I just got a new seat cover from Mid-fifty for my 53 F-100. The kit came with burlap, two big foam chunks and some thinner foam, as well as the covers and hog rings. I'm wondering what to do with the thin foam. Anyone have experience doing this? The kit came with installation instructions, but they are not crystal clear. Also, I read in a related thread that one should buy a good pair of hog ring pliers. I guess that's true. The pliers that came with the kit look like that may survive one seat cover, but not more than that.

 

You'll be lucky if they survive one.

 

Christopher2...any tips on how to do this re-upholstery? I'm in the process right now of just seeing how it all fits together. It seems like a job that would be good for about four or five helpers. I'm struggling just to keep the metal seat frame, burlap, the two layers of foam and the cover all aligned. And once it's aligned, then I'm supposed to flip the whole mess over to start hog ringing?

 

the thin foam is to use in place's that are worn low or to feel in spot's.put the foam down after you atach the burlap to the springs. this keeps the springs from damaging the foam. then i do this. turn the cover inside out and slip it over the cushion. then attach it to the frame with the hogg rings. you can take small foam and fill in low spots or loose corners. hope this helps. if you were close i would come over and help. hope this help. p.s. just take your time and it will look good.

 

My opinion would be the order should be the burlap over the springs, the thick foam next, then the thin foam (I'd expect it's softer?). You could use some 3M spray glue to glue the foam to the burlap and to each other to hold it all together, then use an electric carving knife (tell the wife you're taking it out to the garage to sharpen it for the Thanksgiving turkey or pick one up at a lawn sale) or an orbital disk sander with 36 grit paper to round off any corners of the foam to give a smoother finish to the fabric. Turn the sides of the covering inside out, carefully lay the main panel over the foam and then turn down the sides. Now turn the cushion upside down and start fastening at the center of all four sides working evenly front to back, side to side towards the corners checking regularly to see that the seams are staying straight. A couple tricks: Get one or two dry cleaner's bags and put the foam inside before putting the fabric over it, this will make it much easier to get the fabric and foam to lay smoothly. You can leave the bags in place permanently. Instead of using the hog rings, use 1/4" nylon electrical zip ties. Fasten them all loosely, then keep working around the cushion tightening them a small amount at a time adjusting as you go until they are pulled up tight. You can then clip off the excess tail and leave them or add hog rings along side. The nylon ties will hold as well and as long as the hog rings, allow adjustment as you go unlike the rings, and you don't need to buy a pair of hog ring pliers that you'll probably never use again.

 

I made my own hog ring pliers once. When I first got my truck a few years back I was a starving college student. I managed to find a seat frame. It was bare springs. I took some left over carpet padding and an old mexican blanket and redid my seat. No the best in the world, but serviceable. For the hog ring pliers I took a set of "el cheapo" pliers and clamped them in a vise with the jaws together and drilled a hole (approx 3/16" diam) into the face of the jaws so that when they are opened each jaw has a groove cut into it. Then with the jaws open I drilled a larger hole at the groove, not too deep, just enough to get a grip on the hog ring. Again, not quite as good as a designed set of hog ring pliers but very serviceable and cheap (I think it cost me $3).
They survived the initial seat build and my dad has used them when he reupholstered the front and rear seats in his car.

Good luck with your seat

Bobby

 

There were some great tips given in this thread. I have to replace the seat covering on my sons "new" ride within the next month or so and some of these tips sound GREAT!

Thanks AX and others!

 

A decent set of HR pliers at a farm supply should set you back < 15.00.

 

I would follow the advice above. However, I would also lay down some polyester batting over the foam and the sides of the seat. Batting is available at any fabric/upholstery supply store. I've worked in an upholstery shop for a few years and the batting was always used over the foam to give it a more round/puffy look.

Also, lay out the upholstery (if it's vinyl) in the sun until it gets soft. It'll be easier to install it on the seat when it's softer.

Ilya

 

A friend of mine used the same kit and was confused and frustrated. Before damaging the cover/ foam and everything else in the kit, he took it to the local upholstery shop and they put it on for about $125.00. Came out really nice. Just a thought.

 

Sewing is the difficult part, putting the cover on is easy, just take your time. If you use the zip ties it's easy to snug them up, but if you get one too tight or not in the right place, just cut it and put in a new one all you're out is ~ 5 cents. The polyester batting is a good suggestion, and you don't need to do as much foam shaping then, the batting will take care of the corners. Go to your local fabric store (yes guys are allowed in fabric stores!) or Wal-Mart sewing dept. and pick up a roll of fiber batting, they will probably call it something like "quilt padding". Make sure you get the stuff that comes in a roll (or folded) NOT the loose kind.
If you want more step by step instructions just ask.

 

This is a really interesting thread

I am just deciding if I should go for a kit or pay a upholsterer to trim my seat
The cable tie trick is a great tip

When you get this done let me know how it went and post some pic's
Anybody else got any pic's of a seat done with one of these kits ?

Stephen

 

Steve,
If you can get a kit in the style, fabrics and colors you want go with the kit it will be significantly cheaper. I'd only recommend the shop route if you are using something other than stock seat or want something that isn't available as a kit or you don't know which end of a screwdriver you're supposed to use. If you're capable of dressing yourself in the morning you can put on a seat cover it's that easy!

 

I,m looking for an upholstery kit for my 1956 F-100. The current cover is completely trashed. It looks like it was a vinyl cover but in a twead type design. What did you get from Midfifty? The installation tips sound great.

 

If you're using the really really cheap hog ring pliers, the ones with a rivet holding the flimsy handles together, keep in mind they hurt like *%$@ when that rivet breaks and you pinch the palm of your hand in them. Wear leather gloves or spend a few bucks more on a better set of pliers. I learned the painful way.

Scott