making your own soft top.. because lets be honest.. you've built everything else (1 Viewer)

[antFJ]

Investment so far

Top Gun Polyester Canvas: 4.5 yards: $104 ($22.xx) a yard
36'' heavy duty zippers: $5 each x4
UV resistant polyester thread: $26
8 yards of 1'' webbing: $6.40 ($0.80 a yard)
50 count 1'' d rings from amazon: $25
Tear Mender Glue from amazon: $15
1 Yard of Clear Vinyl: haven't bought yet.. expecting $30

Materials: $226

Sewing Machine: $500

Pattern Materials/yard stick/measuring tape/walmart canvas: $100

Total Invested:$726


left: ehsan pakistan canvas
bottom: walmart canvas
top right: Top Gun Polyester Canvas

 

[antFJ]

when i get started on the actual soft top i need to be much more careful with my measurements... this top gun canvas does not stretch at all.

 

[highlandcruzer]

Looks good!

 

[skully3]

great thread brother...i am impressed. guys like you are the reason this site is so great. good luck with the nxt phase.

 

[skidplate]

great job! You said you weren't going to use that top!!!!? Hmmmmmm..?....I'd use it until it fell apart, it looks good to me.

 

[apeterson]

wow... I really want to do this now!!!!!!!!!

 

[cjgoode]

Top looks great, and you learned a lot with your proof of concept top, keep details coming, and great job.

 

[peteinjp]

Nice work- Can't wait to see the next one! What do you figure you'll have in it time wise when its all said and done? Got me thinkin.....


Pete

 

[fireflyr]

As a source of canvas, has anybody checked to see if an Army Surplus store sells heavy duty canvas tarps? Would that work?

I'm very impressed with your work.

 

[Fast Eddy]

They have old tarps, but they are not cheap and they smell like old tarps.

 

[twoyotas]

. . . and they smell like old tarps.

HA! that is the funniest thing I have seen all day.

 

[fireflyr]

HA! that is the funniest thing I have seen all day.

My Paki top smells like old tarps too. I treated it with Canvac a couple months ago and I can still get high off the fumes.

My son calls it 'Old Stinky'.

I'm looking for a sewing machine thanks to you.

 

[bikersmurf]

i'll probably get some samples then

here is where i'm at now.. corners are done - i'm not sure i got them quite right.. we'll see. they seem a little short. once i get the straps on and the rest of the velcro i'll know for sure.

Had a thought about corner length, shrinkage and all. If you cut the corners a little long, and then try them out, and let them shrink, you could always shorten them up afterwards. Kind of like re-hemming pants that are too long. It you cut the final material too short, it'll be messy, too long, you can always shorten it up.

The other thought, is that the distributors may have some guidelines regarding shrinkage... or you may even be able to preshrink the material. ie. hose it down, and let it dry in the sun a few times (on the lawn/clothesline). That is if shrinkage is significant.

Keep up the good work.
John.

 

[bikersmurf]

My Paki top smells like old tarps too. I treated it with Canvac a couple months ago and I can still get high off the fumes.

My son calls it 'Old Stinky'.

I'm looking for a sewing machine thanks to you.

Seeing your truck makes we want to get a factory top.

There are tons of industrial machines around... if you're patient/lucky, you'll find a deal. A classmate of mine had a neighbor who was throwing one out because it was smoking... turned out it was because of a huge amount of thread snarled around the motor shaft... he got it free... too bad he's in Toronto.

 

[fj404life]

This stuff looks like it would make lining up seams super easy!
Seamstick Acrylic Basting Tape for Sunbrella Canvas - YouTube
All this has me scouting CL for a steal of a deal on an industrial machine LOL.

 

[ruger280]

check out Government Surplus Auctions at Government Liquidation for used machines. (and alot of other cool stuff too like M116 3/4 ton trailers)

 

[78crzr]

last trouble area.. this corner is pretty sharp and on my ehsan top it ripped here. I think OCD puts some leather underneath in this area

I've got an OCD top and don't have leather sewn in this area, although I think it's a great idea. Any guidance on where to get a couple of small pieces to sew in this area? I figure I could take the top to a local upholstery shop and have them sew them in place. I just put my top on this evening and came to the same conclusion surrounding the sharp edge on the windshield channel. Don't think it will be long before it has the potential to rip.

 

[antFJ]

I've got an OCD top and don't have leather sewn in this area, although I think it's a great idea. Any guidance on where to get a couple of small pieces to sew in this area? I figure I could take the top to a local upholstery shop and have them sew them in place. I just put my top on this evening and came to the same conclusion surrounding the sharp edge on the windshield channel. Don't think it will be long before it has the potential to rip.

jo-ann fabrics or walmart should have what you need... or that upholstery shop would probably have some scraps

 

[antFJ]

Measurements.... the moment some of you have been waiting for

before i start my second top I wanted to make sure the measurements were spot on.

Here is what I have come up with so far in inches. standby for the rear section..

EDIT: i have no idea how to make this not look crappy..

eh. thats as good as its gonna get.

 

[antFJ]

also.. some pictures of my patterns

this is the front side panel.. the roll up part of the side(the center) .. and the aft side panel

the un-marked one is the piece closest to the door. They should all be 28'' tall.