The Upholstery Forum

On one of the other topics we started talking about vacuum forming vinyl. I found some interesting videos and information about the process. It looks like a fairly simple process.



These guys even made a home built version.


@BigRig your right Naugahyde makes a vinyl for vacuum forming called Form Fit II.
https://www.naugahyde.com/catalog/patte ... iteID=4008

This would be a cool project to make a home built version

@John,

That sounds like a shop vac under that frame. I am very interested in how that seals under the base to get a vacum to pull the vinyl down. I am going to try shop vacing my 4-way stretch.

Yeah it is a shop vac. You just make a box with holes on the top and make a hole for the shop vac. Youtube home made vacuum former.

I really want to try this.

I wonder how hot they get it . Looks like heating a large piece could be a problem

Ok, cool for smaller objects for sure. Petroleum based vinyls should soften up like that clear plastic and stretch.

So which type of material would you use? Just a cheap non fabric woven back type vinyl?

I can’t find much with a google search but if I was going to experiment I’d try the 4 way stretch firs,t. This would be a fun project to play around with, wish I had time to play.

@Revv Up

Thats why I am sending you people for snow seats ha ha so I have time to play with the dash work. If you know anybody certified AME to sew let me know.

I'm not sure what temperature but Id bet fairly high. You can really put a lot of heat in to vinyl before it burns. Ive seen guys that do this with ABS plastic make large heating grid out of that wire you see inside of electric heaters. I bet it would work on vinyl to.

@Revv Up I know what you mean. I would love to find some time to experiment with this.

I'm building a 64 Dodge Dart convertible kinda like my wifes first car except for the third generation hemi and a cut down Cadillac cts dash and console and other modifications . I have been trying to decide how I want to recover this dash and console I have a 3' x4' x7' powder coating oven that I can experiment with Just a little anxious about getting to hot . start small and work up

@hapyrdr ahh that will be awesome! I hope you share the results and process. I'm really interested.

This is going to turn out to be a really good thread! I have a small project idea in mind now too

I've been doing a little looking and wondering about the vinyl backing . Do they make an auto upholstery vinyl with out the backing?


Sorry about that link I had done a google search and found on Hotrodder's forum guys talking about vacuum forming and probably that the backing would not stretch which is what I was wondering also Guess I'll try some small parts and see what gives

@hapyrdr

I Can’t get that link to work

@Revv Up

It comes up as not secure for me. I am sure this 4 way stretch stuff must be useable too.

I bet vinyl with backing will work to a point but for the really extreme shapes you'd probably need to get something unbaked. or maybe that 4 way stretch.

I will be one to try it for sure on something since I have the 4 way on hand and an idea

This thread is going to be extremely interesting! I'm sure that, as John indicated, manufacturers of motorcycles must do something like that to be able to give shape to the vinyl in some motorcycles seat with many curves... This project would be very doable with some time and materials and I look forward to seeing the results of your experiments