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Aviation Forum / General / Soaring / August 2009Replacing Interior Glider Pockets?
I own a DG and the interior pockets are quickly becoming less like pockets and more like tubes without bottoms...if you know what I mean. So I am planning a winter project to replace these pockets. I can sew but a few questions leap to mind; 1) What material are pockets typically made of? Anything special that I won't find at the local sewing shop? 2) What is used at the top of the pocket to make it stretchy. 3) The pocket is attached to a long piece of matching material along the interior. I assume that this long piece has some stiff material inside to give it rigidity. What is it? 4) I assume that the old pocket is glued to the wall of the glider. Any tricks in removing this? 5) What do I use to attach the new pocket to the wall of the glider? Thanks in advance for your suggestions. As always I will photograph my results and put them on my web site. http://aviation.derosaweb.net. - John DeRosa My seamstress qualifications are roughly nil, but from the gliders I've flown in I'd suggest: > 1) What material are pockets typically made of? Anything special that > I won't find at the local sewing shop? Pretty much anything you like, from leather to orange velour. Leatherette/vinyl seems popular. > 2) What is used at the top of the pocket to make it stretchy. Elastic. Sew the hem of pocket front with the elastic inside, stretch elastic, sew elastic to the seams at either end of the pocket (this is from my mother's method of making elasticated waist skirts for my sisters back in the '60s - then it was known as "knicker elastic"). > 3) The pocket is attached to a long piece of matching material along > the interior. I assume that this long piece has some stiff material > inside to give it rigidity. What is it? Anything from cardboard to spring steel. I'd suggest a piece of thin plastic (ice-cream tub?). > 4) I assume that the old pocket is glued to the wall of the glider. > Any tricks in removing this? Brute force I think, though maybe a sharp knife eased along the join would help. > 5) What do I use to attach the new pocket to the wall of the glider? Glue velcro to side wall and pocket - that way you can make new pockets when these wear out. Latex-based glue (brand name Copydex in the UK) is good for fabric to fabric joins. > My seamstress qualifications are roughly nil, but from the gliders I've > flown in I'd suggest: [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > when these wear out. Latex-based glue (brand name Copydex in the UK) is > good for fabric to fabric joins. There are velcros, then there are velcros. Some are rated at 100 peels, others at 10,000 peels. For greater holding power in the glider cockpit, I recommend 3M dual-lock. Not cheap, but at least 5X the holding power of the best velcro. Good for pockets, PDA's, and what have you. Frank Whiteley > I own a DG and the interior pockets are quickly becoming less like > pockets and more like tubes without bottoms...if you know what I mean. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > - John DeRosa You want to use something hard-wearing for the pocket, which means an ordinary domestic sewing machine might have problems sewing it. An old Singer would be the beast for the job - my mother used to use one for heavy-duty stiching. It also produces a very nice stitch. The pockets in mine look to be made of moquetet, as does the seat pad cover. I think they are original and the glider is 20 years old. It's also used in the UK for seat coverings in buses and so on, though getting some might be harder than other stuff. However hard-wearing upholstry material should be long-lasting. Also use stronger elastic than knicker elastic. If you use strong elastic but don't stretch it much you should get a satisfactory result - weak elastic stretched a lot has a short life. Consider putting pleats in the pocket at each end and/or the bottom to increase the volumn of the pocket. Don't skimp on the seam allowances and overcast the edges in some way. Even Copydexing them would be better than leaving them raw. I have seen gliders with the pockets screwed to the cockpit wall but it would be obvious if yours was done that way. > I have seen gliders with the pockets screwed to the cockpit wall but it > would be obvious if yours was done that way. Mine came with a premade pocket, about 300mm x 100mm with a zipper and looking as if it was made to carry pens, etc in a schoolbag. Its just big enough to hold a pen, two rolls of wing tape and a few freeezer bags and is held on the sidewall with 4 x 25mm Velcro patches, but thats barely adequate to keep it in place. A continuous Velcro 12-15mm strip along the top and bottom would be better.  Signaturemartin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org | I purchased a car visor storage case from the local auto parts store for only $10. I cut off the straps and attached a strip of Velcro on the back. It's not very big for holding bulky items but holds my map, candy bar and O2 cannula very nicely. > I purchased a car visor storage case from the local auto parts store > for only $10. I cut off the straps and attached a strip of Velcro on > the back. It's not very big for holding bulky items but holds my > map, candy bar and O2 cannula very nicely. Yes, before you go to the trouble of sewing your own, check out the "trunk organizers" available at Wal-Mart and auto parts stores. You may find something that needs minimal modification to work well. The one in my 1-26 was ten dollars, and it's got lots of pockets. Tim Ward > > I purchased a car visor storage case from the local auto parts store > > for only $10. I cut off the straps and attached a strip of Velcro on [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tim Ward Or, a used ladie's purse bought at the Goodwill store for 1$. Pick a suitable size. A Gucci for the well heeled. Paul > 1) What material are pockets typically made of? Anything special that > I won't find at the local sewing shop? -- Mine is leather, but I think a sturdy upholstery fabric might work too. > 2) What is used at the top of the pocket to make it stretchy. -- I think this has been covered - stretch a piece of elastic inside the rolled-over top lip of the pouch and stitch the ends together. The "draw string" effect should keep the opening of the pouch tight > 3) The pocket is attached to a long piece of matching material along > the interior. I assume that this long piece has some stiff material > inside to give it rigidity. What is it? -- I suspect steel or a composite material. You could use either. > 4) I assume that the old pocket is glued to the wall of the glider. -- Mine is attached using three snap fasteners so I can remove it when I choose. One half of each snap is glued to the cockpit wall and the other half to the "stiff material" you mention in #3 that holds the outside edge of the pocket stiff. > Any tricks in removing this? -- Pulling or careful cutting with a blade of some sort. Use your judgement. > 5) What do I use to attach the new pocket to the wall of the glider? -- Snaps or velcro depending on what seems to best suit the application 9B |
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