Harbor freight Canvas..seams

[rustytoolss]

I bought my canvas from HF back in August16 (9x12) actually about 8'8"x12'. Anyway I just opened the package. The canvas looks very nice. But it is really 2 pieces seamed together. I was afraid this might happen.
I really hate to cut the large piece apart to remove the seam...but then again,....I really don't like the look of the seam on the outside of my trailer body.
I only bought the HF canvas because of tight budget needs. Has anyone done the canvas work and left the factory seam in there HF canvas ? If so , did it cause any problems ? Did you have problems when applying the TB2 with the factory seam still in the canvas ?
I'm not sure at this point if I'm going to remove the factory seam, or leave it in ??.. Give me your thoughts

[ghcoe]

How big is your trailer. Mine is 8'4" long and 4'2" tall, there was plenty of canvas to cover without having a seam. I did have to place it just right though for the sides. I also used a stitch ripper to open up the end seams for extra length. All the HF 12x9 canvas will have a seam near the middle.

[GPW]

Rusty , as we recall Louella (Eagle ) originally covered her Foamie trailer ( which I think is the first one built here after the discussion started. ) with HF canvas and positioned her seams to run along the roof , and it looked good ... Seams are not so bad , it’s Where you put em' ...

[GPW]

Went back in the Big thread (page 48) and found ths pic ... 2011

[ghcoe]

Went back in the Big thread (page 48) and found ths pic ... 2011

Looks like a racing stripe!

[Pmullen503]

I made my seams by butting two pieces edge to edge and then placing a 4 inch wide strip over the seam. Flatter than the sewn seam and I made sure it was straight, right down the center of the roof. It looks OK.

If I had it to do over I would have bought more wide canvas. That would have added only a few percent to the total cost of the trailer.

[rustytoolss]

How big is your trailer. Mine is 8'4" long and 4'2" tall, there was plenty of canvas to cover without having a seam. I did have to place it just right though for the sides. I also used a stitch ripper to open up the end seams for extra length. All the HF 12x9 canvas will have a seam near the middle.

George, my TTT is 74" tall, 74" wide,116" long (body exterior sizes). So the only way I can put this HF canvas (without cutting the seam loose) , is with the seam going vertically up the side of the walls. It might not look so bad . I feel better knowing that others have left the seam in, and it was no big deal.

[ghcoe]

I guess it depends on how big a seam you want. If interested I showed how to do a seam, I did it twice on my roof/front canvas since the canvas was too short to make a full run. The info is nearly half way down here. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5 ... m#p1146811.

Seam

DSCF3758.JPG (163.27 KiB) Viewed 896 times

[GPW]

Gosh,if you're counting that , my poor trailer has more seams than a basketball ...

[rustytoolss]

that was close...you could have said a soccer ball

[rustytoolss]

I guess it depends on how big a seam you want. If interested I showed how to do a seam, I did it twice on my roof/front canvas since the canvas was too short to make a full run. The info is nearly half way down here. http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5 ... m#p1146811.

DSCF3758.JPG

I think your missing what I'm asking about... just leaving the factory sewn seam together (were 2 pieces of canvas were sewn together at the canvas factory), and not cutting it apart. And gluing the canvas to the foam with the full factory seam . I get what you did in your build. Just asking about doing it differently. So that I can avoid cutting apart the canvas .

[Don L.]

Well, I cut out all the seams on mine, and overlapped the sections of canvas by 4-6"s or so, but it's bigger and would have been numerous.
I also had numerous windows and stuff where the seams would have met the window trim, where the seam would have had to run under and would have been more obvious.

I don't think you have to cut them out, just that you would want to place them where they might look better. It looked like a seam might shed water better depending on which way it is oriented.
I ironed down all my overlaps to help lessen the appearance of them too.

[rustytoolss]

How big is your trailer. Mine is 8'4" long and 4'2" tall, there was plenty of canvas to cover without having a seam. I did have to place it just right though for the sides. I also used a stitch ripper to open up the end seams for extra length. All the HF 12x9 canvas will have a seam near the middle.

Thanks for the information about the "Stich Ripper" . Said something to my wife...she said, well yeah! how else would you do that ???
Like I would know that!
Really I'm surprised she knew that ...she never sews anything...must have used one in "home eck in High school"

[rustytoolss]

Well, I cut out all the seams on mine, and overlapped the sections of canvas by 4-6"s or so, but it's bigger and would have been numerous.
I also had numerous windows and stuff where the seams would have met the window trim, where the seam would have had to run under and would have been more obvious.

I don't think you have to cut them out, just that you would want to place them where they might look better. It looked like a seam might shed water better depending on which way it is oriented.
I ironed down all my overlaps to help lessen the appearance of them too.

After looking at where the seams could end up. (windows/cargo doors etc) I decided to remove all the stiching. I'm sure I "ll be happier with the end results.