I am in the process of restoring this chair for myself. The seat was originally a thin plywood that has since disintegrated. I was thinking of replacing it with an embossed leather seat but I am assuming it would have to be custom made because of the odd size. Any ideas where I should look for someone that does this kind of work.
Replies
Sounds like a good excuse to buy a new tool to me. I say get a pnematic stapler and go to town. Here are some Norm Abrams New Yankee Work Shop episodes to get you started.
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=47202.2
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
Nothing wrong with your idea, but you also could easily fit a piece of 1/2" plywood as a base for an upholstered seat.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1
What a neat old chair.
Personally, I'd opt for plain leather over a padded panel, with support blocks on the inside. The Norm videos Roc suggested make it look relatively easy.
Michael Fortune had a story on the construction of a comfortable chair-seat a few years back.
I'm sure it could be covered in leather.
Frosty
“If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert,
in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.”
Milton Friedman
That is a nice chair. I could do just about any leather work you need.
A fellow I do an odd bit of work for had, a catalogue of restoration goodies including leather seats etc. If you want I could track him down and ask. He is not web savey.
You are kind of far away. Could you make something that I could install?This might be the catalog you were thinking of.http://www.vandykes.com/
I checked that site but didn't see what I have seen in other catalogs. Unless you can give me a better idea of what page you saw it. For some reason the name Osborn comes to mind. I made a mirror image of a chair seat/back support curved and carved, that they didn't have the exact one.But while looking at the catalouge they had tooled and plain leather seat blanks, some even but shaped and some round dimpled/concave.I'll see if I can run into this fellow tomorrow at the lumberyard.Have you done any upholstery ? It is not that hard :) Can give all advise needed.
reivent, Here's another option. If there is a custom motorcycle shop in your area ask them who does their leather seat work. I've seen some beautiful seats.
Dan
Dan,That's a rather novel approach. Good thinking.BB
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?page=797
Yeah I know about those but my seat is 22" X 23"
Remember, too, that tooled seats are nifty to look at, but less comfortable to actually sit on.
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