I’m posting this as inspired by a conversation running in the vandwellers yahoo group. The conversation turned to keeping the bugs out and in my ventures I’ve learned a few things I shared.

Namely, spending an evening meticulously sewing in advesive backed magnetic tape strips that I loveling cut and mitered the ends together to create a 100% complete rim around the screen is a complete waste of time. The magnetism wasn’t enough to hold through the thin plastic screen. So that was about three and a half hours lost.

Then on a return shopping trip I found a pack of 40 or 50 or so magnetic disks in Wal-Mart’s craft section for a couple bucks. I really didn’t want to invest another minute in this but I also didn’t want to be eaten alive by mosquitos either. So rather than spend hours sewing the idea of stapling hit me. Simple, fast, and sturdy enough given the time investment.

All told it took about ten minutes to staple it together. I abandoned my template I made for sewing against and just did it sitting in the driver’s seat and fitting as I went. A quick trim of excess and I smugly sat in admiration. I tried opening and closing the door a few times and it didn’t fall off, or even hint at it, unlike the version with the magnetic tape which dropped at the slightest provocation.

Construction Details

To make this just start along one edge and place magnets every four to six inches. They’re cheap and it’ll go fast and the overkill will help form a more complete seal. Fold the screen material over and make the first staple parallel to the fold. Then the second staple goes on the side of the magnet. When you have a pocket slip the magnet in and give one more staple to close. I found it best to make this last staple on the side of the magnet that you’re working to, that is, the side that in a second will have another magnet some four to six inches away. This way each time you’re stapling you have as little in the way as possible so it’ll go most expediently.

I’ve handled mine carefully and they’re showing no signs of wear or tearing. And unlike using strips of magnetic tape the ones made with button magnets are so easy to fold! And that’s even with my tape design having gaps for folding allowances included–they were still way too still.

The one thing I’ll say about having sewn that first screen though, it gave me the motivation to do some mending of clothing. The needle and thread was already out so the excuses were few. I had several favorite garments with loose buttons that are now quite secure.

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