Ask the Expert / DIY Crafters

Posting Upholstery machines and supplies for sale?

roseann — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 12:21:08 GMT

This is a great and very informative site!!! Is there anywhere here to post some supplies/machines I have for sale?
canvaslady42

order of upholstery-tack strips or curve ease?

susan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:15:44 GMT

I have never upholstered anything in my life. I am going to upholster a Baker Furniture sofa I had covered in white velvet for 20+ years in a Cowtan & Towt chenille. I know I must be insane. So far, the pleats and skirting I replicated are perfect. I have all the welting covered. Is there an order for what is done first? Inside back, then inside arms, outside arms, etc?
Secondly, when are metal tack strips used? On every seam with welting? On one or both sides?
It is my understanding, curve-ease is used only on curves.

can one use both springs?

Steve — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:28:05 GMT

We have snake springs in our 4 year old sofa and they provide little to now support. Love the fabric and shape of the sofa, so want to try to make this work. Can I add coil springs below the snake springs to provide extra support (especially under the seat)? I also fear there aren't sufficient scross wires installed perpendicular to the snake springs. I prefer not to cut out a piece of plywood as my solution.

Parsons Chair Skirt

Julie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:18:42 GMT

I would like to add a skirt to a parsons chair and was wondering where you can get skirt stiffener that wide.

covering parson chair

Jackie Mekuria — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:48:06 GMT

Hi,

I will try to post picture but not sure if it will post. But I have a parson chair that I am upholstering. It has coil springs and I want a firm seat. Please tell me what exactly and in order would I put on the seat part. Should I use webbinb to cover the springs and then my foam covered in dacron. Also, I will be using the firm foam. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jackie

shorten sectional frame

terry — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:52:56 GMT

Has anyone ever tried (or succeeded) in shortening the length of a sectional unit? I am looking at buying a sectional but it would be ideal if one of the units could be shortened in length allowing us more space to navigate in the room. I have done some reupholstering and I am thinking about everything involved. The piece has an arm on one end but I would be taking length off of the end without an arm. I am thinking you would remove the fabric. Remove the legs. Remove screws or dowels that make up end of frame. Shorten the length of the frame and re- assemble. I understand the springs on the end would have to be re-tied and the cushion would have to be cut and recovered. How serious of a project is this. How expensive if I took it to a pro? Thanks for any help given.

upholstered buttons

Sue Fox — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:12:46 GMT

I am trying to reupholster 2 love seats that have fabric covered buttons which were tacks with the attached button. I've seen button machines which are way to expensive for me to purchase to make the 4 buttons I require to complete my project. Is there a service that would create my buttons for me if I sent the fabric?

Coil springs/Cotton batting cusions

Irene — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:01:58 GMT

I need to remove the coil springs from my sofa cushions to replace the cotton batting and to wash the coverings. I just got a terrific new sofa, antique, not a rip/tear in it anywhere but it does smell like, well, it belonged to an elderly woman who just moved into assisted living so I going to guess "incontinence" may have been an issue. Someone has already tried to shampoo out the odor but the smell of the product is worse than the problem. I would like to replace all the cotton inside but with the coil springs in there, I don't know how to proceed. Should I just eliminate the springs altogether and just stuff with filling, no springs? What do you advise?

front of sofa arm

Claudia — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:13:00 GMT

is there a product (like a cardboard) that you can use to glue fabric to in order to make the curved front of a sofa arm so that you can than hammer nail heads to?

edge wire or spring wire

Chris W. — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:45 GMT

Hi All,
I am DIY upholsterer looking for edge wire to repair a glider rocker. The wire that goes across and is clipped to the No-Sag springs to keep them from separating is what I need. I have been unable to locate any. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Recovering a dashboard

Tony — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:50:46 GMT

I just bought an old '79 Ranchero and the plastic covered dashboard has several cracks. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with recovering a dash with (heavy) vinyl? My idea is to remove the dashboard, repair the cracks in some manner and then cover the repaired dashboard with vinyl (or some other better suited material). I'm not trying to restore the old truck, just spruce it up a bit. Any advice would be helpful.

welting

Bryce Griffin — Thur, 18 Jun 2009 01:19:49 GMT

I need to sew 1/2" welting to some pillows, is there a foot to sew this size or do you just use 5/16'' welt foot and do the best you can?

College

Jackie Laird — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:16:49 GMT

I have just moved from the UK to the US and want to continue my studies in Upholstery. I am not a beginner but am a long way from becoming an experienced. Whats the best way forward for me. I live near Philadelphia and would have to go on some part time level as I have kids. Any advice would be a great help as I am not sure where to start.
This Is a great website, I have found all the supplies I need.

Regards

Jackie

Church Chair Fasteners

Frank DeLange — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:05:41 GMT

We have some church chairs that are on an aluminum frame with a cloth wrapped particle board type base and back material.

As the chairs break, I have been replacing the base wood with plywood.

The backs however have been a problem. The screws end up stripping out of the wood and end up falling off. Unfortunately, the swapout of wood is not as simple since the cushion is completely wrapped in fabric.

I was wondering if there is a fastener out there that has come type of rivet that would run completely through the cushion, through to the back to fasten on to the metal support beam. The fastener would need to have a faux button cover that snaps over the top of the front side of the fastener hiding the screw or rivet.

Do you know of anything that might work with this situation?

double welting

Mary Ribby — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:54:45 GMT

Hello, I have been reupholstering an old chair, and did not buy enough double welting from the shop I bought my fabric from. Since, they are out of the product at this time, I am having a hard time finding any. I am hoping you can help me. I measured one side of the piping in the double welting, and it is 3/l6th inches in diameter. If you do not have the double welting, do you possibly have a single welting or piping in this diameter? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Mary Ribby