Replies

1. 
   roc | Jun 27, 2009 06:21am | #1

   Try these Norm episodes:

   I haven't seen this one but ran across it

   http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0812

   Hey and another

   http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0507

   I have seen this one and there is a lot about upolstering and he has a pro in a factory show him and the viewer how. At least I think it was this one.

   http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0304

   Also for sure for sure this one

   http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0503

   Hope they help.

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/26/2009 11:23 pm by roc

1. 
   bones | Jun 27, 2009 04:43pm | #2

   I watched norm's shows and they were cool.  The only thing there were special tools used, and I think by the time you get those and learn and accept yours won't look professional.  I'd just take it to the pro.  I think the cost is worth avoiding the agrivation.  M2CWThe nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus

1. 
   roc | Jun 28, 2009 03:35am | #5

   >accept yours won't look professionaloh reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaalllly.Nah don't accept that man! Keep practicing, and futzing and fighting and struggling. Then in a few days comeback and do it again and it will be better. and keep grappling and fighting and struggling until . . .It looks professional.It is all part of the FUN !Sam Maloof farmed all his upholstering out but you don't want to be a big " quitter " like him do you ?: )rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

1. 
   bones | Jun 28, 2009 04:02am | #6

   Dude have at it.  Its just one of those things I just never had a pasion for.  I love working in the wood.  I'll leave the upolstery to someone else.  Before I moved from Roanoke VA, I had a relationship it someone who was good and a pro.   Resonably priced and could buy the materials really cheap and did not try to soak me.  To me it was worth it.  Take care.The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus

1. 
   roc | Jun 28, 2009 05:41am | #7

   >Resonably priced and could buy the materials really cheap and did not try to soak me. . . was worth it. Yes it makes sense if you have such a good situation. I have trust issues with the "professionals" out here in the wild wild west. Often I wind up saying to my self " I could have done it better my self " and for the price of some of their work I could have bought the tools and books. I am not talking upholstery but other professions. Even plumbers. They invariably wind up ruining something valuable when they could have covered it or asked me to move it out of harms way. It is a long story(s). Auto repair, stereo repair on and on.My mom did upholstery and stage size drapery during the thirties and forties, fifties (?) so it is in my blood I suppose though I haven't done much of it. I have run a sewing machine a lot though, and leather work etc.I am in no hurry and don't make my living from this wood thing. It would be all different if I was trying to do that !You take care as wellrocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   bones | Jun 28, 2009 03:50pm | #9

   You know you say its in your blood, I know what you mean.  My dad and his whole family were carpenters and most of the houses built in my town were done by my family.  I guess I could say wood is in my blood. I'd love a section here on upolstry maybe we could all get better at it.  Take care.The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus

3. 
   oldusty | Jun 28, 2009 05:03pm | #10

      All ,

                You know covering these types of seats is much easier and less involved then full on upholstery work . As part of our business we do these and other loose cushions but no real upholstery work , my wife is the genius with fabric .We even got her one of those Bosch foam saws .

         Starting out with the best foam for the application helps, don't use the cheapo surplus store foam , it will break down .

            The batting and a good little staple gun with some know how on how to cut the corners so it lays flat makes this task doable for a crafts/person.

      I do believe when it comes to re upholstering the couch you need an upholsterer .

          regards              dusty

          

     

4. 
   roc | Jun 29, 2009 01:04am | #15

   >section here on upolstryTHAT is a brilliant idea. Surely the people in control on Knots are listening. I would find it valuable.Since I have their attention, hopefully for a moment longer, I want to put a bug in their ear. I just finished watching the video of the Apple Keynote address. Many, many magazines are becoming available to be read directly on the iPhone. One app that makes this possible is called Iceberg. This is the link for the Apple Keynote addresshttp://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/0906paowdnv/event/index.html?internal=ijalrmacuThe introduction of the app is about two thirds of the way through the vid.While standing in line at the bank I could, for example, read part of an article or watch the latest segment of a how to video from the FWW online mag. I do most of my reading in short bursts like this so I would pay for this option.So yes ! Back to the topic at hand: A Section Here on Upholstery. Do it, Do it, Do it !EDIT : introduction of the app is about two thirds of the way through the vid.
   rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )Edited 6/29/2009 12:21 am by roc

   Edited 6/29/2009 1:58 am by roc

5. 
   Taigert | Jun 29, 2009 01:38pm | #16

   Bones,

   If you go to where they have the video projects that they walk you through. The one the deals with building a dining room chair address how to also upholster the chair.

   Taigert

6. 
   bones | Jun 29, 2009 03:38pm | #17

   Thanks. The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus

7. 
   oldusty | Jun 28, 2009 05:29pm | #12

      roc ,

              Plumbers are the worst (messiest) of all trades imo.

         Hey roc , about those trust issues with professionals ,,if sometimes you feel you could have done better your self , for me I seldom hire out if I can do it myself , plumbing , electrical ,etc.

      As a business owner /craftsman for many years I have noticed this expectation of perfectionism in some folks . I do always deliver my best efforts although there is no such thing as perfect imho.

