When the canopy finally fits, it seems to form like magic to the frame. Until it fits it is unruly. The last cuts seem to transform it and the side edges fall right in place with some minor pressure. With it all secured I started drilling. I really held my breath on the first hole but it went fine. So did the first 15. Then I was drilling a hole and as soon as the drill came out, I saw a hairline crack pop up from the hole about two inches and keep slowly growing. It stopped about 2.5” up and I decided to quickly stop drill it, but it grew past the first hole before I could finish it. It was clear the canopy was ruined as It could not survive the repeated handling that would still be coming so I practiced stop drilling and did get the crack to stop almost five inches up.
I don’t have any idea why this hole did not work. I was in a steady rhythm and was concentrating on the same pressures and speeds. There didn’t seem to be any undue stresses at that point. Since I will be getting another canopy, I decided to have some fun however and removed both sides of protective coverings. I will leave it on while I work on other stuff, it looks great. The last four pictures show the canopy after removal of the coverings. I am very disappointed as I went slowly and carefully and still ended up with a crack, but with the covering off, it really looks like I hoped it would. Gotta get an order in for canopy II.
