interior fabric source
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Check the phone book for fabric outlets. Often they don't say upholstery fabric specifically but do carry it. (there is no significant difference between furniture upholstery fabric and automotive upholstery fabrics) You'll have to visit them to see what they have since their stock is always changing. Don't be shy about going in, think of your wife/SO when you send her to the hardware store for you, find a clerk and ask for help finding what they have and advice.
PS: if you don't mind paying the price, Rod Doors sells upholstery fabrics by the yard.
PS: if you don't mind paying the price, Rod Doors sells upholstery fabrics by the yard.
Last edited by AXracer; May 8, 2007 at 08:38 AM.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,972
From: Rio Rancho, NM
When you talk to the upholstery shop, ask him where he gets his fabric from. Here in Albuquerque, NM we have a couple of places to buy the fabric direct. This one place is great, its a huge warehouse with rolls and rolls of fabric. It almost looks like a carpet warehouse the rolls are so big.
You'd be suprised at how many people do their own uphostlery, grab the yellow pages and have some fun
Bobby
You'd be suprised at how many people do their own uphostlery, grab the yellow pages and have some fun
Bobby
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Posting Guru
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well on my 59 i want to do everything on it myself except for the machining on the 292 y-block. i doing my own paint, my own body work, frame, interior, rebuilding the motor, adapting a 5 speed tranny. oh yea im only 16 too.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
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From: Northshore, MN
let me rephrase that. Anyone trying to resurrect a 1989 chev truck. My young half-bro has a 1950 chev 1ton that he's been doing since he was 15. My younger than he half-bro has a 1962 Biscayne, that he's working on. It just seems to me that you and them are the exceptions to the rule, and I commend ya. Upholstery work is usually not something that is tackled firsthand.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by 59flatbedford
well on my 59 i want to do everything on it myself except for the machining on the 292 y-block. i doing my own paint, my own body work, frame, interior, rebuilding the motor, adapting a 5 speed tranny. oh yea im only 16 too.
Most upholstery fabrics require a heavier duty sewing machine than the standard seamstress portable machines most people have in their homes. The one that you need are called industrial "walking foot" machines. There are places that sell them new in the $3-500.00 range, but you may want to keep checking ebay for a used one if that's outside your budget.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,972
From: Rio Rancho, NM
You can do auto upholstery with a regular home sewing machine, you just have to be careful and be patient with it. My step mom has done several sets of boat seats and a few cars, both with cloth and vinyl using nothing but a standard homeowners sewing machine.
She told me that the older Sears Kenmore machines (that still had steel gears) were good machines and could hold up to alot of abuse. I found one at a flea market not long ago, I paid $25 bucks for it, foot pedal and all.
If doing uphosltery is something that I like and get good at then I might invest in a industrial walking foot machine as they are pretty cool! For now, I'll get by on a budget
Bobby
She told me that the older Sears Kenmore machines (that still had steel gears) were good machines and could hold up to alot of abuse. I found one at a flea market not long ago, I paid $25 bucks for it, foot pedal and all.
If doing uphosltery is something that I like and get good at then I might invest in a industrial walking foot machine as they are pretty cool! For now, I'll get by on a budget
Bobby
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well my mom and dad made a complete canvas for a old pop up tent camper trailer and sewed it with her machine so i think i should be good. it was heavy marine grade canvas. that and i figured if i did my own upholstery it would be a good way to involve my mom in the truck build some.
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