The Upholstery Forum

So it seemed simple until I got it home and on the bench, the vinyl has fused to the foam and there’s no way of getting it off without totally trashing the foam but it gets better

The foam has the mounting wood mounded to it so I’m guessing hack the foam flush with the wood and start laying foam from the bottom up?


Another lesson the hard way, I didn’t really account for this when quoting.

@Revv Up No way you can carefully lift that vinyl and use a razor blade close enough to peel? You can rebuild that foam possibly and for what you cut off, ad a nice 1/2 layer of extra padding. I would try that myself. How much would you estimate new foam would cost for that? Heat it and peel too.


I am really curious about others take on this and GOOD challenge with that form fit vinyl.

Ive done a few tractor seats like that. Sometimes you can get the vinyl of with a lot of steam.
If you cant just leave it on. Remove the vinyl that is pealing off easily. Cut and grind out the bad foam and do a foam repair like you world normally. Make your cover backed with scrim foam. I recommend 1/2" on the face and 1/4 on the sides. But that's up to you. When you go to install the cover glue your cover to the face of the cushion so that it wont slide around on that old hard vinyl.

Hope that helps and you make it out ahead on that job!

@John
I wouldn't have answerd my phone on that one ha ha!

That was really good advice and @Revv Up will pull this off no problem he is slick!

Than,s for the faith @BigRig one good thing is even if I give him his foam back in a plastic bag it will probably be better than what he handed me.

I did manage to peel the most of the old vinyl off, heat and steam unfortunately didn’t help much but my steamer is kinda pathetic.

Anyways on to foam repair

@Revv Up Wow good work! My steamer is spitting more water than steam lately. How is pricing on a Jiffy Steamer?

On their website between $225 and over $300... their may be one in my future but I’d have to be doing a lot more vinyl to justify one. I wouldn’t know what model is best as there’s 2 pages of them.

This was pretty interesting though

@Revv Up ,

Thanks for that video . Are you talking about a steamer?

@Revv Up ,

Jiffy steamer is the brand to get probably.

Haha that Ish is a funny guy. I remember when this video first came out. That trick probably works, never tried it though.

I use the Jiffy J-4000 Steamer: https://amzn.to/2GKa8X0 $250 on amazon. If you keep an eye out you can find them on Craigs List for cheep.
The Jiffy J-4000 is pretty standard for this industry. It will likely be the last one you ever need to buy. The steamer will be your best friend. After the sewing machine and good scissors I think its the 3rd most important tool to have.

@BigRig Try holding the hose all the way up high and straight. On some steamers water gets trapped in the hose. If that doesn't work try kinking the hose off when your steamer is running. The pressure should help shoot that trapped water back in the tank.

@John,

That is exactly what is happening I was puzzled why it would be inconsistent. My steamer is pretty good @Revv Up Steamers are priced at $15.00 at my bargain store when they show up. Next time one comes about I will grab it for you might cost $20.00 to ship.

@BigRig

Thanks that’s a generous offer but I will probably take Johns advice and hold out for the proper one, I should check out Craigslist and Kajiji.

CraigsList is great place to get tool from. At least it is here in California. I bet probably %70 of everything I own came from craigslist
My car, this computer, video camera, my juki, my snap-on tool box, my jiffy steamer...