recovering armrests / color change

[Grumpy old man]

I recovered a set of armrests for 70Stovebolt to get rid of the funky blue reproduction color .

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Last picture shows reproduction armrest distortion .

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[70STOVEBOLT]

Grumpy, that looks great!! I think that color match is as close as you can get to the original blue. I think these aftermarket armrests are made of a different kind of foam than the originals, and that is why they distort like that. They are not as easy to install as originals either, but at least now they will match the rest of the interior. I will post some pics when I get them installed.

Thanks,
Mark

[dfwright]

Great job on the recovering. It looks excellent!

[San Diego Ron]

Very nice Grumpy, wish you would go into detail on the process of recovering them...I would like to give it a try.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by San Diego Ron

Very nice Grumpy, wish you would go into detail on the process of recovering them...I would like to give it a try.

Well... you need a commercial walking foot sewing machine ($1,400.00) , air compressor ($750.00) with a low cost Harbor freight cup gun($15.00) to spray the glue , You need automotive landau top spray grade adhesive (5 gals is $140.00) then the rest is easy cutting the material ($15.00 to $25.00 a yard with shears $55.00 a pair ) on the bias (diagonal ) to get it to be able to stretch over multiple corners and curves . Shape out your pattern (it takes 3 separate shaped pieces) and starting from the center on the back side of the material pieces 1and 2 sew (Thread $14.00+ per spool / color) them together then again from the back center sew the opposite side then from the front sew the decorative french seam .repeat process with pieces 2 and 3 . now with your material sewn make a center mark on the back side of the material and the top of the arm rest which has to be cleaned using lac thinner to remove the gloss sheen from the armrest to allow the contact cement to adhere. Using the spray glue evenly spray the top of the arm rest and the back side of the top of your material panel ,allow 10 minutes for the contact glue to set and then lightly set the center and using a very light touch while stretching align the material to the armrest top (tread lightly because once you apply pressure to the material covered in contact cement it's gonna be stuck !) . Once you have the top panel set in place you then spray a few inches at a time down the face of the armrest and again allow 10 minutes for the glue to set ,using a light touch again while stretching lightly smooth the material to adhere to the armrest surface all along following curves /contours with no wrinkles . repeat process 3 more times to get all the exposed surface of the armrest covered and wrinkle free . repeat process on the back edges again with no visible wrinkles . trim excess material ,staple edges with stainless steel staples(air stapler $125.00 Stainless staples $55.00 a box , You don't want rust coming from behind your armrest ) and your done ... Now do the other side .....

[SoCoC10]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Well... you need a commercial walking foot sewing machine , air compressor with a low cost Harbor freight cup gun to spray the glue , You need automotive landau top spray grade adhesive (5 gals is $140.00) then the rest is easy cutting the material ($15.00 to $25.00 a yard ) on the bias (diagonal ) to get it to be able to stretch over multiple corners and curves . Shape out your pattern (it takes 3 separate shaped pieces) and starting from the center on the back side of the material pieces 1and 2 sew them together then again from the back center sew the opposite side then from the front sew the decorative french seam .repeat process with pieces 2 and 3 . now with your material sewn make a center mark on the back side of the material and the top of the arm rest . using the spray glue evenly spray the top of the arm rest and the back side of the top of your material panel ,allow 10 minutes for the contact glue to set and then lightly set the center and using a very light touch while stretching align the material to the armrest top . Once you have the top panel set in place you then spray a few inches at a time down the face of the armrest and again allow 10 minutes for the glue to set ,using a light touch again while stretching lightly smooth the material to adhere to the armrest surface all along following curves /contours with no wrinkles . repeat process 3 more times to get all the exposed surface of the armrest covered and wrinkle free . repeat process on the back edges again with no wrinkles . trim excess material ,staple edges with stainless steel staples (you don't want rust coming from behind your armrest ) and your done ... Now do the other side .....

Wow! That's all! I think I'll leave the arm rest recover work to the experts. Grumpy would you be willing to do the 67 style armrests that only come in red and black? I'd like to get a price on changing my black ones to medium blue.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by SoCoC10

Wow! That's all! I think I'll leave the arm rest recover work to the experts. Grumpy would you be willing to do the 67 style armrests that only come in red and black? I'd like to get a price on changing my black ones to medium blue.
Posted via Mobile Device

The best way to get them to match is to have them redyed . When done correctly it lasts a long time and to find the right guy to do it hit up the guys in the detail shops at any local large auto dealer and ask who's doing their dye work ? , These auto interior (vinyl repair) detail jobbers are working every large car dealership parking lot in your town working on the trade ins and small warranty repairs and they can custom match any color ,repair small tears or burns in your upholstery and do it everyday for the dealers . I'll bet a donut they'll fix you up for $20.00 cash or a 12 pack of beer (they make good money from the dealers on repairs compared to replacing steering wheels and seat covers .) Everything in my trucks match perfectly but only because I do all my own dye work .

[San Diego Ron]

I have a Consew walking foot machine and most of other stuff so going to give it a try once I get the big stuff finished (getting truck ready to paint, but you know that because you just told me about windshield gasket). Thank for directions and knowing me probably will be pestering you again once I get started.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Got the armrests today. Only issue is there are no holes for screws. How should I make holes for the screws?

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Got the armrests today. Only issue is there are no holes for screws. How should I make holes for the screws?

Holes ? you said you wanted them covered ? you didn't say anything about mounting them !

I forgot to send the pieces ,Loews sells a 1/2 hole plug that I wrapped with the same vinyl that you insert in the hole after mounting them on the door to give them a clean finished look with no HOLES !

Just take a razor and cut a very small slit just big enough for the screw to fit thru the center of the armrest hole NO BIGGER YOU WANT THE PLUG TO COVER ANY HOLE YOU MAKE WHEN INSERTED .

When dealing with any upholstery "if it ain't tight ,it ain't right "

[70STOVEBOLT]

Sooo..... You have some plugs you're going to send?

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Sooo..... You have some plugs you're going to send?

Sure ...There $56.90 each !

No I kid you ! I just forgot about them until you mentioned the hole , I'll ship them to you in a padded envelope .

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Sure ...There $56.90 each !

No I kid you ! I just forgot about them until you mentioned the hole , I'll ship them to you in a padded envelope .

Still no plugs...

[70STOVEBOLT]

Thank you sir, I will post some pics of them installed.

[70STOVEBOLT]

I hate to be a pest, but I have to ask, did you send the plugs for the armrests?

Thanks,
Mark