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[joca]

Hi everyone I am new to this forum and new to upholstery. I am making some door panels for a 60 el Camino. I have made the panels out of hardboard and they came out great.
My questions are is it best to glue the 1/4" foam to the board then also glue the vinyl to the foam??
Also is there anyway I can join 2 different colour prices of vinyl together without a sewing machine? The original panels were 2 tone . I do have an air stapler I was thinking of glueing and stapling the first piece down laying the other piece down upside down stapling this in a straight line along the seam then folding it over . Also I can get some chrome moulding strip and stick it over the top of the seam . The car is no show car so just want driver quality panels. Any help appreciated

[sandmanred]

To keep the staples from telegraphing through along the fold line you could staple down a strip of heavy cardboard to hold a crisp line when you fold it over.

[joca]

Thanks Sandman that is a great idea thanks. So with door panels the 1/4" padding foam I will be using is it best to glue it to the backing board then glue the vinyl to the foam . I have read somewhere they suggest not to glue the vinyl to the foam, in other videos they glue it.
I will do a trial run with scrap to see how the seam comes out with staples and cardboard thanks again

[joca]

This is my door card I made out of masonite (hardboard) I am using wire clips out of a mustang. I did not have much to work with because the previous owner made them out of plywood and they completely rotted out also the door handle holes were out of alignment.

[Revv Up]

Why not get someone to sew the 2 different panels together for you? It shouldn’t take too long or cost very much and you can get a contrasting top stitch. Make sure to cut your pieces oversized and add 1/2” seam allowance on both colors.

[John]

It depends on the type of foam you are using. Are you using closed cell foam or regular open cell foam?

I typically always glue the vinyl to the foam. Just dont be too excessive with the amount of glue.

[joca]

Hi it will just be the open cell it is about 1/4" thick it will be the sew through type just because that is what the supplier has. I have some scrap vinyl that I will experiment with over the weekend. I actually do have a very very old upholstery sewing machine tucked away in my shed to be honest I wouldn't know how to switch it on . But I will try and get it out.. this weekend.

[John Long]

A couple of thoughts here.

First, I think masonite will rot just as fast as plywood unless it is tempered masonite. They do make it on 1/8 but usually has to be special ordered.

Secondly, your open cell foam can absorb water. You mentioned that os what your supplier had but I suspect if you check with him, he has landau top foam which is a closed sell foam. Much firmer, water repellant, and easier to work with for door panels.

Your workmanship looks really good. Good luck with your project.

John

[joca]

Hi John thanks for the comments my car is a 1960 El camino one of the most rust prone cars around there is no way it will see any water if any also I was going to paint the back of the boards but I think I will just put plastic between the door and the the door panel as per the original design a lot of times people remove the plastic that is why the panels rot. I was going to use PVC plastic foam board as its the thing everyone seems to be using but I could not source it . I also looked for different types of masonite (hardboard) but I never come across tempered board here where i live.
I looked at the sewing machine it is a very old Singer it is a heavy duty one If I was to guess it was made in the 40s or 50s but its missing the belt and will need a bit of work so will give it a miss.
So I got to experimenting with some scraps of vinyl and I also had some scrap 1/8" closed cell foam after trying different methods the one that looks the best is to lay the foam on the board leave a 1/2" gap between the foam where the seam is going to be staple one piece of vinyl down then just overlap the other over the top . I then covered the seam with chrome moulding strip looks good.
Can anybody point me to a photo app apart from photobucket ?? I want to download some photos.

[John Long]

I have been building street rods and mild customs for 50 years and I can promise you, unless you are building a pure sow car or garage queen, it will get rained on. I drove my 7 year project to a show 3 weeks ago with no top on it yet. A pop up thunder storm caught me. It just happens.

I use PhotoBucket. Like you, I would like to find something different but have not found anything that works as well.........when it works. 😩

BTW, The PVC you want is not PVC Foam board but just PVC Board. The foam board is much to light and flimsy. I buy mine from Advanced Plastics in Tennessee. I wonder if they could give you a source in your part of the country.

If you are going to staple the vinyl at the seam, using a 1/2 strip of cardboard and folding the top piece back over it will give you a nice straight seam line. John's door panel course is excellent and will be worth your time to watch.

Good luck. We will be looking forward to pictures.

[joca]

Thanks John so i got to making the door panels and they are turning out great the most difficult part is I have not been able to spray my contact adhesive I tried several guns but I think the tip is to small . I bought a cheap spray putty gun will try this out on the weekend

[joca]

Thanks John so i got to making the door panels and they are turning out great the most difficult part is I have not been able to spray my contact adhesive I tried several guns but I think the tip is to small . I bought a cheap spray putty gun will try this out on the weekend
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN ... EbIU6_m8Vi

[John Long]

It is good things are working out for you.

Generally your glue will not spray well out of a gun with a tip smaller than 1.8 and if you find one larger it will be fine. Harbor Freight was selling a siphon gun with a 1.8 for around $20 the last time I looked.

John

[joca]

yes thanks

[joca]

This photo shows the 1/4" foam with about a half inch groove cut out where i am going to put my seam

[joca]

this photo shows the bottom panel done as my upholstery skills are not 100% the corners could have been better it actually looks better in the flesh than in the photo I am quite happy.
I pulled the vinyl a little bit as I was laying it down is it better to really stretch it or not???

[joca]

This photo shows the seam I used a combination of staples and I lucked out on the Glue I went to my local office supply store and bought a tube of UHU power bond this glue is extremely strong and clear. I could not pull apart 2 small pieces of vinyl I test glued . Contact cement is apparently not good for Vinyl to Vinyl adhesion

[joca]

This is my car its no show car the pattern I used on the door panels is close to what they came with

[joca]

This is the sewing machine I have it needs a little work i guess

[John]

Glad to see it worked out! Thanks for sharing the pictures.