The Upholstery Forum

I have two old sunvisors to recover. They have the material sewn on the bottom (the long side opposite the bar side) and a 4 fold wrap for a finished edge. The folded edge started off about 3/4" and was then folded in quarters and sewn over the raw edge. First how can you sew such a narrow piece on a edge like this, second how can the vinyl be folded accurately this small?
I know that the old, pre-72, vinyl was a lot thinner than what can be obtained today so that's part of the issue.
The customer wants them to look like the original. He didn't ask how much, just how long it will take.
Any ideas or things others have learned trying this technique would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ron

Funny you should ask this question. I just got a request for some sun visors too. Here's one method I found on youtube.

Does anybody know if that's a special card stock or is it just anything suitable.

FWIW I tried method in the video using what they called 1.5 mm chipboard covered with foam headliner and a layer of vinyl on a practice piece. I covered it with headliner trimmed close to the edge and a layer of vinyl just under 1mm thick oversized so I could glue it to the inside face of the chipboard. I could barely jam under the foot of a Pfaff 545 H4 for the top stitching. I'm going to try a bit thinner chipboard or something like chipboard and hopefully some thinner vinyl. Be careful to glue the vinyl very tight to the edges, I tracked off the chipboard on an inside corner I fit poorly.

Here's another using vinyl instead of headliner foam

@sandmanred , that would be a 40's pckard style and it is a hell of a tight fir under the foot. I favor this method but get tons of jams and needle breaks. Perhaps they were done on a different machine.

BigRig wrote:@sandmanred , that would be a 40's pckard style and it is a hell of a tight fir under the foot. I favor this method but get tons of jams and needle breaks. Perhaps they were done on a different machine.

I agree, test piece barely fit under my foot on a Pfaff 545 H4. I used a #24 needle and T135 thread. I didn't have any jams or needle breaks, I think the big needle helped.

Ron Henningsen wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:09 am I have two old sunvisors to recover. They have the material sewn on the bottom (the long side opposite the bar side) and a 4 fold wrap for a finished edge. The folded edge started off about 3/4" and was then folded in quarters and sewn over the raw edge. First how can you sew such a narrow piece on a edge like this, second how can the vinyl be folded accurately this small?
I know that the old, pre-72, vinyl was a lot thinner than what can be obtained today so that's part of the issue.
The customer wants them to look like the original. He didn't ask how much, just how long it will take.
Any ideas or things others have learned trying this technique would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ron

hello,
great detailed description provided by you , I am also a blogger and you can find solution by visiting my site, [url]clicksewinghttps://clicksewing.com/

Bella, I went to your site, quicksewing, but did not see any information about sunvisors and the issue I posted about. In any case it would be best if you have covered this problem to cut and paste your answer on this forum so everyone could benefit from your answer. Thanks

Hey Ron,

I’ve dealt with similar projects, so I get what you’re up against! Re-covering old sunvisors, especially with that intricate fold and stitch work, can be challenging. Here are a few steps that might help:

Work with Thinner Vinyl: Since pre-72 vinyl was much thinner, try to find a material that’s close to that thickness, or as close as possible to avoid unnecessary bulk. Upholstery suppliers might have a thinner-grade vinyl specifically for restoration.

Pre-Folding and Ironing: To get that 3/4” edge folded accurately, I’d suggest pre-folding the vinyl. You can use a heat gun on low (or even an iron with a Teflon sheet) to lightly press those folds into place before stitching. This will help it stay in position as you sew, especially with those narrow folds.

Using a Bias Tape Maker: If you haven’t tried it, a bias tape maker tool can be really helpful. Even though vinyl isn’t typical bias tape material, it can help you fold the edges evenly to match that original four-fold wrap. A bit of adhesive spray can also help hold everything temporarily as you fold and stitch.

Sewing Tips: For sewing, use a narrow presser foot to get closer to the edge without slipping off. A walking foot attachment can also be a lifesaver for keeping everything smooth and feeding evenly.

Hope this helps, and good luck with the project!

The most important thing is to find vinyl that is thin.
I have attached pics of a pair of visors I did earlier this year. They are very close to the OE style but not exact.
In my research I did find a picture of a GM contract factory covering sun visors. It was a large factory with many people, all ladies in the pc, working on sun visors. It wasn't a great pic but the machines looked specialized and there was perhaps some type of heating device attached.
If people are interested starting in Jan when I'll be around working on a Model A frame/T touring car front half body project I could do some videos on my technique and the info I have researched.