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Technical The upholstery thread to end all threads

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Roothawg, Jan 5, 2021.

  1. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    If it wasn't for the worn area in the drivers side and the musty/mildewy smell, I think I would just recover this bench seat in my 47 Olds! It is in pretty good shape otherwise. The springs (all coils) seem kind of weak too, but not sure if there is anything I can do about that. There aren't any broken ones, but I would prefer a firmer seat. Any ideas to firm it up? I can take more pictures if needed.

    20240304_152930.jpg

    20240303_145106.jpg
     
    osage orange likes this.
  2. safetythird
    Joined: Feb 26, 2014
    Posts: 292

    safetythird
    Member

    I've replaced springs with high density foam and been happy with it.
     
    lemondana and Sporty45 like this.
  3. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    I really don't want to replace the springs, just would love to figure out how to firm it up some. Maybe replace all the original matting with a piece of medium firm 2" foam? High density is definitely a must!
     
  4. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,650

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from WA-OR, USA

    Question.
    I inherited a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1. Briefly looking through the manual, I saw where it states it will sew leather, vinyl and denim. It has many, if not all the accessories, including the embroidery and quilting gizmos. Anybody familiar with these? Is it worthy...?
     
  5. safetythird
    Joined: Feb 26, 2014
    Posts: 292

    safetythird
    Member

    I can't tell you that, but I can tell you it's worth about $400.
     
  6. Tightly roll sheets of foam and stick them inside the coil springs, then wrap the springs in burlap. Stiffens the springs, helps hold them in place and doesn't take much material to do the entire seat.
     
  7. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    That sounds like a great idea. The springs are already wrapped in burlap, so I will just need to stuff some foam into them. Can probably pick up some 1/2" foam fairly cheap to do it with, too! Thanks for the help :cool:
     
  8. Whoamel
    Joined: Jul 22, 2007
    Posts: 115

    Whoamel
    Member
    from So Cal

    That is a really great tip. Thanks for sharing that.
     
  9. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    Finished up that roadster seat a couple weeks ago and it’s in the car…
    IMG_5695.jpeg
     
    jeepster, dana barlow, SDS and 16 others like this.
  10. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,142

    Roothawg
    Member

    Very Nice!
     
    jakesbackyard likes this.
  11. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 1,385

    patsurf

    ok-now let's see the ranchero interior!--beauty there sir!
     
    jakesbackyard likes this.
  12. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    I probably posted way back, but here you go…
    IMG_3773.jpeg
    You can find many detailed pics of it in the build thread below.
     
  13. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    Looking through some pics reminded me of these…
    IMG_5065.jpeg IMG_5060.jpeg IMG_5061.jpeg IMG_5069.jpeg
    Only a small portion of it is upholstery. I cut up 55 gallon soup barrels, painted, detailed and upholstered these last year. Working on a couple more right now. Just fun stuff to do in retirement. A guy has to have something to keep busy.
     
    rod1, brEad, uncleandy 65 and 9 others like this.
  14. G_Don
    Joined: Feb 17, 2017
    Posts: 152

    G_Don
    Member

    I did the seat on my tub with a sheet of plywood, foam, vinyl, batting and a staple gun (cant afford nor have room for a sewing machine, so this will have to do for now.. I was hesitant to move the backrest on the tub so its only just foam with no plywood or anything else back there. But i fit well with no plywood so I think itll do. Atleast for now.

    I did have a question though. The snaps i purchased just keep breaaking because I rolled over the viinyl on the backrest and it gives it a nice(r) look than if I were to just cut it. Anyone have any recommendations for strong snaps? I got pliers on amazon that are kinda like vise grips and they work good but Im not happy with the qualiity of the snaps themselves.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    Not sure if they’re sold on Amazon, but you can get the button top with a longer shank for greater thicknesses of material. I get them from an Uph supplier. Use the same tool.
     
    G_Don likes this.
  16. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    I have the front seat lower cover done. Just need the foam to show up before I can attach it. It took me about 3 days to get done, but I'm pretty happy with the results!

