Technical The upholstery thread to end all threads

@SDS sorry I cant help on the stapler as mine is on its last leg. @jakesbackyard looks like a inexpensive replacement. I was wondering if anyone tried the milwaukee battery ones

 

Did another Hot Rod Model A Coupe seat…

 

Some Monte Carlo seats I did for a ‘57 Courier a while back…been forgetting to post to this site…like to keep it alive….

 

And…Reconditioned and installed Classic Industries (CARS) original style covers on 1956 Chev wagon seats. They were in unbelievable shape for 69 year old seats.

 

Wish you were closer . I’d give you some business. Beautiful work

 

Here’s one I did for my coupe, I made a thread on it but it dropped like a rock

 

Beautiful work. Thanks for posting. I'm working on a cheap seat now and needed the inspiration.

 

I picked up a Mercury 280l last Sunday. came with a servo motor and walking foot. it has reverse also. not sure how i could have turned it down at $200, with a table also.

im wondering with the machine having a walking foot, I assume I will need to remove it to use a zipper foot when sewing the welting? can someone advise me please?

 

I have this daybed frame . Would the springs be a good choice for a seat ?

 

I have to revisit this thread in the future when it comes closer to build time. I might try my hand at the A but a full interior for the '47 might be a stretch for me. GREAT work everyone, keep the pics and tips coming.

 

I believe there are special welting feet for that job. There's a good chance your machine uses a standard type of feet so they may be easily available, you jsut need to know what type fits it.

 

Great thread , I bought a commercial singer machine a few years ago with a view to doing some practice and learn a new skill but never really got around to it .. Stuff like needle and thread selection were the first fails , then working out the tensions etc . Long story short , I gave the machine to a friend who had a resto business and his brother was keen to get into the upholstery side of things .

I think he ran into the same brick wall as me and the machine and table were laid up in the back shop gathering dust . probably for the last 20 years .. Last time I was there I was aware of it being burried under old boxes and garage crap and a few inches of dust

This thread has prompted me to ask him if it wasnt being used, if I could have it back . It feels a bit awkward asking for something back that you gave away in good faith , but hopefully he wont see it as cheeky and the old machine can come back and hopefully I can get it to work and et in some practice .

Thanks for the post, its prompted a bit of the old me back into action , Ued to teach myself all the skills needed to build stuff but the art of upholstery just seemed to elude me . Now a little older retired and festering, it might be the time to dust off the old machine and learn some new skills .

Thanks for the prod ..

 

I always tell people to buy some cheap vinyl and some 1/2” scrim foam and make a few pleated panels , then make a mini bike seat
Then just scale it up
There’s a few simple rules I was taught
Everything has a 3/8” seam allowance
If you always make a 3/8” seam allowance you get used to lining that up as it goes under the foot of the machine
I always just use the same welting foot for everything on my machine
I use 1/8” solid nylon welt cord and the vinyl is cut at 1 1/4” for the welt cord
The welt cord sews on the facia first then the boxing ( sides) goes on
I use 1/4” scrim foam on the boxing
That helps the boxing stay smooth
If you are doing tuck pleats you lose 3/4” for every pleat, so for 2” pleats they have to be layed out and sewn at 2 3/4” then after you sew them on the back they come out at 2”
Here’s a pic of my coupe seat in the car with the door and kick panels
Upholstery is achievable with a little practice and a lot of hard work

 

An excellent set of tips and overview @F-head! Thanks!!!

 

Pete's the best, if you need a upholstery guy. Give him a call

 

Man, that is sweet.

 

I thought I would add a picture of my bench seat that my trimmer sent me that's going into my Ranchero build. Done in red leather with some selective white stitching. I am happy with it



Cheers Turns

 

I decided it's been too hot to work in the garage, so I finally started working on the new covers for the '33 Pontiac coupe seats.
The seats came out of a 2000 or 2001 Saturn L series sedan.
Replacing the gray cloth with "Saddle Bag" leather.

 

I recently bought a 3/16" welting foot. is that a good size to use or what's your recommendation?

 

I finished up a patina 60-66 Chevvy box side chair. Scrubbed the box sides with hull cleaner and scotchbrite and then sprayed with 2 coats of matte finish clear. Attached the sides to some side chairs and panels I made and covered in distressed brown vinyl.

 

Here’s a seat I built up for my 34 coupe

 

Thank you for the great information! This help with someone like me about to learn how to to upholstery.

 

I was wondering what size staples are you using for like back of door panels? I just bought this staple gun but didn’t know what length staples

 

I use 71 series 5/32” staples on trim panels.

 

is the stitching always supposed to be hidden?

 

It’s personal preference. If you look close (blow it up), the inserts on the green and charcoal buckets are only pleated on the inserts. You can see the thread.

 

Pleats with hidden stitching are called tuck pleats as in Tuck and Roll
Pleats with stitching that shows are called top sewn pleats
An interior with top sewn pleats and a roll on the bolster would be called rolls and pleats

 

I saw a youtube video and been doing it this way since. not traditional tuck and roll but a variation i guess.

cut the pleats 2 1/2"
sew 2 together
add 1 to have 3
continue until they are all sewn together
sew to a backing, i used canvas, so there are tubes to fill

thats as far as I've gotten so far. I plan to get some cotton and stuff the tubes until my heart desires. I got a sheet of 22 gauge metal from home depot, 6" wide x 24" long, and made a couple shoe horns looking pieces to slide into the tubes to make stuffing a little less of a chore. ill pull the shoe horns out when done. I know they have a name but im not sure what they are called.

 

If you are stuffing them with cotton, those are very traditional tuck pleats

 

I tried spraying glue to the 1/4" scrim and to the vinyl then sticking the two together and sewing. the pleats did not look full. im hoping this is a better finish