Reupholstering seats

[BOXY]

The sticky vinyl looks ok to me, but my van is a user, rather than a show-er. The wood grain finish makes the joins less obvious, and the sheet is quite wide so there aren't many joins. The only problem, if I was being picky, is that the vinyl is quite thin. Over the last couple of years I have scratched it in a couple of places when I've chucked mountain bikes in the back and the brake levers have scuffed it.

[billybigspud]

the upholsterer i used is magic and probably only an hour for you. worth the drive i reckon.

[Silky]

Over the last couple of years I have scratched it in a couple of places when I've chucked mountain bikes in the back and the brake levers have scuffed it.

Years? That's good going if it's lasting that long. I suspect the bikes would have scuffed any finish never mind sticky vinyl.

Silky

[Plasticman]

I want to redo the interior and I wondered where people went to get their seats/beds re-upholstered? Do you need somewhere local

My local upholsterer http://www.traffictrim.co.uk/gallery-vw.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; too far for you maybe but he's damn good and reasonably priced... take a look

he's done several vans from 80-90 now with excellent reviews.

did mine too..

dont look like that now
mm

[paulo999]

I spent some time looking at photos of vinyl upholstery. All the ones I saw that I liked were done by automotive upholsterers. It seems, unlike fabric, there's a skill involved. The average garage doesn't go near this work. It's not about generally being handy with stuff.

When I was at a VW specialist a few weeks ago, him, fitting my propex (beautifully, 8 hours to do) we got chatting about upholstery. He said he'd tried a few times on his own bus, and given up. He thought his own efforts looked cr@p.

When you look at the work, it's not hard to see why. Detailing - panels, contouring, beading. It's not - at a proper level - about putting six sheets of plastic around a foam box. Unless you want it to look like that.

There's roughly 16 panels in my buddy seat alone. Professionally done. These can't be cut from the "existing pattern" when the vinyl pattern didn't exist in the first place. As for the proper automotive seats - the fronts - they're proper expert territory. Looking at kev's for reference, there's at least 20 panels for each seat. Formed to organic curves. It's tricky stuff, I think.

peas... If you're set on doing a home project, I'd go fabric in the back and take the front as a seperate challenge.

[Peas&Love]

Yes that's what we're thinking - do the back ourselves but splash out for the proper vinyl cab seats. I expect we could sell ours on eBay which would make some of the money back anyway.

Billy you can't tease me like that then not give me the name of the upholsterer!

Boxy - that is really cool, the kind of thing I'l looking to do. Where did you get the sticky back plastic? I'm struggling to find much patterned stuff.

[billybigspud]

sorry

his name is mike from trojan trimming, 07747156476. if he doesn't answer then leave a message and he will get back to you. he works on ships so can be away for a week or so.



any more photos needed then give me a shout.

[Ralf85]

Not easy to find I agree. However, I had my bed and seats recovered by Middlesex Motor Caravans. They did a superb job at a reasonable price. I suggest that you call them and drive up there for a quote. They are open on Saturday as far as I remember. They also lent me two T25 seats while they recovered mine. Good luck

Patrick

[Silky]

Billy did you carpet the cab yourself? I'd like to do the LT but there are so many dips and curves I'm not sure how the carpet would cope with it without having to do it in about 10 different pieces...

PeasandLove, the upholsterers would use your existing cab seats to re-cover.

Silky

[billybigspud]

Billy did you carpet the cab yourself? I'd like to do the LT but there are so many dips and curves I'm not sure how the carpet would cope with it without having to do it in about 10 different pieces...

PeasandLove, the upholsterers would use your existing cab seats to re-cover.

Silky

i did it including battery boxes in literally 10 bits. took me ages. i have got a mat over most of it now so you cant really see it anyway went over all the lumps and bumps fine. just used loads of glue and tthought about it trying to keep pieces as whole as possible if you know what i mean.

[BOXY]

Where did you get the sticky back plastic? I'm struggling to find much patterned stuff.

This is the e-bay seller I got mine from. They even do "stained glass" vinyl now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/vinyldepotltd ... 4340.l2562" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;