Vinyl top options

lowbudget said
They wanted 45.00 per yard just for material. I imagine it would take 5 yards. Hell I have an industrial machine and a mini walker but keeping those seams straight and even would be more than I want to tackle. I've done car seats, bike seats and snowmobile seats but I think this would be best left to the pros. The price is kinda why I was leaning towards the SEM dye. The vinyl grain will be correct also that way. Heck I'd only be out 160.00 and my labor if I didn't like it. I found this post about dye and I might try the dupont dye.http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=31412&highlight=vinyl+top+dye

5 yards sounds like a lot but I've forgotten how they measure upholstery material. I used to help an old upholstery guy install tops. He sewed most of his own. On 2 seam tops he would cut the material then lay 2 of the pieces face to face and sew it twice, then sew the other piece of material for the other side. This left 2 'flaps' of material about 1/2" wide on the underside of the top. He then sprayed a little glue on them and folded them over which also helped keep the seam straight. He then installed the top.

I also used to spray on imitation vinyl tops. Dupont used to have a paint they called '1-2-3 vinyl'. You could buy it separately or in a kit form which came with a roll of vinyl tape which you put on the roof to simulate the seams. Then you sprayed a couple coats of the 1-2-3 unreduced to get the texture. Then you would reduce it and spray a couple of coats to seal it. I haven't seen any of this product in years, though.
Dallas