wrote

If you really think EMT will work for you a 1/2" bender head is about
$20 with a handle and the EMT is a couple bucks a stick. I would still
spray cold galvanizing or paint on the cut ends and maybe even paint
the whole pipe after you bend it up to catch spots that crack in the
galvanizing. In fresh water it might actually hold up fairly well.
The cover itself is still the tricky part but not necessarily that
tough if you can sew.
My cover has zippers so it installs easily on the assembled frame but
if you are willing to thread the pipe through sewn pockets and then
assemble the brackets and hinged parts it won't need them.

Just for cost and ease of construction, I've just about settled on the EMT
idea. I really liked the visqueen patterning and then transferring to
cloth. Just need to get to a supplier and get the straps and plastic
latches. Will be starting on a greenhouse soon with woven poly, so will be
doing lots of sewing. I've got an big Singer 111W155 walking foot machine
that will do the job.

Just so many projects to do and so little time. Grandsons here for two
weeks (4 and 6) so we'll just use sunscreen instead of sunshade for this
visit.

Steve

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:12:44 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

However, if you build it, use Sunbrella - great stuff and you can
find, much like gfretwell, ends in good fabric stores for almost no
money. When I had the seat covers made for my Ranger, I found a roll
end at a place called Joann's


Same place

Sign up for their emails. Wife gets lots of 25-40% off coupons.

"SteveB" wrote in message
news
I, well, my wife actually, wants a bimini top for my Lund 16. Comes in at
around $500 for frame and canvas.

I'm a metalworker, and have a welder and an industrial Singer walking foot
sewing machine. A friend of mine used to do boat work, and I've seen him
make lots of tops. Not a lot to them, actually.

Hardware seems to be the costliest thing, all being stainless steel. The
tubing was probably special, too.

Went looking for boat part the other day, and noticed some hardware, and
IIRC, it was for 7/8" OD tube.

In all of your vast experiences, what would be your opinion of making one
of these out of conduit, or a light wall round tube? Possibly custom
making some of the hardware pieces out of steel that I can have powder
coated. The canvas could be Sunbrella, or even the cheap shadecloth
material at Home Depot is decent shade. I have a couple of big
shadecloths of that material, just had to resew the edges after about four
years of 24/7 outdoors exposure.

Anyone ever do this type of DIY project?

TIA

Steve
Half that:
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|5948|296194|606042|814411&id=605724
If your kids don't use it for monkey bars, you drop and wrap it when
trailering and protect it from the sun when not in use, it'll last a few
years.

SteveB wrote:
I, well, my wife actually, wants a bimini top for my Lund 16. Comes in at
around $500 for frame and canvas.

I'm a metalworker, and have a welder and an industrial Singer walking foot
sewing machine. A friend of mine used to do boat work, and I've seen him
make lots of tops. Not a lot to them, actually.

Hardware seems to be the costliest thing, all being stainless steel. The
tubing was probably special, too.

Went looking for boat part the other day, and noticed some hardware, and
IIRC, it was for 7/8" OD tube.

In all of your vast experiences, what would be your opinion of making one of
these out of conduit, or a light wall round tube? Possibly custom making
some of the hardware pieces out of steel that I can have powder coated. The
canvas could be Sunbrella, or even the cheap shadecloth material at Home
Depot is decent shade. I have a couple of big shadecloths of that material,
just had to resew the edges after about four years of 24/7 outdoors
exposure.

Anyone ever do this type of DIY project?

TIA

Steve




I've seen some professionally made tee-tops where the metal structure
was powder coated aluminum. After a couple of seasons, the powder
coating began to chip and abrade, and in some cases, reveal the metal
underneath. If it is steel, you'll get rust when the powdercoat wears
off. Also, don't forget to isolate your steel hardware and fasteners
from your aluminum hull boat (I'm assuming your Lund is aluminum).

On Jun 11, 12:24*am, "SteveB" wrote:
I, well, my wife actually, wants a bimini top for my Lund 16. *Comes in at
around $500 for frame and canvas.

I'm a metalworker, and have a welder and an industrial Singer walking foot
sewing machine. *A friend of mine used to do boat work, and I've seen him
make lots of tops. *Not a lot to them, actually.

Hardware seems to be the costliest thing, all being stainless steel. *The
tubing was probably special, too.

Went looking for boat part the other day, and noticed some hardware, and
IIRC, it was for 7/8" OD tube.

In all of your vast experiences, what would be your opinion of making one of
these out of conduit, or a light wall round tube? *Possibly custom making
some of the hardware pieces out of steel that I can have powder coated. *The
canvas could be Sunbrella, or even the cheap shadecloth material at Home
Depot is decent shade. *I have a couple of big shadecloths of that material,
just had to resew the edges after about four years of 24/7 outdoors
exposure.

Anyone ever do this type of DIY project?

TIA

Steve

Go ask this question he

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.b...topics?lnk=rgh

You will probably get some great info and possibly a walk through from
start to finish with pictures These guys are pretty good at DIY
being home builders...

Yawn...
http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth/bimtop1.html

JR

On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:24:39 -0600, "SteveB"
wrote:

I, well, my wife actually, wants a bimini top for my Lund 16. Comes in at
around $500 for frame and canvas.

I'm a metalworker, and have a welder and an industrial Singer walking foot
sewing machine. A friend of mine used to do boat work, and I've seen him
make lots of tops. Not a lot to them, actually.

Hardware seems to be the costliest thing, all being stainless steel. The
tubing was probably special, too.

Went looking for boat part the other day, and noticed some hardware, and
IIRC, it was for 7/8" OD tube.

In all of your vast experiences, what would be your opinion of making one of
these out of conduit, or a light wall round tube? Possibly custom making
some of the hardware pieces out of steel that I can have powder coated. The
canvas could be Sunbrella, or even the cheap shadecloth material at Home
Depot is decent shade. I have a couple of big shadecloths of that material,
just had to resew the edges after about four years of 24/7 outdoors
exposure.

Anyone ever do this type of DIY project?

TIA

Steve

HOME PAGE:
http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth
--------------------------------------------------

"JR North" wrote in message
...

Yawn...
http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth/bimtop1.html

JR

Darn fine job. I had a friend who did a ton of work at Lake Mead, and your
job is right up there with the quality of his stuff. So, bottom line, about
how much do you figure it cost? You probably say somewhere in there, but
I'm just back from a trip, and am going through a lot of e mails and posts.
Indulge me, please. $3500 top end bid, eh? Wow.

Steve