Thread: Anyone with knowledge on reupholstering?

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I am debating on if I have the skills needed to reupholster my bench seat, or take it on in to a pro. I fancy myself as pretty handy but Ive never tried to do anything like this. I was planning on using leather, I have done leather work in the past, like way past, like boyscouts and remember alittle. But if anyone could give me some pointers, or a good book to pick up, how hard it is, or just anything helpful I would appreciate it. Thanks!

Of course you can do it... I took a short night class at a local VoTech that was pretty helpful. You might try that.

I have heard mixed results to this question. Is your seat going to be exposed to the elements or under a hard top? Reason I ask is the roadster croud tend to like marine grade vinyl upholstery because it doesn't fake in the sun and holds up very well.
That being said I found this short article that may be a help to you.


Difficulty: Moderately ChallengingInstructionsThings You'll Need:
Ratchet set
Scissors
Pencil
Paper
New seat material
Upholstery stapler
Step 1Remove the seats from your car. Whether you have bucket seats or a bench seat, every car will require a different removal method. Use a flashlight to look under the seat for a series of large bolts fastening the seat to the frame. Remove these bolts and the seats should come out.

Step 2Gently take the fabric off the seat frame. You want as much of the ruined upholstery to stay intact as possible so you can create a new pattern for your seats. Most upholstery will be fastened via a series of staples around the base, so remove these. Also pay attention to how the seat fits together.

Step 3Lay your old seat material flat on large sheets of paper. Trace around each piece in order to create a pattern from which you can create new seats. If your upholstery is in such bad shape that there are gaps in the pattern, you will have to use your imagination to fill in the remainder.

Step 4Lay these patterns over the new material and cut them out accordingly. Hold each individual piece up next to the original to make sure you did not miss any important aspects of each seat.

Step 5Apply the new material in the same manner the original was attached to the seat. This will most likely mean using staples. Replace the seats in the car and ratchet them tightly to the frames.

Kinda left out the 1000$ sewing machine it is going to take. Your wifes Singer just isn't going to hack it.

Originally Posted by 61bone

Kinda left out the 1000$ sewing machine it is going to take. Your wifes Singer just isn't going to hack it.

Got that right! I've looked at a couple used one's, over $1,000 for anything that has enough size and power to take on leather!!!!

yep.... but like I said, take a class, bring your project, use their equipment and gain some knowledge. (and have a little fun too)

65ny
I wish we had classes like that here!

Maybe I'm just lucky.

Try this thread...

do your own interior

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...d.php?p=329607

Thanks for all the info guys, after reading that thread MikeB posted I got some really good ideas for my center console. I actually went to the fair tonight and was talking to a pro saddle maker, and he so happens to be restoring a 1950 buick roadmaster. So after jawing with him for about a half hour he said that he would teach me how to cover the seat in leather at his shop, AND scoop the bench seat! which i had not even though of till tonight so Im pretty stoaked! Thanks again everyone!

Leather will need a lot of care and a specialized stitching machine. My MIL does custom interiors and has all of the specialty tools and sewers and she does a beautiful job. Her personal choice is that she don't do leather. She can do leather but mainly she works with vinyl and fabrics. She has done quite a few rods and custom and she prefers working on the customs which normally don't use leather. She was always a good seamtress so moving to cars was fairly easy, just took time, patience, and practice.

If you have a done similar work in the past and don't mind loosing money in mistakes, than go for it. If money is any issue, go to a pro. Get several bids on what you want. There is a lot of variance in pricing on interior work. Good luck with it if you decide to keep in in house.