          An elderly couple asked me to repair some bar stools years ago, I re worked the first one and realized they had nails through the tenons or rungs .Well I broke a part or two and re made them and glued that one back together.

     I called them and said to come in and pick up the stools,and told them about the problem and I would not want to break all the other 3 so just take the stools no charge , and apologized for not being able to do the job for them.

        The lady held up her hand and showed me this crooked finger and said "see that" " paid a surgeon $40,000 to fix it and that's what I got , he got paid and his work was not perfect , why shouldn't you ? "They paid me the 20 bucks .

         I had never thought of it like that before but you pay some carpenter $250 to fix something around the house , it may not look great or perfect so we complain and some feel they got ripped off . I think of the elderly lady with the crooked finger often when I approach the scope and expectations of my clients before we enter into a contract .

                        regards      dusty

2. 
   Rich14 | Jun 27, 2009 05:00pm | #3

   Willie,

   You don't have to shape the foam, although you can if you want. The foam should be wrapped in polyester wrapping or batting which you can get at an upholstery supply house. The polyester material should be about 1-2" in thickness. It's a lacy material with a lot of "loft," will compress between the cushion cover and the foam, and will give soft rounded edges to the seat and back.

   If you want to shape the foam, you can "shave" it using a very sharp, large kitchen knife. You can even do it on the table saw or band saw. A band saw with a fine toothed blade results in less foam "dust."

   Make sure the leather covers are cut to an ample size. The cover must be large enough to wrap around all the foam and polyester wrap and overlap the edges of the bottom board of the cushion by several inches. It's deceiving at first, and you might be surprised to find that the covering needs to be almost twice the size of the simple seat or back dimensions.

   Rich

1. 
   davcefai | Jun 28, 2009 02:38pm | #8

   You can also cut foam with an electric carving knife and light pressure. Very useful for shaping as long as you are not after a perfect surface.

3. 
   oldusty | Jun 27, 2009 05:04pm | #4

   Willie ,

                The foam is only cut to the correct size but not bull nosed or shaped in any other way .

        The fabric pulled with the right tension creates the round over effect.

             Almost always we use Dacron batting over the foam to soften and add some cushion , when you pull the fabric you set the bull nose or shape by your tension.

    please ask if you need to know more

          good luck         dusty

1. 
   9619 | Jun 28, 2009 05:27pm | #11

   Dusty,
   so you have told us how to get a bullnose when you upholster a seat. When are you going to tell us how to get a Roman Ogee? :-)Am in CA to visit my new granddaughter. When I get back, I will post photos of the glider chair I made for my grandson. My wife upholstered it, just as you said (and before you said it.) It worked beautifully. Then for the back of the chair, she used Virginia Tech fabric. Guess where my grandson's parents went to college. Have fun.
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   oldusty | Jun 28, 2009 05:35pm | #13

   Mel ,

              Are you out West in Cal ?

                That Ogee will be tougher , we'll need the injun rider for that explanation , he has a more voluminous inventory of verbiage to disperse and share .

                      regards              dusty

                  

1. 
   9619 | Jun 28, 2009 07:36pm | #14

   Dusty,
   Yup,
   am here in Mt. View, CA. Unfortunately, am leaving for home tomorrow morning. Sure do like California. Unfortunately that is not too close to Rogue Valley. Otherwise I would have loved to stop up and apprentice to you for an afternoon. Have fun.
   MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot. 

4. 
   GEide | Jun 29, 2009 09:56pm | #18

   Hi Willie,

   There's a good Michael Fortune article on the topic: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2849

   Also, the last segment of this chair video workshop covers upholstery: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/chair-workshop-player/index.asp

   Here's another article from our archives on the topic: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2207

   Also, Jeff Miller has a good book on chairmaking... I believe it covers some upholstery too...

   Gina, FineWoodworking.com

1. 
   Gretchen | Jun 29, 2009 10:00pm | #19

   http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-a-seat-cushion?autonomy_kw=upholstering%20chair%20seats&rsc=header_8

   You may laugh, but no one is better at this than Martha!!Gretchen

1. 
   SimplyShaker | Jun 29, 2009 11:15pm | #20

   The key to upholstered seats is the polyester batting. The foam needs to be a medium density foam IIRC. You put on a generous amount of the poly batting on top and then your finish fabric. The batting gives it the smooth appearance and the softness when sitting, the foam gives support.

5. 
   Taigert | Jun 30, 2009 10:38am | #21

   Willie,

   Check this out:

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/chair-workshop-player/index.asp

   Taigert

6. 
   sawdustonmyshoulder | Jul 01, 2009 02:25pm | #22

   Willie,

   If I can upholster a dining chair, you can. I found a great resource on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDdGQSnZsvU&feature=related

   There are about seven segments. The link above is the third because the first two go over removing the old upholstery from the seat.

   Key elements I learned from these videos were: bonded Dacron, glue the foam to the frame, how the guy held the seat vertically to smooth and staple.

   Hope this helps. I helped me.