Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 6400
Location: Western WA
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 Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:47 am Post subject: |
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| Terry Kay wrote: |
install snap's.
Use Velcro.
Scratch the magnets--won't work thought the vinyl lining in the Van.
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Au contraire my friend.....you're probably thinking of old-school refrigerator magnets, which are not strong enough.
I can say with complete certainty that rare earth magnets are the cleanest simplest most reliable way to hold westy curtains against the vinyl covered steel. You get rid of the vinyl coated springy string altogether (which is a nice upgrade in itself) and just feed the magnets into the sewn channel. Then sew little 'dams' so they remain distributed. You only need 4 per curtain and they hold the curtain OUT tight against the van, which is useful when sleeping in a lighted parking lot or freeway rest stop. And you can use them to connect curtains together. And they are 'invisible' - much nicer than a black square of velcro.
If you're retrofitting existing curtains get the ones with holes (3.2lb) then you can use a 'needle and thread' back and forth thru the hole a couple times and they'll stay distributed. You don't even have to take the curtains out. Magnets never wear out and are immune from abuse.
http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/SearchResult-CategoryID-33.html
If you're making a front curtain - magnets stick nicely all around the front windows - direct to the steel. If you're uncertain which 'pull force' to get just buy two 'sizes' they cost only $9 for 12 magnets and you'll probably use the others somewhere else. "3-4 lb" is a small, substantial magnet and "6 lbs" might be an upper limit for curtains, it might start to cause problems. Such as erase your creditcards then you can't buy any more anyway. Or in some parts of the country, the dirt has iron in it and magnets will attract it.
If you want to get an idea what a rare-earth magnet is like, tear apart any old hard drive. Every hard drive has a couple ferocious Rare-Earth magnets in it, 10-20 lb (?), I'm not sure but don't get your finger caught between them.
Tom
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EJ25, Peloquin diff, locker, transaxle oil cooler/filtration system
....KTMs, GasGas, and a Stumpjumper
Gear oil is like underwear. |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 6400
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
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When distributing the magnets, organize them N--S--N--S and so on,,,, so that the curtains bunch up neatly in a proper zigzag fashion.
The magnets will seek this orientation when you do your "test bunch". Then hold the magnet in its preferred position then stitch thru the hole.
_________________
EJ25, Peloquin diff, locker, transaxle oil cooler/filtration system
....KTMs, GasGas, and a Stumpjumper
Gear oil is like underwear. |
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