[mab46]

HI THERE ANY HELP ON COVERING A CARSON TOP? I BUILT A TOP FROM TUBING AND CHICKEN WIRE FROM AN ARTICLE I GOT FROM ROD AND CUSTOM THE PROBLEM IS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO COVER IT. FOAM.GLUE.SHAPEING FOAM ECT . PLEASE HELP. thanks for your time guys have a great weekend.

[kristkustoms]

I dont even know where to start, its a process that is kinda hard to explain....Do you know how to sew?

[mab46]

no dont know how to saw well not with a sewing machine anyway . but how do they sew around the chickem wire and how tothey get an headliner there too

[kristkustoms]

THe top is sewn off of the frame and chicken wire, then stretched over it. Some small attachment points should be made on the bows to attach a piece of wood for the headliner.

[mab46]

hi thank you very muck for your time and knowledge. the frame ive built it is not designed for windows. so the top material can roll around. could it be possible togue a 1/4'' sheet of closed cell foam to the chicken wire. do any minor shapeing, then glue the material over the foam. and roll it around the tube and glue it. i understand that the material will not be wideenough so i would have to have someone stitch the top together first. will that work? thank you i truly do thank you for your time this thing has been driving me nuts.

[kristkustoms]

In order for the chicken wire to not show through the foam and material, youll need to layer it. Id try a layer of open scrim cloth, then a thin layer of open cell, hen the closed cell, then the top material. This should give a nice pad to the top, and not allow the pattern of the chicken wire show through.

[mab46]

thanks. should i use the same glue that the pros use to glue vinyl tops? also the closed cell faom can be shaped right? with a da sander with 80 grit sanding disc?

[kristkustoms]

For a top, yes, use a commercial/industrial grade spray adhesive. Landau top foam/closed cell foam can be shaped and sanded. I would sand it by hand, a DA sander would sand right through it in seconds if your not careful. Definitely practice sanding on a scrap piece of it before you sand on the actual top.

[mab46]

cool. so once i get the foam where i want it then glue the stayfast to the foam? then pull it around the tubeing and glue it to the inside of the top?.

[kristkustoms]

That sounds pretty good. Cant think of anything else to say about the process now, if i do, ill let you know.

[mab46]

well krist you gave me some great advise i have the top coverd with closed cell foam and shaped pretty well,. that foam great to work with messy though. foam allover the place wifes going nuts. anyway. another question should i use a softer faom for the finish layer. it may get rid of a few of the highs and low spots for do i just keep sanding like on body work . also when the final top is ready to go on bye the way i bought the stayfast hotrod line concord grape looks great. do i glue the entire top or just the egdes pull and stretch then roll under. so in other word the top has no glue just the edges that roll under into the interior? thanks guy your a life aver to this board. bye the way if i was to do it over again i wouldnt i would let the shop do it. its just my stuborn nature to beable to say i did it thanks guys mark