Some restoration questions

[Diplomat82]

Hello all,

1. Does anyone have any good sources for marine carpet? What is a good manufacturer and what should I stay away from? Also what type of glue should I use?

2. I'm looking to have all my upholstery redone (2 bucket seats, back bench, 2 bowrider seats and 5 misc. smaller pieces), but all the local shops don't want to quote me for another month yet.....they are all still pretty busy. What have some of you guys been paying for upholstery work?

I just want to get a general idea of how much money I need to allocate.

[175checkmate]

My seats where trashed. There was no saving them so I went all new. I bought the matching material for the side parts and kept the pattern so I can match it up. But I may just come up with something new.

[TRsCheckmate]

If you have the time do it yourself. It is about 3/4 to 1/2 the price less.

[Diplomat82]

Yea, I've been thinking about trying to do the upholstery myself....but that means I would have to learn how to sew......I'm not sure I'm that coordinated.
Also I would have to buy one of those industrial sewing machines, wouldn't I?

[merc245]

CHECK OUT THE JOB I DID WITH MY UPOLSTERY. PICS OF MERC245. OH YEA HAD A LITTLE HELP FROM MY SISTER, WHO ONLY HAS ABOUT 20 YRS EXP. OF INDUSTRAIL SEWING.

HELPFUL HINTS: IF YOU STILL YOUR OLD UPOSTERY GET A GOOD SEAM RIPPER AND DISSASSABLE THE VINYL AND YOU HAVE YOUR PATTERN ,SAME FOR THE FOAM.

I INCREASED THE BACKS OF BUCKET SEATS USING ALM. AND FIBERGLASS I HAD TO MAKE NEW PATTERNS BUY A ROLL OF PAPER TO MAKE PATTERNS WITH ONCE YOUR DONE RESHAPING THE SEATS. REMEMBERING 1/2 INCH SEAM ALLOWANCE.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY HAVE TO PUT MATTING MATERAIL BETWEEN THE FOAM AND VINYL. IT SMOOTHS AND ROUNDS THE APPEARANCE OF YOUR JOB.

A GOOD HOME SEWING MACHINE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

TO CUT AND SHAPE FOAM USE A ELECTIC KNIFE.

SPEND THE THE EXTRA $ AND BUY S.S STABLES

TO ADD A TOUCH OF CLASS TAKE SOME OF YOUR CUT PANALS TO THE EMBROIDERY PLACE AND GET SOMETHING DONE MINE WAS ONLY $10 A PANAL.

I PURCHASED THE VINYL OFF THE INTERNET AT A FAIR PRICE. ALSO USE MARINE VINYL SAME PRICE BETTER STRETCH , MILD RESISTANT AND VERY FORRGIVING WHEN YOUR DOING THE STAPLING.


OR JUST TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT AND PURCHASE SOME GENERIC STUFF OR THE ACTUAL REPLACEMENTS.

MERC245

[Diplomat82]

Merc245,
Your interior turned out great!
Thanks for all the tips.....you almost got me convinced to try it myself. Harbor freight has an industrial sewing machine for $249.00, I think it would hold up.
By the way, I like how you customized your buckets.....I might have to steal that idea.

Do you remember the site where you found your vinyl and foam at?