B33fy
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| posted on 24/2/18 at 09:44 AM |
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Making Tonneau Covers
Been struggling to find an upholsterer to make a tonneau cover for the car. Most are not interested in one off’s and others are just plain unreliable.
Considering having a go myself. Anyone made their own covers and any advice guidance etc for a total novice?
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softfeet
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| posted on 24/2/18 at 12:38 PM |
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Brockwell's of Kings Lynn https://www.yell.com/biz/brockwell-s-king-s-lynn-1365373/ were highly reccommmended by this chap on the Mad
About Kit Cars Forum.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3113&highlight=tonneau&page=76
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 24/2/18 at 03:23 PM |
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I don't know where you live, but if there are any boat yards nearby then they'll know of a local company that makes boat covers. They are
usually made out of material that would be very suitable for a tonneau cover, and will probably be made to a very high standard. All the
manufacturing processes are identical, as are the materials.
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swanny
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| posted on 24/2/18 at 04:40 PM |
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Have a go at making your own. We’ve just made some half doors and that was sewn on a normal sewing machine without much trouble.
Made a simple surrey top in the past and now starting working a cover for it when it’s parked
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B33fy
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| posted on 24/2/18 at 05:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by swanny
Have a go at making your own. We’ve just made some half doors and that was sewn on a normal sewing machine without much trouble.
Made a simple surrey top in the past and now starting working a cover for it when it’s parked
What material and thread are you using. I was going to bind the edges as well, did you do yours?
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JeffHs
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| posted on 25/2/18 at 09:37 AM |
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Made mine myself. Boot cover is separate, based on one from MG Midget, then full tonneau made from boot to windscreen, It's got 3 full length
zips, one down the middle and one down each side so can be driven with just the driver's side open and the side panel still clipped on - quite
cozy in winter. Look on Woolies site https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/ for zips, fabric, thread fasteners etc.
My wife sewed it with a domestic machine which coped okish.
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 25/2/18 at 02:00 PM |
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If sewing on a domestic sewing machine try a layer of grease proof paper over the material and sew through it , it makes it easier to sew somehow.
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swanny
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| posted on 26/2/18 at 09:20 AM |
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we used a couple of different fabrics. I think we bought some lightweight rip-stop sail material for the old roof.
my half doors have been made out of an old dolomite sprint vinyl roof that the previous owner had bought but darn't fit onto the dolomite.
the edges were foded over and hemmed.
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fastpedaller
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| posted on 26/2/18 at 08:30 PM |
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Quite easy to do if you use Mohair or Duck - Much more difficult with vinyl
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B33fy
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| posted on 27/2/18 at 10:37 AM |
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Thanks for the reply’s, probably go for everflex and speak to the guys at Martrim on thread gauge, binding and zips. Just need to work out how to sew
it together.
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fastpedaller
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| posted on 27/2/18 at 08:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by B33fy
Thanks for the reply’s, probably go for everflex and speak to the guys at Martrim on thread gauge, binding and zips. Just need to work out how to sew
it together.
If I'm correct everflex is a vinyl? and very tough to sew, even my industrial machine struggled with it. I don't know why upholsterers
charge so much more for a mohair or duck hood (compared to vinyl) as although there is a small premium in material cost the sewing is so much easier
in anything but vinyl. Vinyl will also shrink/stretch a lot depending on temperature.
Duck is good (but fades dramatically), mohair or similar polyester cloth holds its colour - Martrim sell it at a reasonable price the last time I
looked. To sew it (unless it's an unusual design, first make paper patterns, make one half, sew half of zip to it, then CLOSE THE ZIP (otherwise
it will never be wrinkle free.. Wonder how I know that!) and attach the other half. Easiest bit of 'exterior upholstery' to do. If you are
near me (Norfolk) you can bring it round and I'll stick it - but can't do it until June.
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B33fy
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| posted on 28/2/18 at 06:14 PM |
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Everflex is £18 metre, double duck £42 metre and Mohair is £54 a metre. Probably explains the cost. There is a carbon look pvc not sure how that fairs
up though I’ve seen it in the flesh so to speak and it does look good.. The cost is £30 a metre. Don’t know how well it sews as it’s twice as thick as
anything else on offer.
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fastpedaller
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| posted on 28/2/18 at 06:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by B33fy
Everflex is £18 metre, double duck £42 metre and Mohair is £54 a metre. Probably explains the cost. There is a carbon look pvc not sure how that fairs
up though I’ve seen it in the flesh so to speak and it does look good.. The cost is £30 a metre. Don’t know how well it sews as it’s twice as thick as
anything else on offer.
The material cost doesn't make much difference to the cost, (eg of hood) which will probably be £400 extra in mohair when the extra material
cost is £72. A mohair hood will probably take 1hr less to sew!
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preparation
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| posted on 16/9/19 at 07:37 AM |
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Making Tonneau Covers
Hey mate, you really could make your own tonneau cover with a sewing machine, just need to buy enough covering material. I suggest using vinyl
fabric since I found it the most durable and tough enough for that purpose. Also, sewing machines
from this guide looks suitable enough because they cover a wide range of the
materials which they are able to process! I hope it helps!
I would be glad to hear what other users could suggest as material for creation.
[Edited on 16/9/19 by preparation]
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Mark RSP
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| posted on 19/1/20 at 06:35 PM |
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Is there any tips as I will be tackling this job in the next month or two
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Uphill Racer
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| posted on 13/2/20 at 12:59 AM |
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I reworked my seats and learnt loads by watching this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw_8PUaXqvjSq3p1lYouXzQ
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 13/2/20 at 07:24 AM |
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I think everflex will be an problem if your using a domestic machine....
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