Thread: Interiors-What is cost of and best material

Tweet

I went thru the local upholstery shops here and they are just like the paint shops. Everybody wants to get your $$$ and have your car in the shop for months. I finally got fed up with it and bought a nice used industrial sewing machine and a bunch of accessories. I then spent a few months learnning enough to do the job myself to my satisfaction.

This is not for everyone...you may simply not have the patience to do this....no offense. Sewing thru your finger with an industrial sewing machine is probably the most painfull injury you will ever have. Nothing like having dig around trying to find you scissors after sewing your finger to the fabric to cut the thread meanwhile bleeding all over your project. Dang that hurt even to think about it now.

Just the design of the pieces so they fit is beyond most guys I think. You have to plan ahead and once started you are commited. Sewing up a bunch of Ultra Leather and getting backed into a blind corner is not a lot of fun at $100 a yard.

So the shops get pretty pricy as you are paying for their talent and expertise. But be carefull and demand a finish date. I started right out demanding 4 weeks. I did this with paint too. Next time I will just buy every piece of protective equipment and a breathable air supply and do the job myself....I'll be money ahead for sure. I have no patience with shops that want your $$$ up front and your car for endless hours of work.

Some one said "well it took you a couple months to learn this and no work was done on the car" Yeah well it also took 5 yr to finish engineering school, 4 yr for tech school and 3yr apprentice to learn a lifetime of background for my careers. I'd say a pretty short learing curve for my upholstery ed.

The bottom line is keep pestering the shops and make sure you have an iron clad contract before you start. If they balk go elsewhere but get it in writing and signed before you commit.

I'd go with a new stretch vinyl before leather ....JMHO.