Re-screening

[BillTex]

Hi All, need to replace some screening on our 89 Excella, it appears to be gray nylon.
The only nylon screen I can find in home stores is black, which makes it very dark...anyone ever find gray nylon screen?
Or is ours just faded?

Thanx, Bill

[Silver Threads]

You can try this post, they seem to have a lot of different kinds. METRO SCREEN WORKS - window screens and screen supplies

[DPeakMD]

Bill-

I just found grey screen at Ace Hardware. They have the matching grey spline as well.

Have fun!

-Dallas

[clancy_boy]

Keep looking - grey screen is the more popular color to buy. Buy new spline and get a quality screen tool, don't settle for the cheap plastic wheel and handle. The metal wheel will do a much better job and won't get damaged so easily which makes it hard to insert the spline. The new spline material is much more flexable and easier to use and apply.

[sequoiacoast]

I found gray at Home Depot last year.

[BillTex]

Wow-thanks, guess I didn't look hard enough.
We have an Ace and a Depot close by...I will check again.

Bill

[BillTex]

When replacing the screens, is it easier to lay it up and then trim it in place?
Or
Use the old screen as a template and put it in place already cut to size?

Thanx, Bill

[Lumatic]

I tried replacing screens for the first time. I found the aluminum screen material very hard to do, plastic screening much easier. The splines on my 71 are a smaller diameter than commonly found at hardware stores. Is it still available and where?

[clancy_boy]

Use the softer plastic or synthetic screen material vice the metal stuff, much easier to work with.

Cut an amount 4 inches larger in any direction (8 inches total in both length and width) - you will need the excess to hand tug the screen as you roll in the spline to get rid of sags. Cut after all the spline material is in place and you are happy with the results. Use a sharp razor knife and carefully trace the outside edge of the spline while pulling up on the excess screen material.

As for the spline size, yes I think there are 3 thicknesses. BUT, I would often use a larger size and just put tension on it to stretch it a little to reduce the diameter. Try to not reuse the old spline - it's usually shot and won't hold for long requiring you to redo an already tedious job again.

[azflycaster]

I have tried both the metal and the plastic and the plastic is much easier to use. If you have one person holding the screen and another putting in the spline, the job is a 1000% easier.