    20240310_155934.jpg

    20240309_142835.jpg

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    20240310_153452.jpg

    20240310_153501.jpg

    20240310_153508.jpg
     
    brEad, Whoamel, Tim_with_a_T and 3 others like this.
  17. Whoamel
    Joined: Jul 22, 2007
    Posts: 115

    Whoamel
    Member
    from So Cal

    I just got my very first seat done, as well. There is a bit of wonky in it, but for first try, it came out a bit better than I thought it would..

    620seat.JPG

    Everytime I try something like this, I learn a little bit more..
     
    reagen, brEad, Super88 and 7 others like this.
  18. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member


    Looks great to me! This is my first attempt at upholstery too, and I can see all my "wonky" spots too, but ya gotta look close :cool:
     
    brEad and Whoamel like this.
  19. Yours is an old post and I tried to start a thread covering center consoles that got erased but here is what I did before it gets erased! Wanted a center console for my '40 Plymouth. Made it of plywood then decided not to try to upholster it. I covered it in fiberglass, body finished the surface then painted it body color.
    IMG_0563.jpg IMG_0774.jpg
     
    drdave, loudbang and GuyW like this.
  20. topher5150
    Joined: Feb 10, 2017
    Posts: 3,477

    topher5150
    Member

    I ended up going a different direction with an 08 Sebring. I took the HVAC knobs out and put the gauges in. I'm going to fill in the shift hole and put a kill switch and a trunk popper behind the little cubby door.
    IMG_20240206_174827238.jpg IMG_20240226_181532817.jpg
     
    brEad and willys36 like this.
  21. nice!
     
  22. Whoamel
    Joined: Jul 22, 2007
    Posts: 115

    Whoamel
    Member
    from So Cal


    Absolutely love the barrel seats. Great idea and better execution. Bravo, sir!
     
  23. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    Got more work on my front seat done. I have the front section of the split seat backs done. Still need to do the backsides.
    A little before and after pic,

    20240314_131207.jpg

    And both sides done!

    20240314_153358.jpg

    20240314_153436.jpg
     
    brEad, snoc653, JD69 and 2 others like this.
  24. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    A couple more barrel chairs added to the fleet…
    IMG_5743.jpeg IMG_5746.jpeg IMG_5749.jpeg
     
    drdave, dana barlow, brEad and 3 others like this.
  25. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    Getting there. Still waiting on foam for seat bottom to come in before I can attach the upholstery to it. I'm pretty happy with it so far.

    20240326_115449.jpg
     
    drdave, 3quarter32, brEad and 4 others like this.
  26. jakesbackyard
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 894

    jakesbackyard
    Member
    from ND
    1. Upholstery

    One more barrel chair to go with my Ranchero…
    IMG_5793.jpeg
     
    brEad, drdave, GuyW and 6 others like this.
  27. SDS
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 949

    SDS
    Member

    On a 32 Ford Roadster door, there is a "bead" around the perimeter of the door on the inside (sides and bottom).
    I've seen examples of both online, but is the interior door panel suppose to sit inside that bead, or on top of it?
     
  28. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,763

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    The windlacing - what you call "bead" (I think it's about 5/8" dia +/-), goes inbetween the door panel & the upholstered panel. Seals the gap(s) twixt the door edges n body. Also hides the gaps when looking from the inside to outside.
    Marcus..
     
  29. Sporty45
    Joined: Jun 1, 2015
    Posts: 1,300

    Sporty45
    Member

    Seats are done. I'm pretty satisfied with the way they turned out, not perfect by any means, but a tad better than what I started with! I have an issue with the drivers side seatback. It doesn't seem to fit into the back cover as well as the passenger side does. I've tried several times to get it to fit better, but no dice. Not sure what is wrong. Take a look at the pics and you'll see what I'm talking about. Any ideas?

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    20240415_101043.jpg
     
    brEad, SDS and Whoamel like this.
  30. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 21,349

    alchemy
    Member

    Most have the panel sit inside the bead.
     
    SDS likes this.

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