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Jim Blackwood, Esq
Inventor
U.S. Patent Attorney, Registration Number 38,023
Businessman
NKU Adjunct Faculty
The Preceeding is not a Legal Opinion.
Copyright: Jim Blackwood 1996
Limited license granted for non-profit use with proper accreditation.
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Message-ID: <331D7698.5F82@cinti.net>
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 08:35:20 -0500
From: Jim Blackwood <blkwdlab@cinti.net>
Reply-To: blkwdlab@cinti.net
Organization: Blackwood Labs
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To: mgs-owner@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: shrinking tonneau
References: <199702261838.LAA01495@triumph.cs.utah.edu>
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The problem, obviously, is that you have to stretch both the vinyl and
the fabric, then prevent shrinkage back to the starting point. The
fabric being cotton, it can be stretched to some degree in any direction
by thoroughly wetting the fibers and applying tension. The vinyl is made
more pliable by the application of heat, or certain volitile solvents,
therefore a combined treatment is required. To further complicate the
matter, holding the cover in the as stretched condition requires further
treatment.
Though I have not yet tried the suggested remedy, My car being only 26
and not yet fully afflicted with the dread body growth phenomena,
(Though I have noticed that the fenderwells seem to have grown outwards
and an odd bulge has appeared on the hood. I suppose it to be some
strange mutation of the same condition.) But to get on with it, try
this:
First, mix a medium to stiff solution of plain water and laundry starch
in a large tub and thoroughly wet the cloth backing of the cover in this
solution. Immerse the top in the tub, and bring the pot to near boiling,
keeping watch to make sure the starch does not begin to coagulate, and
when you've gotten it as hot as you can, take it out and lay it out on a
warm, smooth clean surface, vinyl side up, or perhaps better, stretch it
in place on the car. Towel the top side dry, and using a heat gun, space
heater, or whatever means you have to keep it warm, judiciously apply a
saturated solution of vinyl dissolved in a suitable solvent. By all
means test this solution first on a scrap of material to be sure it
doesn't do weird things to the vinyl, and be particularly cautious about
open flames. At any rate, allow the solution to soak in, then wipe off
the excess, open the doors, and allow the top to dry while keeping it
warm.
The starch should keep the cotton fibers from returning to their
contracted condition, thus alleviating that source of tension, and the
vinyl carried into the pores of the top by the solvent should act as
filler material and prevent full contraction of the vinyl.
As for solvents, Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone comes to mind, but it is a very
agressive solvent indeed, and hazardous to breathe. Perhaps you can
suggest one more suitable? If so, please send a direct reply, as I am
not able to read all of these postings.
Jim Blackwood, Esq.
Inventor
blkwdlab@cinti.net
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