In article ,
Gordon wrote:

On the subject of sewing and sunbrella in particular, how do you cut
the stuff and work with it without the edges unraveling?
I thought about trying a soldering iron to cut it.
Gordon

All I see are hems..

--
Molesworth

On Jun 7, 6:55*pm, Gordon wrote:
* *On the subject of sewing and sunbrella in particular, how do you cut
the stuff and work with it without the edges unraveling?
* I thought about trying a soldering iron to cut it.
* Gordon

Use a 'felled' seam ... a seam where the cut ends of the fabric are
folded inside the seam


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On Jun 7, 3:55*pm, Gordon wrote:
* *On the subject of sewing and sunbrella in particular, how do you cut
the stuff and work with it without the edges unraveling?
* I thought about trying a soldering iron to cut it.
* Gordon

Pinking shears; if you don't want to invest in a hot knife.

On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:01:46 -0700 (PDT), Mark
wrote:

On Jun 7, 3:55*pm, Gordon wrote:
* *On the subject of sewing and sunbrella in particular, how do you cut
the stuff and work with it without the edges unraveling?
* I thought about trying a soldering iron to cut it.
* Gordon

Pinking shears; if you don't want to invest in a hot knife.

Go to Radio Shack and buy a pencil soldering iron. They make a hot
knife blade that screws right on. Get some rosin core solder while you
are at it. Get a gun as well if you have the bucks and storage for it.
Consider lead free solder, 95% tin and 5% silver, twice as strong,
melts at 375. Less melted insulation. More flavor, less filling. They
might have some tinned wire big enough to be useful. 14 awg will
handle fifteen amps. They got the heat shrink tubing. You can spend
some bucks, but you need to have it already if the boat breaks
offshore. A small inverter is all you need for the hot knife.

Casady

On 2008-06-06 19:58:00 -0400, said:

A sewing machine is just one more power tool.

Thanks for that. I learned to use Mom's sewing machine for pretty much
that reason.

She required us guys learn to cook, clean and otherwise take care of
ourselves for those times we weren't "served" by some woman. SHE
certainly wasn't going to serve us! I did my first roast chicken in 3rd
grade, sewed my merit badges on my uniform at 12. Until I was about 30,
I was a better cook than any of the girls I dated.

Our sewing machine is my Mom's ancient Brother, easily 40 years old.
I'm not sure my wife knows how to use it since I've always done the
jobs that needed doing.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Molesworth wrote:

I noticed a small rip in the dodger, so, rather than give it to a
company to repair, thought 'Hey, I can do that'.

Nothing is as simple as it seems, however.

First, the sewing machine had to be mastered, oiled, prepared.

Then the rudiments of sewing learnt.

Early in our marriage, Bob was restoring a 1932 Plymouth. He wanted
to reupholster it. So he rented a sewing machine because we didn't
have one. The rental place had a fit when they learned that he was
taking it aboard a ship, but I guess he talked them into it, and on
that cruise he taught himself to sew and did the upholstery.

He's bought himself a machine like the SailRite, and just lately he's
been repairing the side curtains for the bimini. If he wants the
sails repaired though, he goes up to the Amish guy who makes truck
tarps, and pays for a half hour or so on his industrial machine which
is pneumatic (they don't have electricity). Now THAT'S a machine.

The Dodger was an easy repair (straight line stitching), but then I saw
the winch covers are wind/sun worn and needed replacing.

Those are not so easy as they are 'round'!

But I love a challenge, specially one that requires accuracy and an
element of engineering.

Took two days but I now have a matched pair of winch covers.

Now to try sail bags!

--
Molesworth

Small rips is sails, dodgers, etc. can easily be taken care of by a
small patch on the 'inside' and both 'mating' surfaces applied with
'fast cure' 3M 5200 (sold in small tubes). Just be sure to use
masking tape on the precise edges of the patch to prevent any 5200
that squeezes out from contacting 'other' than the patch when you
apply pressure to the repair.

I dont cart around my heavy sewing machine anymore when traveling.
Just some sailcloth & sunbrella scraps, etc. and a few tubes of fast
cure 5200. Its flexible enough for a 'very permanent' sail repair.
Ive done a full seam panel repair on a 9.8 oz. dacron sail ... still
good to go and doesnt lpok 'repaired' after 5 years.

On 2008-06-06 23:40:40 -0400, RichH said:

Small rips is sails, dodgers, etc. can easily be taken care of by a
small patch on the 'inside' and both 'mating' surfaces applied with
'fast cure' 3M 5200 (sold in small tubes).

Cool idea! I've got sail tape that I've used for chutes and burgees,
but hadn't thought to use 5200 as that sort of glue. We have a tube
aboard for other jobs. It's now got a new purpose, and I'll likely
bring some of an old sail onboard for such patches.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/