The Upholstery Forum

Can anyone just tell me It's going to be all right?!

I have the forward trunk panel all sewn. The leather was perfectly flat and smooth when I started sewing. I had to roll the panel up to fit through the throat of the machine and now it has these fine wrinkles. Any suggestions or info on if these is going to rebound before I glue it down?

I wish I was there to assist you with this. Do you have a steamer?

Kinda. I was using the attachment for furniture on floor steamer/mop until the dog 🐕 chewed it up! I guess I'm going to accelerate to purchase of a new real one. I read that a hair dryer will sometimes work?

@kl4bidn

In a pinch your iron puts out steam too! You wont be making contact to the leather with the iron but steaming it and working out the wrinkles with you hand. Is the automotive work for personal?

No, they go with the 33 coupe seat I did. The problem isn't with the leather it with the closed foam.

Your case seems different, but something similar happened to me in one occasion when I glued the leather to the foam, and I had to separate the leather and the foam to get rid of the wrinkles... from this day on, I never glue the whole surface of the leather if I have to roll the panel up to fit through the throat of the machine, and if I have to, I glue only the sides.

A trimmer talks about it here:
http://www.thehogring.com/2015/02/23/10 ... ext-level/

@LeatherJohnny I've seen people glue on just the edges but didn't really understand why. Thanks

@kl4bidn
I hate this happened to you and I don't mean to sound cold hearted but I'm glad these problems arise and get posted so we all can learn from it. I hope you are able to resolve the wrinkle issue without a redo and if you can please post what you had to do and the results. Thanks.

Today must have been my lucky day. I forgot to sand the foam. So all the adhesive peeled off. I heated the closed foam with the blow-dryer and it smoothed out and the then I was able to stretch the leather out.

I'm sure @John is going wonder if I really watched his door panel video.

@LeatherJohnny I read that article after the problem. I definitely not glueing those door panels!

@BigRig any suggestions on a steamer brand?

@Bondo497 I don't mind being the guinea pig but it isn't paying the bills!

PS....I also found that there is strinkage of the closed cell even when you cut it out the closed foam. Which means I need to go to the supply house Monday for more 1/4" CF and re-lay out the door panels. I CAN DO THIS PROJECT!!!!

Can't upload pictures from phone. Will have to post it tomorrow.

@kl4bidn ,

I think the same goes for vinyl and adhesive on foam. I have done this a couple of times spraying too much adhesive between the vinyl and the foam and it leaves the wrinkles.

Jiffy seems to be the steamer and I understand the name now. When working time is money and waiting 07 minutes for your steamer to put up poor steam is a real loss. I am going to get a Jiffy next time it is not to bulky and fast. I have a serious time line job I just start in the morning and these seats have to be repaired and back in the Rig sunday night! I too am looking for the most efficient equipment.

I'm glad that we learn new techniques each day!

@kl4bidn I completely understand but hey what doesn't kill us makes us stronger and smarter right?
Just wait til I get really started with the Peterbilt interior, we are going to get very smart with my mistakes and mishaps and I'll be lucky to come out alive!

@Bondo497

Hey Bondo,

I need your advice on custom flooring for a Conventional. The talk is putting hardwood floor into this truck being done up for the customer. I am not sure about that kind of flooring that might hit the highway? Wouldn't a laminate go better? They want the carpet out and a wood floor look.

@BigRig I've seen both but I've never done any interior at all. It's hard to say which would be better, real wood I think would stand up to the elements a little better than laminates. Ask @SmokinSCustoms his opinion on this, I'm pretty sure he has done one. Sorry I couldn't help much.

@Bondo497 @BigRig As a contractor's wife the big thing is Lifeproof Flooring for wear and tear. As a trucker's daughter -- it's unbelievable what they can put in a truck! Always thought I'd grow up to drive a Burgundy long nose Peterbuilt with a double sleeper! Gosh where did that 30 years go? I digress.

Here's the photo!

@kl4bidn Thanks for the flooring material info and I think it's cool you too have some diesel wagon blood running through your veins too!! Yep you saved the leather that's awesome!

@kl4bidn Im glad you got it figured out! The door panels look awesome! The sew line are really nice and straight. I like it.

John wrote: ↑Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:29 pm @kl4bidn Im glad you got it figured out! The door panels look awesome! The sew line are really nice and straight. I like it.

Yes, beautiful work... and those wrinkles dissapered, nice!

It looks awesome!!!