Installing seat upholstery
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Installing seat upholstery
Has anyone made a comprehensive video for upholstering the replacement seat springs available through Langs/Snyders ? I just received a new seat and back rest. The only video I can find for reupholstering a seat is from a demonstration event and seems to be shot from off to the side. Is there an actual video tutorial? Also .. for the seat back?
-
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Strange
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
- Location: Hillsboro, MO
- MTFCA Number: 30944
- MTFCI Number: 23667
- Board Member Since: 2013
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
-
- Posts: 3907
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Kuehn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
- Location: Texas
- MTFCA Number: 28924
Re: Installing seat upholstery
As far as the backrest and seat springs go the upholstrey kit I bought from Classtique had instructions on how to build a spring compressor and installing the covers. The rest of the installation instructions had a lot of tips to use. There was enough information without the now available video. The video will surely be a help. Nothing better than show and tell!
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Yes, that link takes you to the same bad video with all the action taking place off to the right and too far away. I can’t see how the material is being connected to the bottom of the metal seat frame or any other detail. It is nice to see how the seat compressor works.
-
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Strange
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
- Location: Hillsboro, MO
- MTFCA Number: 30944
- MTFCI Number: 23667
- Board Member Since: 2013
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Try calling Classtique and ask them directly, or maybe they will be at Hershey and you can talk to them there?
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Great idea. Would like to talk to them at Hershey. Thanks!
-
- Posts: 3907
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Kuehn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
- Location: Texas
- MTFCA Number: 28924
Re: Installing seat upholstery
They use to come to Chickasha and do demonstrations on how to install the seat spring covers. I saw them there a few times and they delivered my interior kit for my 21 Touring. Don’t know if they still do it or not. But once you see how it’s done it’s surprising how easy it is. Just take your time and it’s all good.
-
- Posts: 3907
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Kuehn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
- Location: Texas
- MTFCA Number: 28924
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Mark if your going to Hershey you can the get information you need from Classtique. But if you don’t make it I still have the instruction sheets I got with my Classtique kit for my 21
Touring. It helped me when I installed the upholstry. Let me know if you need it and I”lol send it to you.
Touring. It helped me when I installed the upholstry. Let me know if you need it and I”lol send it to you.
-
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:28 pm
- First Name: Douglas
- Last Name: Keppler
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
- Location: Fredon N.J.
- MTFCA Number: 49716
- Board Member Since: 2016
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Mark are you refering to the video of Mike from Classtique doing the seat bottom? I found that Video very helpful and watched it several times to do my seat bottoms. The camera showed how he crimped the material to the spring pretty clearly. You must be talking about another video
1924 Touring car
There's No Substitute for Proper Lubrication
There's No Substitute for Proper Lubrication
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Yes, probably. The video was shot from behind a couple rows of seats. It would have been better to shoot a video up close at another time .. as an instructional video. The details are covered in the audio but not easy to see from a distance.
-
- Posts: 2461
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:30 pm
- First Name: Dave
- Last Name: Hjortnaes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 20 touring
- Location: Men Falls, WI
- MTFCA Number: 28762
- MTFCI Number: 22402
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Mark
Sent you a PM
Sent you a PM
-
- Posts: 3284
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
- First Name: Larry
- Last Name: Smith
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
- Location: Lomita, California
- MTFCA Number: 121
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- MTFCI Number: 16310
Re: Installing seat upholstery
I taught Elizabeth how to make a spring compressor many years ago. As far as the backrest spring: You want it as low as possible, without interfering with the bottom cushion. Also use plenty to padding up and over the tackstrip. If you look at a lot of restored cars, often you will see the outline of the top of the backrest cushion. That is because the backrest spring is too high. You can make two fabric hangers for that spring, and adjust them until you get the spring in the proper place. Most of this stuff is common sense. The secret is to take your time.
