Upholstery
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Topic author - Posts: 135
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:50 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Last Name: Williams
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor, 1915 Runabout
- Location: Prospect, Ohio
Upholstery
I’ve done an upholstery job on a classic Ford truck without any problems using a kit. I need to do my 15 Runabout now. Is this project a lot more difficult than the job I did on my truck? It looks way more complicated. If so can I get a rating of difficulty? 1 to 10. 10 being very difficult. I want to do a “nice” job but this is a driver not a show car. Also any tips?
Thanks in advance.
Brian
Thanks in advance.
Brian
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- Posts: 1565
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:46 am
- First Name: Dennis
- Last Name: Seth
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Coupe 1927 Touring
- Location: Jefferson Ohio
Re: Upholstery
Brian,
If I can do it anyone can do it! I can't even get Velcro to stick together. Just take your time. I bought a kit from one of the vendors.
If I can do it anyone can do it! I can't even get Velcro to stick together. Just take your time. I bought a kit from one of the vendors.
1922 Coupe & 1927 Touring
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- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: hardiman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 coupe
- Location: stoughton, ma
Re: Upholstery
What vendor????
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- Posts: 3869
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- MTFCA Number: 14383
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Upholstery
Buy the kit for an open type car. Enclosed, like above is simpler. I would probably not buy an enclosed car kit with your experience level. I think mine was from Classic.
I have done quite a few re-upholstery jobs back in the day. For the $$, its not worth sewing up from scratch.
All the wood must be top notch. The seat cushion cover attaches to a channel in the spring base. If you cant get that channel open, its rusty, etc, Its not that expensive to replace with a new one. I lean this way.
I have done quite a few re-upholstery jobs back in the day. For the $$, its not worth sewing up from scratch.
All the wood must be top notch. The seat cushion cover attaches to a channel in the spring base. If you cant get that channel open, its rusty, etc, Its not that expensive to replace with a new one. I lean this way.
Last edited by speedytinc on Sun Nov 28, 2021 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Topic author - Posts: 135
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:50 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Last Name: Williams
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor, 1915 Runabout
- Location: Prospect, Ohio
Re: Upholstery
This is all reassuring news. I do have a couple of pieces of wood to replace. Tack rail on back for sure.
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- Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
Re: Upholstery
About replacing wood, if it's rotten, broken or "punky", definitely. If it's solid, but problematic for a new install because it looks like Swiss cheese from old tack holes, push round toothpicks into the holes with a drop of wood glue; when dry, cut off the excess with side-cutters and sand smooth. Well worth the extra time.
"Get a horse !"
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- Posts: 1565
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:46 am
- First Name: Dennis
- Last Name: Seth
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Coupe 1927 Touring
- Location: Jefferson Ohio
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- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:01 pm
- First Name: Michael
- Last Name: Pawelek
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919 Touring, 1925 Coupe
- Location: Brookshire, Texas
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Upholstery
And if the holes in the wood are a bit larger use wooden match sticks with wood glue.
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 2:37 pm
- First Name: MICHAEL
- Last Name: FRANCIS
- Location: Lindstrom, MN
- MTFCA Number: 411
- MTFCI Number: 171
- Contact:
Re: Upholstery
The diamond tufted seat cushion is the hardest part. If you would like a kit or partial kit feel free to email me at mike@classtiqueupholstery.com
Mike
Www.classtiqueupholstery.com
Mike
Www.classtiqueupholstery.com
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- Posts: 1707
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Humble
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
- Location: Charlevoix, Mi
- MTFCA Number: 28034
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: Upholstery
Brian, I have done a classic car, closed model T and open model T, and open T is by far the most difficult. On your scale of 1-10, I give it a 10. The wrap around seat back is what makes it so difficult. Getting the buttons the right height and the upholstery to smoothy wrap around to the side and arm rests is a process requiring removing and trying again repeatedly. Do not drive your tacks home until you have everything where you want it. If you do it right you should not be able to tell where the seat back rest springs end and the sides begin. Upholstery and top on an open car is 50 % of the cars appearance, dont go cheap or get some local guy to try his hand at model t upholstery for the first time. Upholstery and top is worth a quality job. If you want to do it yourself get the best quality kit money can buy...or pay the kit maker to install it. The picture is my unrestored 1924 runabout, not the same as a 15, but the seat back is similar.
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- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Upholstery
Brian, if it's not too late, take my advice. HAVE MIKE DO THE SEAT BOTTOM!! You won't regret the little bita extra expense.Upholstery Mike wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:01 pmThe diamond tufted seat cushion is the hardest part. If you would like a kit or partial kit feel free to email me at mike@classtiqueupholstery.com
Mike
Www.classtiqueupholstery.com
I did have Elizabeth do both seat backs on my '13, cause I just didn't have the gumption, but for a runabout, a DIY'er should be
able to do a good job on his own if he takes his time. That's my problem... "ADHD"....focus is an issue!!