Preventing holes in soft top - my solution
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by fltsfshr' date='Mar 3 2007, 11:57 AM
Here's my opinion.
Fabric glue comes in several different curing times. Use the longest cure when doing large backings, it has more flex. It's usually a 24 hour total cure.
Put your patches on like you use contact cement. Tack it then stick it. Sunbrella black fabric is very flexible, extremely strong and matches your exterior top perfectly. If you have a small hole all the way thru and wish to try a patch, put the patch on the inside without the top stretched. After it cures and drys, put the top all the way up and look at the hole. You'll notice it opens a little and you can see the patch below. Take some Sunbrella and match the weave direction, then cut a small piece to perfectly fit the slit. Make it as close as you can without overlapping. Us a faster drying vinyl/leather adhesive here if you like, there are some out there that cure in 45 min. After you have matched the piece to the hole, put vinyl cement into the hole and in between the bottom patch and the top and tack it. Fit in the patch very carefully, making sure not to overlap. Let it sit and dry. IF you have threads sticking up afterward, shave them off. I haven't tried this in really cold weather but it works great here. Most fabric/vinyl glues have a wide temp and flexibility range.
It will be interesting to see how his patch holds, that's a combination of two very different materials with different stretch rates under temperature extremes.
fltsfshr
Fabric glue comes in several different curing times. Use the longest cure when doing large backings, it has more flex. It's usually a 24 hour total cure.
Put your patches on like you use contact cement. Tack it then stick it. Sunbrella black fabric is very flexible, extremely strong and matches your exterior top perfectly. If you have a small hole all the way thru and wish to try a patch, put the patch on the inside without the top stretched. After it cures and drys, put the top all the way up and look at the hole. You'll notice it opens a little and you can see the patch below. Take some Sunbrella and match the weave direction, then cut a small piece to perfectly fit the slit. Make it as close as you can without overlapping. Us a faster drying vinyl/leather adhesive here if you like, there are some out there that cure in 45 min. After you have matched the piece to the hole, put vinyl cement into the hole and in between the bottom patch and the top and tack it. Fit in the patch very carefully, making sure not to overlap. Let it sit and dry. IF you have threads sticking up afterward, shave them off. I haven't tried this in really cold weather but it works great here. Most fabric/vinyl glues have a wide temp and flexibility range.
It will be interesting to see how his patch holds, that's a combination of two very different materials with different stretch rates under temperature extremes.
fltsfshr
Thanks fltsfshr, I'm going to try this tonight and tomorrow and see what happens!!!
Joined: Jan 2003
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Here's an update a couple years later I put in a different thread
Here you go...this will fix it. Had the same problem a couple years ago. Patch still looks good and holds fine.
"That hole is caused by the latch rubbing on the inside of the top when it's in the down position. If you look you'll see a similar wear spot forming on the other side. You can also tell by the paint that's worn off the edge of the latch.
Use fabric glue and an inside patch of any polyester material (You can get a small piece of black Sunbrella and glue at JoAnn fabric) Cut a couple patches, making sure they're wider than the latch width. Follow the fabric glue directions and put the patch on the inside With the top up latch undone you can push the tear together from the top side. Fit it as close as you can and let it cure If there's still a noticeable slit where it's torn, custom cut a small piece of Sunbrella to fit without hanging over and use fabric glue to put in carefully. Leave it over night and you can latch your top in the morning. do it at a fairly warm temp like above 60 if possible. If there's any threads sticking up shave them off carefully with a razor.
Put the other patch on the other side it will prevent it from happening there."
fltsfshr
Here you go...this will fix it. Had the same problem a couple years ago. Patch still looks good and holds fine.
"That hole is caused by the latch rubbing on the inside of the top when it's in the down position. If you look you'll see a similar wear spot forming on the other side. You can also tell by the paint that's worn off the edge of the latch.
Use fabric glue and an inside patch of any polyester material (You can get a small piece of black Sunbrella and glue at JoAnn fabric) Cut a couple patches, making sure they're wider than the latch width. Follow the fabric glue directions and put the patch on the inside With the top up latch undone you can push the tear together from the top side. Fit it as close as you can and let it cure If there's still a noticeable slit where it's torn, custom cut a small piece of Sunbrella to fit without hanging over and use fabric glue to put in carefully. Leave it over night and you can latch your top in the morning. do it at a fairly warm temp like above 60 if possible. If there's any threads sticking up shave them off carefully with a razor.
Put the other patch on the other side it will prevent it from happening there."
fltsfshr
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Joined: Jan 2012
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New solution to an old issue
The Black Hole Patch has worked great for Convertible top patches made to patch mouse holes in portable fish houses in Minnesota
A very strong self adhesive patch see photos of s2000 top on Black Hole Patch facebook page or justasign.com
The Black Hole Patch has worked great for Convertible top patches made to patch mouse holes in portable fish houses in Minnesota
A very strong self adhesive patch see photos of s2000 top on Black Hole Patch facebook page or justasign.com
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,208
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WTF did you just say, troll?
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 331
From: Sacramento
Black Hole Patch
http://www.facebook.com/BlackHolePatch
http://www.justasign.com/
I find it funny that they use a S2000 in some of the photos.
I would put one on the inside before the top rips.
ROD
http://www.facebook.com/BlackHolePatch
http://www.justasign.com/
I find it funny that they use a S2000 in some of the photos.
I would put one on the inside before the top rips.
ROD