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
I received the new seat bottom and back springs from Lang’s yesterday. They are made by Snyder’s. I’ll pick up the seat kit from Classtique when I’m at Hershey on the Thursday of the show. The new seat spring set is framed with aluminum. I’m assuming that the original frame is steel. Is there any compromise in strength by using aluminum in the new set? I’m 230-ish pounds and hope it holds without distortion. Was thinking about transferring the new coil springs to the old frame, but maybe I’m worried about nothing. Mike at Classtique did ask if I wanted to use hog clips or channel for installation. Which is better? Also, I can see through the holes in my old upholstery that there seem to be some type of sheet metal band inside the sides between the upholstery and the body. Is this a spacer to keep the upholstery from resting against the sheet metal? I haven’t seen any mention of these in older posts.
-
- Posts: 3284
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
- First Name: Larry
- Last Name: Smith
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
- Location: Lomita, California
- MTFCA Number: 121
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- MTFCI Number: 16310
Re: Installing seat upholstery
I would use 3/4" plywood for the compressor. It takes a lot of pressure to compress those springs. For the bottom I used two one by fours. I don't know why, but Langs and Snyders both sell Mac's upholstery kits. I would stay away from them. Mike at Classtique does a much better job. I sewed a piece of plastic welt around the skirt of the seat spring upholstery to hold it in place after the channel is compressed. I used wide jaw vise grips for the channel.
-
- Posts: 3296
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 cutoff, '25 touring, '27 touring
- Location: North Central FL
- MTFCA Number: 4838
- MTFCI Number: 115
- Board Member Since: 2000
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Mark
All the covers for the later T's used with me have had the beading in the edge that fits into the channel as Larry mentioned, use a channel lock pliers to fold over and close the channel, stock Ford method.
The channel makes for a very neat appearance and more practical as the spring base sits best in the seat frame with stock method.
Hog rings are modern and weren't used on the Ford, but can be used. In this case I preserved the new spring cushion by using hog rings, as the cover was only a blanket, for simple job. Easy to remove the hog rings and then this new spring base could be done later with correct channel install of the right cover.
The compressor is needed to do this work on seat springs, this one is non-Ford, but operation is the same, layout the cover, place spring over, the compress the spring, and fasten the upholstery covering.
All the covers for the later T's used with me have had the beading in the edge that fits into the channel as Larry mentioned, use a channel lock pliers to fold over and close the channel, stock Ford method.
The channel makes for a very neat appearance and more practical as the spring base sits best in the seat frame with stock method.
Hog rings are modern and weren't used on the Ford, but can be used. In this case I preserved the new spring cushion by using hog rings, as the cover was only a blanket, for simple job. Easy to remove the hog rings and then this new spring base could be done later with correct channel install of the right cover.
The compressor is needed to do this work on seat springs, this one is non-Ford, but operation is the same, layout the cover, place spring over, the compress the spring, and fasten the upholstery covering.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
-
Topic author - Posts: 1011
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:18 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Osterman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 runabout
- Location: Rochester, NY
- Contact:
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Thanks so much! Those pictures are just what I need. I did speak to Mike at Classtique yesterday about the installation and picking up my seat kit at Hershey. Also spoke with him about how helpful it would be for them to create installation videos shot professionally without an audience so there is a free view to see both the whole scene and close ups as needed.
-
- Posts: 1198
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:58 am
- First Name: Mario
- Last Name: Brossard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring and 1914 speedster
- Location: Quebec City Canada
- MTFCA Number: 30981
- MTFCI Number: 30981
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Installing seat upholstery
Thank you sharing these tips!
Really appreciated.
Really appreciated.
Super Mario Bross
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
-
- Posts: 3284
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
- First Name: Larry
- Last Name: Smith
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
- Location: Lomita, California
- MTFCA Number: 121
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- MTFCI Number: 16310
Re: Installing seat upholstery
When I did mine, the plywood compressor I used was about four inches all the way around bigger than the seat spring. I used two 2X4's for the bottom somewhat close to the edges of the spring to distribute the force more evenly.