attempting apholestry
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
attempting apholestry
I have a '67 f-100. How difficult would it to refabricate my seats and door panels using cloth and materials of my own. Also do the work myself? It is time well spent or should I just pay someone else to do it?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 2
From: Georgia
If you have never done it or don't know what the processes are then I would put the investment in to having someone else do the job.
If you are diehard on doing it yourself then they sell tutorial books that can tell you what needs to be done.
If you are diehard on doing it yourself then they sell tutorial books that can tell you what needs to be done.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
If you have not been to the Rod Door web site, www.roddoors.com you may want to take a look. Looking for a headliner for 65 f100 and another FTE member mentioned the site. Have not really looked at their uphostery kits, but you may get some ideas, and how to info. Seemed kind of pricey.
Have seen kits going for less in ford supply catalog. Could not find the door panels for our year trucks with Auto Krafter.
Good luck,
dave
Have seen kits going for less in ford supply catalog. Could not find the door panels for our year trucks with Auto Krafter.
Good luck,
dave
Last edited by daveengelson; May 2, 2004 at 11:47 PM.
Admom
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,414
Likes: 201
From: Silver Springs
I'm not familiar with the setup of the 1967's.
A couple questions:
1. are your existing seats and door panels pretty much intact?
2. can you sew and do you have access to a sewing machine that can handle heavy materials?
If your seats are intact, you can take them completely apart and make a pattern from the parts. You need to get an upholstry type material otherwise your just waisting your time. You'll also need some new upholstery foam Regular fabrics will wear and deteriorate much quicker than you would think. Once you have your new fabric, take the existing seat covering off. Then take a fabric pen or marker and number each piece a couple times along the seams (both pieces) where the material is sewn together before you take them apart. Example #1 on the left and #1 on the right at the same spot. Once number matched, use a seam ripper to take the old cover apart. You should have a layer of upholstering foam (foam on one side and netting on the other). The foam should be numbered the same as the fabric. Cut the new material using the old as a pattern and mark the new patterned material with the same numbers the same way. This way your pieces should match up. I used the new patterned fabric to cut my foam pattern. It's easy to cut the excess away once sewn. It doesn't hurt to take photos of the coming apart process so that you have a reference to put it back together. Also jot down any oddities like how the seat latch is suppose to be placed for when you put it back together. The more notes & photo's, the better. Take your time and don't be afraid to rip out something you've sewn if it's not to your satisfaction. If this is your first time of sewing, practice on scrap pieces.
As for the door panels, I don't know if there's anything fancy on the 67's, but most work is done with glue. Again, use the old pieces for your pattern for the new.
There's several good books out there on custom upholstery. I can't recommend one or the other since I don't know exactly what you're trying to do. I'd suggest spending an hour or so with several books (magazine types) at the book store and see which one gives you info on your particular ideas.
A couple questions:
1. are your existing seats and door panels pretty much intact?
2. can you sew and do you have access to a sewing machine that can handle heavy materials?
If your seats are intact, you can take them completely apart and make a pattern from the parts. You need to get an upholstry type material otherwise your just waisting your time. You'll also need some new upholstery foam Regular fabrics will wear and deteriorate much quicker than you would think. Once you have your new fabric, take the existing seat covering off. Then take a fabric pen or marker and number each piece a couple times along the seams (both pieces) where the material is sewn together before you take them apart. Example #1 on the left and #1 on the right at the same spot. Once number matched, use a seam ripper to take the old cover apart. You should have a layer of upholstering foam (foam on one side and netting on the other). The foam should be numbered the same as the fabric. Cut the new material using the old as a pattern and mark the new patterned material with the same numbers the same way. This way your pieces should match up. I used the new patterned fabric to cut my foam pattern. It's easy to cut the excess away once sewn. It doesn't hurt to take photos of the coming apart process so that you have a reference to put it back together. Also jot down any oddities like how the seat latch is suppose to be placed for when you put it back together. The more notes & photo's, the better. Take your time and don't be afraid to rip out something you've sewn if it's not to your satisfaction. If this is your first time of sewing, practice on scrap pieces.
As for the door panels, I don't know if there's anything fancy on the 67's, but most work is done with glue. Again, use the old pieces for your pattern for the new.
There's several good books out there on custom upholstery. I can't recommend one or the other since I don't know exactly what you're trying to do. I'd suggest spending an hour or so with several books (magazine types) at the book store and see which one gives you info on your particular ideas.