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

"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


My top[ has aluminum tubing frame. It does snap to the windshield, but I
see lots of small boat bimini's with aluminum frame. Use Sunbrella. You
will need a couple of hardware items. Maybe cheaper to buy on a couple
parts. You need a hinge for the top. West Marine WM Model #: 397275 but
you can also get a side mount hinge. Plus a hinge for the middle of the
main upright to allow the back hoop to fold against the main hoop. WM
592651 is what they look like. Just weld a couple ears on the tube. 7/8"
tube is probably fine for a 16; boat. Then a couple straps to go forward
and sternward to hole the top in place. WM Model #: 393514 is the attachment
for the boat. They also come in nylon. Cheaper. Just weld up a 4 of them.
http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/products/bimini_tops/
is a picture of the top type.

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

Uncle Joe. It'll look as good as the material you use.

If you're going to go through the time and expense of making the
thing, you should use decent materials. You don't want to look at it
when you're done and say "****, wish I'd have..."

You can likely find a steel tubing outlet that can sell and bend the
pieces to spec. I did that with stainless rod a while back but it was
easy since there's a steel plant right in town.

I'd spend the $500 and find another project to save $.

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

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?

I've seen some nice tops made with PVC tubing of all things - strictly
a fit and glue type of construction so it does work.

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

I agree with Jon - it can be done certainly and probably would be a
fun project, but spending your own time to do it right will probably
cost you $500 anyway.

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 - I think it was three yards and I got
it for $7. Cost me another $30 to have the material cut, fit and
sowen up. Custom covers for $37.

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.

Casady

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:50:15 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.

Sorry dude - EMT is thin walled flat cold rolled low grade
non-hardened steel.

It's basically white metal.

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:08:22 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:50:15 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.

Sorry dude - EMT is thin walled flat cold rolled low grade
non-hardened steel.

It's basically white metal.

White metals contain things like lead, tin, antimony, zinc. No iron,
no carbon.

It is mild steel, like about 95% of the steel in use. As in autos,
buildings, bridges, ships. You want to be different and call steel
white metal, you have a problem. It about as brittle as bubble gum.

Casady

Richard Casady wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:08:22 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:50:15 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.
That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.
Sorry dude - EMT is thin walled flat cold rolled low grade
non-hardened steel.

It's basically white metal.

White metals contain things like lead, tin, antimony, zinc. No iron,
no carbon.

It is mild steel, like about 95% of the steel in use. As in autos,
buildings, bridges, ships. You want to be different and call steel
white metal, you have a problem. It about as brittle as bubble gum.

Casady



Apparently you weren't told that SW Tom knows more about science and
technology than any living human being, and when you argue with him, he
goes into "wookie mode."

If you want a giggle, ask him to tell you about the gph estimates he has
for his Ranger with the etec. They defy all known laws of thermodynamics.




--
The modern GOP is little more than an army of moral absolutists led by a
gang of moral nihilists.

"Richard Casady" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:08:22 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:50:15 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.

Sorry dude - EMT is thin walled flat cold rolled low grade
non-hardened steel.

It's basically white metal.

White metals contain things like lead, tin, antimony, zinc. No iron,
no carbon.

It is mild steel, like about 95% of the steel in use. As in autos,
buildings, bridges, ships. You want to be different and call steel
white metal, you have a problem. It about as brittle as bubble gum.

Casady

I'm a welder. Have been since 1974. I know a little. You sure are adamant
about terms. Read my lips: Conduit will work fine for the purpose of a
bimini top provided it is not used in a salt water environment. You can
call it white metal, brown metal, pink metal, blue metal, orange metal, grey
metal, metal, puce metal, magenta metal, and it doesn't change the fact that
it will perform satisfactorily, although it will be a little heavier than
aluminum, and a little harder to get or make hardware for.

Hope this helps you get over your terminology neurosis.

Steve

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:08:22 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:50:15 -0500, Richard Casady
wrote:

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

Conduit? Not so much. It's pretty brittle metal - akin to white metal
actually.

That is nuts. EMT, electrical metallic tubing, is steel. It is far
from brittle, you can bend it any way you want. What is properly
called conduit is plain old pipe, the kind that carries water and gas.

Sorry dude - EMT is thin walled flat cold rolled low grade
non-hardened steel.

It's basically white metal.


It is still far from brittle. I use a lot of EMT for various things
but it sucks around salt water. the real issue here.

The nearest salt water to me is 350 miles away at the Great Salt Lake, or
Los Angeles. Rust and corrosion are NO issue here. Maybe where you're at,
but not here.

Steve