John,
Ask any competent seamstress (your wife? or a friend?) if she knows
"buttonhole stitch" by hand. Buttonhole stitch should be done by
hand in a heavy thread (like heavy-duty buttonhole thread or hand-
quilting thread) "in place," to bind the raw edges of that slit
without ever having to remove the baggage compartment sidewalls. It
may require agility to get into some awkward positions to get the
right working angle, but it can be done. Depending upon how loose or
tight the material & the slit are, it may also be possible to apply
piping by hand (a kind of edge-trim -- she'll know), and then turn
the edge, for an even more "finished" look.
In the meantime, to prevent the cut edges of the fibers from fraying,
go asap to a fabric store, buy some "Fray-Check," and apply it to the
cut edges of the fabric. It is a clear, viscous liquid which dries
invisibly, and will temporarily glop the fibers together to prevent
raveling.
If you don't live anywhere near a fabric store, two "last resorts"
for temporarily stabilizing the edges might be clear nail polish or
even an application of slightly-thinned white glue -- but be VERY
sparing of either of those, and apply ONLY to the very edge of the cut.
Hope this helps!
Linda
N3437H (Sky Sprite)
L.A.
3a. A couple of parts...
Posted by: "John Craparo" [email protected] johncraparo
Date: Sat May 23, 2009 9:40 am ((PDT))
I looked through the parts catalog, but cannot find a trim handle and
trip
plate listed in words or pictures. I have serial number 370 and my trim
control is on the left side of the fuselage. I noticed in one of Glen's
"for sale" photos a nicely finished handle and trim plate but cannot
find
them listed anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. I will call
Univair on
Tuesday.
In addition, I had my shoulder harnesses installed under an STC. My
A&P/IA
did a nice job of installing them (these are the ones that anchor
below the
rear window by replacing 4 existing rivets). The problem is that I
did not
pay attention to how my mechanic did the work. He is not a
"restoration"
shop. So when he did the installation, he simply took my beautiful
Airtex
baggage compartment sidewalls and made a razor blade slit through
them in
order to pass the strap webbing through. I now have should harnesses
with
surgical scars (not unsightly, just not a finished look) through my
interior
wall cushioning. Does anyone know of a nice solution? I would like
to find
some sort of an oval grommet that can be applied to finish the
edges. My
alternative is to pull them and have a local interior person finish the
edges by hand...
Thanks,
John
