What is the best way to attach leather on the door panels of a 30's Ford type Door? I was thinking about sewing a sack and slipping the panel in it or just wrapping the leather over the back edge of the panel and glueing it? I intend on using batting under this. Thanks for any insight.
exactly. Be sure your staples are short enough, rember when you pull it tight it will be thinner on the edges. Mihgt not poke through at first but if someone grabs it or leans on it it might poke um. Also i would use a 1/2 inch foam instead batting. Batting will work but has a tendancy of moving and lumping up.
Not to argue, but headliner material, the fabric stuff with 1/4" foam back, makes great door panel padding. I get it at JoAnnes Fabric. It's cheap, works great, and the fabric bonded to it makes it easier to work with, I think. To my eye, 1/2" on a door is too much. I like to use Luan for door panels, although thin foam board works OK too, and somebody posted recently that they were using ABS sheet from Home Depot. And, yeah, I've used too long a staple and had 'em poke thru! Batting is for quilts!
Glue and staples but make sure the staples are short enough so that they don't poke through the leather on the other side. Easy mistake to make. Good luck.
I use staples. But if you are just going to glue put them on the car as soon as you can. Depending on what kind on glue you use sometimes it will let go. Also make sure to put the glue on both surfaces to get a strong bond.
100% glue sometimes staples will crack the abs. Also sand the back surface before you glue it, the plastic is slick and the glue will sometimes peel right off. as above use yellow glue, if you cant find welwood, contact cement will work if you are gonna brush it on dont use spew can it for lack of a better word ****s.
Dont use foam that is too thick.Your door handle and window winder handle are likely to catch or leave rub marks if foam is more than a quater of an inch thick.
The reason many shops/new car manufactuers only use glue is,,,,, staples can rust. How many times have you pulled a door panel apart and there was pretty much nothing left of the staple? There you go. They do make stainless staples (for boats) but they are harder to find and expensive.[/quote] Unless your going to keep your car outside with the windows down I wouldn't worry about staples rusting.
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