Van of enormous power Mk 4

[Fintray]

How does the awning material attach to the moving part of the awning? Just thinking it might be possible to remove a strip with the damage off the awning material then reattach the rest to the moving part.

[Joeboy]

Me n No1 son wound out the Famma awning on the van the other day. It has an approx 10" tear in the awning itself out at the edge & corner (worst place really). I've ordered some waxed white twine and a big needle.

Me n swmbo were in an Edinburgh charity shop this morning and I just thought to ask the lady if they had any sailmaker needles. I expected a no. Off she went into the back shop, had a rummage (she knew exactly where to look) and came back with this bad boy. She also found me a small folding sewing kit for the van. What a wonderful lady!

Total cost of antique serious needle and folding sewing kit?....£3.



I'll have a crack at a full seam stitch next time the weather plays nice. I reckon we'll get this awning all the way back and fully functioning again with just the one life scar to show. Gotta love a charity shop on 30th Dec!

It might be worth sticking clear gorilla tape to one or both sides of the awning. Either instead of stitching or before or after stitching.

John

We used to have some incredibly tough 50mm fibre tape offshore. It would be excellent as a layer builder. That might be similar to gorilla tape? I'll need to back up the stiching somehow or it will tear over time. It's All put away for the moment until drier times. Any suggestions much appreciated.

[Joeboy]

How does the awning material attach to the moving part of the awning? Just thinking it might be possible to remove a strip with the damage off the awning material then reattach the rest to the moving part.

I see what you mean, there are folded seams involved. Outwith my skills etc. Butyl tape is the one I used to see, very tough indeed. Not sure of it's longterm adhesion skills though. I'm just glad that it won't tear any further until dry days roll around.

[Countrypaul]

Did you look at the Famma awning repair kits?

[Joeboy]

Did you look at the Famma awning repair kits?

Certainly did. They didn't look big enough to cover the length of the rip. Yes I know they sell them in multiples.

The problem is that it's a doubled back sewn edge up beside the metal outer edge of the awning. Where it goes from doubled over sewn edge to single ply is where the tear is.

There's mot a lot to.play with. Although the full sewn seam is through the double ply so it will be strong. I can see myself using a small brush to infill around the single ply holes to strengthen and then as suggested tape over it. I would use a butyl reinforced tape. That takes care of the strength issue and spreading the load out. I'd be looking for an industrial adhesive spec'd to the materials (you know like a Famma repair kit).

I'll likely get in touch with bondrite in the New Year and see what's what for polythene adhesives of huge strength and longevity (plus uv resistance). A new awning of the same quality is at least £500 I think.

[Joeboy]

Swmbo sourced us a 2nd hand 2 slice toaster for the van, for a fiver!
Passed the crumpets & jam first test with flying colours!









Quite amazing, she went into the van and went this, that, there, do this, do that and within 30 minutes she'd turned it into "our" van. Very impressed. The neroli oil in the diffuser smells great.



A light sprinkling of snow so I'm down the cabin giving it a good warm through. Classic fm on and a beer, pretty excellent. Happy new year lads & lassies.

[Moxi]

Dropping below zero here as I type and wintery showers earlier, not lit the WBS at all this Christmas and managing on vanilla heating for the most part - thinking some lpg central heating might be required late evening to bridge the gap till cheap rate starts.

Happy new year to you and yours JB and happy new year to one and all.

Moxi

[Joeboy]

Bondrite got back to me and recommend this glue for use on the awning. I'll do a test piece and if that goes well I'll layer the sewn split above and below. I like the idea of bringing it back to use in Winter then using it in Summer on some European coast.

https://bondrite.co.uk/product/pu-pvc-a ... ive-p1002/

[Countrypaul]

Bondrite got back to me and recommend this glue for use on the awning. I'll do a test piece and if that goes well I'll layer the sewn split above and below. I like the idea of bringing it back to use in Winter then using it in Summer on some European coast.

https://bondrite.co.uk/product/pu-pvc-a ... ive-p1002/

You earlier referred to polythene which is very difficult to glue, the bondrite you have linked to is polyurethane based and good for PVC and ABS - no mention of polythene. Just wanted to make sure you don't expect it to adhere to polyhene?

[Joeboy]

Bondrite got back to me and recommend this glue for use on the awning. I'll do a test piece and if that goes well I'll layer the sewn split above and below. I like the idea of bringing it back to use in Winter then using it in Summer on some European coast.

https://bondrite.co.uk/product/pu-pvc-a ... ive-p1002/

You earlier referred to polythene which is very difficult to glue, the bondrite you have linked to is polyurethane based and good for PVC and ABS - no mention of polythene. Just wanted to make sure you don't expect it to adhere to polyhene?

Aye, polythene was pure guess work. We'll see what's what on the day. I'll also have a crack at pipe weld glue on a trial piece as I have a tub of that already.

Thanks for keeping an eye out though.