Old dog learning new tricks

[Deleted User]

I'm thinking I need to reupholster the Hash. I have pretty extensive experience sewing leather as I used to build saddles and tack and repair all kinds of leather. I have never done any upholstery though and was looking for a class at the local junior college. They don't have one so I guess I'm going to learn this as I go. I still have my sewing machines from my leather smithing days and like anything else since I haven't kept my hands in it the first results will be not so hot. The local JC does have a build your own hot rod course though so I may take that to wake my mind up and get it back in the learning mode. I'm almost 59 and the old grey matter isn't as sharp as it used to be nor is the manual dexterity. I saw the work Sarah did on her Jet and it looked beautiful so I'm hoping I can get close to her quality of work.



Harry

SamJ

Harry, California member Irv Webster does a seminar on upholstery at Chapter "Tech Sessions" which is excellent. Contact him...he's in the roster...and he may give you some tips or invite you over to see how he does it. :rolleyes:

[Deleted User]

Sam, thanks, I'll see if I can reach him. Hopefully I won't be too hard to teach.



Harry

Aaron D. IL

Harry I'll just say it CAN be done! If you pay someone else to do it, for one you're looking at $3000. My dad and I found a wholesale material supplier and got our interior for $400 plus the labor to do it of course. We just used the old interior for making out patterns, so if your interior is still there enough that's the way to go. My dad had gotten this sewing machine that was originally designed for sewing up boat sails but is heavy and strong enough to do the industrial work required for an auto interior....a MAN'S MACHINE!!! haha

hudsontech

Sarah, whose posted on here, has done the upholstery for her Jet - and from the pictures she's posted she's done a fantastic job.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Regarding upholstery, I did all upholstery and carpet on my 53 Hornet. The key is to utilise any old upholstery that is in place. When removing it cut the seams at the stitches with a razor blade and match mark the patterns. The best machine to use is a walking foot machine as that type of machine top feeds and bottom feeds the fabric through the needle. It does not have to be an expensive machine the TUFFSEW version with a wide throat is good enough or the sail makers variety. Throat depth is important as you will at time have a lot of fabric to stuff between the arm and the needle to hit a particular seam. Matching correct needle to thread diameter and adjusting the tensions accordingly. Windlacing as seen at door to headliner can be made by utilizing Nylon rope as a core. I say nylon as it has a smother surface than polypropylene so the fabric is smother when applied tightly. Nylon rope is often used in marine applications.You will need a set of hog ring pliers to attach the fabrics to the undershells of seating etc. If you are going for the original look take pictures of any detailing that is specific to hudson for example double stitch seams 2 rows of parrallel stitching on seat edges. It is time consuming but with enough patience and perseverance can be achieved by amateurs like us. If you are going to do any piping of any kind I recommend using leather in particular on seats as over time vinyl has a tendancy to stiffen and crack. If you are doing the headliner you will have to cut it out from the fasteners above the doors and add a couple of inches to the pattern. Use contact cement (solvent based) to glue any fabrics to backing panels being careful not to apply the cement in an area that it can bleed through from the back to the front finished surface. Guess that's all I have for now Best of luck to you.

rambos_ride

Harry,

You already know how to do leather work, custom leather seats with some tooled Hudson logo leather inserts would look pretty sweet!

A cloth and leather combination might look kind of cool and be totally different as well.