Date:         Mon, 4 Mar 2013 22:05:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Canvas Replacement: Remove Upper Bed Help?
Comments: To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfinT9YkH23WozycRtHQ_qsM4ryV3ZD9p--Xqs+EfY2e1w@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Forget the dremel Your friend will be a stubby phillips screwdriver - BE SURE to get a good match with screw head. A little electric screwdriver will speed things up on most of the job, but on all 4 corners (the rear 2 being the worst) the way the fabric is cut there is very little room to get a good attack on the screws near the apex of the curves. You will have fabric rubbing on your knuckles, another thing in favour for the stock cotton pop top. Sunbrella is a bit harder on the skin.

Just wait and see.  At least you're not doing it during the heat of the day in summer :)


alistair


On 2013-03-04, at 9:55 PM, neil n wrote:

> This is why I figured having the bed out of the way might help. But
> you've done this job! I'm a newb!
> 
> JB: Thanks. Had planned on taking out the upper cushions. I was
> thinking of taking the entire bed out.
> 
> re: rear screws. Had wondered if a flexible attachment on a Dremel
> tool might do but it seems a good cordless screwdriver with 90º head
> is best.
> 
> Somehow I see the staples as being the biggest chore (top still
> mounted) but those rear screws are in a tight space.
> 
> Neil.
> 
> On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 9:02 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
> 
>> Getting the screws back in there is easier with a helper. My friend and I replaced 3 canvases last year. We never did get efficient at it but one good tip at the rear is if you have 2 working on it, one is in the van screwing in the screws, and the other is outside at the rear of van with putty knife to push the screwhead into place in roof  hole. ie finding the hole on roof with screw through aluminum extrusion is sometimes annoyingly hard by yourself.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Neil n
> 
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
> 
> '88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
> 
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> 
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
> 
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines