The Upholstery Forum

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

yes thanks

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

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???

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

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

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

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