Sew...I decided to do my own canvas and upholstery.

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:47 am

I got a new tool for the shed of Project Trojan. After outlining all of the canvas and upholstery work I need for the mino I decided I couldnâ€™t afford it so as usual I decided to learn the craft and do it myself. I did a lot of research into the industrial sewing machines and ended up buying a Juki 1541S. This Juki is big, heavy, and all business. It was all I could do to lift it up on the table. I made a 4â€™x8â€™ cutting/layout table with self-healing cutting material across the whole 4x8 table so I can use a rotary cutter anywhere on the table. I also made some aluminum straight edge rules in different lengths up to 65â€™. Once I got it set up I started to play with and learn the machine, while trying to learn sewing at the same time. Itâ€™s a lot of fun. Appropriate tension is the biggest challenge to deal with. The first project for me was a cover for my new dash. I decided to use marine grade vinyl and I made my own welting as you will see in the pics below. I think the final product came out pretty well but it took several design approaches to get it right. I used some cheap grade material to use for patterning before using any of the vinyl. The actual sewing was pretty straight forward, the real challenge is in the layout, seam allowance, sequence of assembly, etc. Having multiple seams intersecting and avoiding any ripples isnâ€™t quite as easy as you might think. All in all I really enjoyed it and learned a ton on my first project. Iâ€™m looking forward to expanding my skills on future projects. Cheers.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:27 am

Congrats on such an accomplishment! Nice turn out on the cover.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:57 am

Great job

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:31 pm

You are hired...!

EM63 · Post by **EM63** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:23 pm

Great Job

If you will work with bigger items you have to enlarge your working area right beside you.

So it's much easier to handle heavyer canvas.

It reminds me when me and my family stuffed the JP's-Restaurant in Pee-Pee Island (Kho Phe Phe, Thailand) with our Husquarna-sewingmachine one year before the 'big wave' flushed all and everything away

--
Greetings - Heiner
1976 F-32 Sedan Flybrige

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:40 pm

Good looking job.

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:33 pm

NICE! When you get a little more confident you can come to Baltimore and do a new enclosure for me!

JK

1967 seavoyager · Post by **1967 seavoyager** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:00 pm

You could probably make Trojan pennants too.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:31 pm

Mark,

nice job, the welting is tough to do correctly. Ive been doing my own canvas / upolstery work for years, not a pro by any means, and have been subject to my friends amusement... until they drop hundreds or thousands on what takes a weekend.

anyways, nice job. I have Thompson walking foot sewing machine and two 6' banquet tables I set up in the garage for the sail shop!

DOUBLE R · Post by **DOUBLE R** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:01 pm

Enuff pats on the back!!!! You need to change your handle to Suzyhomemaker!!!

Just kidding, I am jealous. Nice work. You will save thousands.

aweimer · Post by **aweimer** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:58 pm

WOW very nice. You will save thousands is an understatment. I've got 4k into my bridge and back deck canvas this spring. I bet that machine is a lot less.

Good luck! The material isn't cheap though, if your doing canvas be sure to use the good 9oz/yard sunbrella.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:40 pm

Deff Applause!! Looks great,, with practice, its what its all about!!! keep up the good work!!! Cant wait to see more!!

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:16 am

Mark,

You are my HERO !

I can't wait to see just what and how you tackle the interior.

Believe me, I will be watching every move you make and I can't tell you how very much I (and all of us here) appreciate the detailled information you share with us here at the forum.

THANKS !

RWS

g36 · Post by **g36** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:22 am

very nice work.
i am glad i am not the only cheapo on here

just kidding, but i am cheap

i have a sailrite walking foot machine. i made several things for my f32 boat too. including a full deck cover,bridge cover, new phiferetex windshield screens both black and white. i also made rear eisenglass panels for my cockpit. theres an endless list of projects it seems. it does make me appreciate the patience that some pros have but i am still to cheap to pay their rates. even made some items for friends but i wouldnt want to do this for a living.

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:30 am

Thanks guys, much appreciated. I'm definitely too cheap to pay people to do things that I can/could do. It's just in my nature, plus I absolutely love to research and learn things. As they say, the journey is just as fun as the destination. On top of that, most of the time I'm so broke I can't even pay attention

I thought about the potential poking I would get about learning to "sew" but frankly it just made me giggle. I'm very comfortable and confident with my manhood, so I just laugh cause it is kinda funny. Plus, this is definitely no "girly" machine. I wish you guys could see it in person cuz it's quite a machine. The pictures don't depict how big and beefy it is. Any self respecting man would be fascinated with just the mechanics of it!