliners to full enclosures.

It REALLY helps to have the right tools for the job. Good luck with your projects.
 
I made my own bow and cockpit covers for my last boat (18'). Luckily, I had the old cover to use as templates. I used my wife's 25 year old Sears standard sewing machine, and about 5 "denim" needles (it took me 4 of them to figure out not to "push" the Sunbrella material through it, but to let the machine do the work). I also used a standard desk stapler to "tack" the seams together before sewing, and that worked out real well. Found some nylon thread at the local sewing shop that was impossible to break by hand, I had to use a knife or scissors to cut it, and that seemed to work very well.

Here's some pictures:

The old cover:


The new cover:
 
blouderback, you may want to rethink that nylon thread...yes very strong, but it does not stand up to UV from the sun very well and will start to disintergrate in couple of years. I believe the pros use a UV resistant polyesther thread like Dabond. Maybe SeanB can tell us what he uses. Also, SeanB, as a fellow Long Islander, can you please let me know where you buy your supplies?
 
Jeff, You are correct, I use a polyster thread you can get from here http://www.sailrite.com/Categories/Polyester-Thread . The weight of thread to use is based on the weight of the fabric. I believe there's a chart somewhere on Sailrite's website.

I obtained a business certificate and tax ID # from Suffolk county and get my supplies from a wholesale only place in Lynbrook - Manart-Hirsch. Order today - delivered tomorrow. Most things need to be bought in bulk though. If I have a job that I don't want to get stuff in bulk for and the job can wait a week or 2, I sometimes order from SailRite's wholesale division.

BTW I grew up in Deer Park, how long have you been there?
 
Good to know about the nylon thread, thanks. I wonder who owns that boat now.... Not my problem, now. I traded it in on the Annabo.
 
Sean, thanks for the info. It sounds like Manart-Hirsch will only sell to you if you have a tax ID#, is that correct? Are you able to order from Sailrite's wholesale division by using the tax ID # as well? or is there another way to get wholesale pricing from them? I grew up in Deer Park as well and I'm still here.
 
Jeff, a tax # is required for both. As far as I know that # is the only way to get the wholesale pricing. Another place that sells supplies and has good retail prices though is http://rochfordsupply.com/
 
SEANB: I've looked into this post because I was contemplating trying to replace the windows on my canvas. I'm in Farmingdale & read that you do canvas repairs on the side. Let me know if you'd be interested in replacing the windows with eisenglas (not sure about my spelling). I was told that material was real good. I'm in no big rush to get this done so any time (winter project) that's good for you is good for me. Thanks, Sal
 
Sal,
Give me a call if you want and we can talk about it.
Thanks,
Sean 631-697-7189
 
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