jamesdennison Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 The mohair hood on my soft top is in good condition but the windows need replacing. My thoughts are to "simply" get hold of some of the correct grade plastic, undo the stitches on the existing one, cut the plastic to size and carefully stitch in the new one...... is it this simple? or am I entering a world of pain? Anyone recommend a supplier? Thanks James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitFire6 Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Hi, If there are no holes in the windows; I would buy some PVC window polish and make them clear again. Cheers, Iain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 I have no experience of exactly this, however I have done a bit of sewing. Shirt buttons aside I've stitched domestic plastics and leather. They are difficult to perforate, doing it by hand you'll certainly need a strong thimble just to get through the existing holes in the fabric, let alone the plastic. I'm not sure a domestic sewing machine would cope. I wonder if you could pre-perforate the new plastic using the old ones as a model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdennison Posted December 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Hi, If there are no holes in the windows; I would buy some PVC window polish and make them clear again. Cheers, Iain. I've tried the stuff sold by the club shop - made a difference a few years ago when windows were not so bad, but not really doing the job now. Not tried standard pvc cleaner - I guess I could give that a go. One of the issues is that I have speakers on the panel between the fuel tank and the cabin, over the years these have marked the window and created bulges in the plastic. No holes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdennison Posted December 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 I have no experience of exactly this, however I have done a bit of sewing. Shirt buttons aside I've stitched domestic plastics and leather. They are difficult to perforate, doing it by hand you'll certainly need a strong thimble just to get through the existing holes in the fabric, let alone the plastic. I'm not sure a domestic sewing machine would cope. I wonder if you could pre-perforate the new plastic using the old ones as a model? I was thinking about carefully removing the stitching and taking out the existing plastic so I could use it as a template for cutting the new window and possibly making the holes in advance of stitching if needed. Hoping someone has done this before and can give me some tips. The sort of thing there is probably a special tool for! One of those jobs that I'd not try to tackle all at once - maybe half an hour every evening. Probably do this on the car rather than taking the frame off. .... but it is one of those tasks that once you've started there is no return! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Sounds like a big thimble for christmas how about turn it to a zip out only the half the zip to stitch in the hood and the other half done in front of the tele More wine and strong tea syndrome looms. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWT338J Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Have you tried this stuff? This transformed a very opaque yellow rear window in my soft top. David Renovo Plastic Window Polish http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RX1532?gclid=CJqAlL_T-9ACFVYo0wodfvwMdA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTV8 Posted December 17, 2016 Report Share Posted December 17, 2016 Have you tried Brasso or T-Cut, I've used both in the past, although not sure if the 'mix' is still the same these days - worth trying a small area first (Brasso used to be a finer cut than T-cut) ...... Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 http://www.frost.co.uk/automatic-sewing-awl.html C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 One of the guys at East Berks area Christmas pie fest last night has a Spitfire, he says the windows are bonded into the hood, not sewn. I guess that means glued, if he's right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 18, 2016 Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 depends on the make and cost of the hoods there's both out there and think the bonding is a heat welded process, rather than some adhesive process out the box idea's like ....dont think clear silicon bath sealer type stuff will work well unless you can keep it pressed flat till it cures ??? VELCRO....I mended a trouser zip as apprentice to save money....but the noise of ripping a sticky plaster off the nether regions was a bit alarming if your over in herts area this guy does a lot of good and economical work for our locals A R Pound http://baldock.cylex-uk.co.uk/company/a---r-pound-12946743.html Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdennison Posted December 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2016 Sewn in. VELCRO ... could be on to something..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdennison Posted February 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2017 Having a go at cleaning first..... and it seems to be working. I bought a plastic polish from http://www.glasspolishshop.com/ and I'm using a polishing attachment on my drill. Seemed a bit extreme to be using a drill at first but it is making quite a difference. Pics are not great but one side has been polished and the other side not. With a bit more work I think I can bring the windows back almost like new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 11, 2017 Report Share Posted February 11, 2017 Thats good Ive used a similar product on the 2000 windscreen ( laminated) the PO hade run a deep wiper marking and the glass poilish has with a drill and buff pad pretty well removed it pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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