Fastening Upholstered Panels in Trunk

Hi Guys...I'm new to the site and to street rodding. I recently purchased a finished 1930 Ford Roadster with a Brookville body.

I want to finish the trunk. I'm in the process of attaching leather to foam backed wood panels. I'm running pieces of 2" X 1/4" bar stock aluminum between the side support braces in order to mount the panels. What type of fastener do you recommend for attaching the panels to the mounting bracket? The gas tank and battery are located in the front of the trunk so the front panel will have to be removable. Someone had suggested screws but what type should I use? I don't want to use Velcro.

Your help will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Pat Monaco

How about snaps? like the convertable top boot style? They have a sheet metal screw or rivet type mount.

Thanks Bob. Actually the side panels can be fastened permanently. However, the snaps are a great idea. Where would I find these fasteners?

If the exposed hardware look is what you're after screws or snaps are fine. If you want unseen fasteners there are tons of choices. If you've ever had a door trim panel off you've seen either spring clips, shaped like a spade, or plastic fasteners that look like a small christmas tree, in fact called christmas tree fasteners. These are available at hardware stores that have those massive fastener displays with hundreds of small drawers or tilt out bins. Also you can go to a wholesale automotive paint jobber store (yep they sell retail too) and look at their AUVECO fastener collection, usually posted on a display board. Locate the fastener through the backer board, under the fabric, and drill a corresponding hole in the strap material you're using.

BTW, why not velcro?

Bob...thanks for the info. Sounds like a good idea, but how would I attach the AVECO or Xmas tree fasteners to the Luan plywood?

By the way, the reason I don't want to use Velcro is a co worker said he has used Velcro on door panels before and due to the weather fluctuations here in Rochester, NY, the Velco will come loose after a period of time.

Velcro!!

Whoops, guess I did not read thoroughly enough. Still great stuff and if you apply it to your backing before putting the fabric on you can fasten it on with staples in addition to the adhesive.

Pat

First off I mis-spelled; it's AUVECO

Here's a link that shows some examples, there are others; http://www.auveco.com/proddetxmas.htm
Generally you need to drill/cut a hole in the luan, the top of the fastener can be twisted in from the back side (like the one show that has the "packman" type head, or in the case of the single head, and the metal spring clips, it is pushed through the hole before the padding and fabric are attached. Putting in the mounting holes before attaching the fabric also allows you to use the holes in the panel as a template to locate the holes in the straps.

As for the velcro, it's not the velcro linkage (one side hook, one side loop) that fails (with reasonable use), it's the glue on the backing that's used for attachment. You can use a better grade of adhesive, e.g. epoxy, super glue, whatever, to overcome the adhesive failure.

StuCool...thanks for the reply. I agree, Velcro is still great stuff. Unfortunatly it's the adhesive that fails! And it's kind of tough to staple Velcro to aluminum (LOL). I think I'm going to go with the snap fastener idea for the front panel that's going to be removable and Xmas tree fasteners with the side panels.

Thanks Uncle Bob! As I said I willl probably use the xmas tree fasteners for the non removable panels. By the way, do you think Pep Boys would have the Auveco xmas tree fasteners?

Pep Boys? Hmmmmmmmm, that could be an adventure!:LOL: Good luck if you have to ask them where they have them. If they've got an area for automotive fasteners/hardware, it is possible, probably a blister pack of 2 or 4. The auto paint store would be more economical for a significant quantity.

BTW, the xmas trees make the panel removeable also, just pry them out along with the panel.

If you would use Velcro if you didn't have to worry about it coming off, you can spread a thin layer of hobby type epoxy to both peices. It will hold for years and years.

Velcro also makes "industrial" Velcro, which is more "sticky" than the normal stuff.

Greg

CSF hit the nail on the head! A marine supply store is the place for the snaps. The male part usually has a self tapping screw, while you need a special tool (cheap) for the female end, to attatch it to the material.

There is also available from the marine stores the kind of fasteners that have an oval opening, and you slide it over a tab that then turns and locks. You may have seen both types being used on boat convertible tops, and older style British car convertible tops. My 64 MGB had them.

Both are great for thin upholstery, but I don't think they would work with a 1/4" thick piece of ply wood..

Hi Guys...just wanted to thank everyone for all of their suggestions and to let you know my project is completed! I finished it this weekend.

I'm embarrased to say, I first tried the Xmas tree fasteners. I installed them before the foam was glued down then the leather. When I attempted to "pop" the finished panel into place, the first 2 snapped off. I must not have drilled the hole big enough. I sanded the all off smooth and then priced the industrial Velcro. I thought it was a little too expensive for something being used in the trunk. I ended up drilling a hole thru the old xmas tree fasteners and screwed the panels in place. It still looks like a million dollars. I'lll take and send pics tomight.

Thanks again guys for all of the help!!!