Markeb01 Build Thread

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Mark, if the mental health services were to see my face and hear me cackle here on a Sunday morning, cat on my lap and reading your updates, I would surely be arrested and sectioned under the mental health act, as no one on his own should be having as much fun......

Your updates alwYs amaze me, and as mentioned, thank you so much for the tutorials on various aspects of your build.

Your seats and buttons are inspirational.

I think I will go out and rake up the leaves in the yard and cut the grass, at least I am a master at that.

I have the same issues. My wife frequently asks “what’s so funny?” when I’m on the forums and burst out laughing.

Thanks for the tutorial feedback. I realize much of what I detail has limited interest to many forum members, but I’m thankful to have this forum for posting information that frequently reaches a much larger audience. For example I’ve had numerous responses from non-forum members on the Unity Spotlight Repair thread, because it pops right up on a Google search and there’s very little help available on the subject anywhere on the web except here. It’s the same thing with tufted upholstery. There remains very little “helpful” information available for those trying to learn (including me). I’m hopeful what’s posted here will be inspire someone, and while they’re poking around they might find interest in other features on the site and provide us with more new members.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Mark,

As Grizz said you posts are very inspirational. Seeing you button making brought back some memories for me. My grandmother had an upholstery shop and always had me making buttons for her. She had about 10 different dyes. And huge boxes of the the buttons. I still remember running my hands threw them.

Your scale models and diorama look awesome. I too love scale cars but haven't built any in the last few years. I have all of the different 60-66 models they have. I even built a replica of my father in laws truck before he passed. I also started a scale hot rod garage.

Sorry to hear about your hands but as you said at least you are still capable.

Look forward to your next post.

Bret

Your childhood memories are also being experienced by one of my granddaughters. My youngest son has his daughter make all his buttons. Before he moved into firearms gear, he did custom upholstery for a living so she got a lot of experience and had fun doing it.

Your garage looks very cool. I really like the checkerboard floor. A scale garage can be great fun and gain a lot of detail, much like a gas station. I enjoy the creative process of building, but the biggest problem for me is finding a place for any more stuff! That’s why none of my 1/8th scale cars ever gets completed.

We have a rather pragmatic approach to living with pain. My years in the Marines were around aircraft, so my wife and I have a brief exchange every morning that is somewhat like a pre-flight check. Before we head out on our daily adventures we share a systems review to see what works and what’s questionable. If the wings are firmly attached and the motor works we’re probably good to go. If the landing gear is about to collapse, the control systems aren’t working, or the tail feels like it’s going to fall off we’ll probably sit this one out and wait and see if tomorrow brings a better report!

[clemdaddy]

we're not getting any younger. i feel it every day.
i understand about the hands... to me its a tennis elbow thing from mindless sanding, but i keep going back for more. and you do too.

i got to tell you man. you are building the utility bed truck for me. really.
every time i think about doing something to it. i check in with your thread and you've already done it. satin paint, spot lights, diamond tuff...

thanks man, i am following in your footsteps.

[Jeff La]

I'm just amazed at what you can learn while reading these build threads. You are doing a great job and I'm benefiting by gaining knowledge, Thanks

[BOXER957]

"We have a rather pragmatic approach to living with pain. My years in the Marines were around aircraft, so my wife and I have a brief exchange every morning that is somewhat like a pre-flight check. Before we head out on our daily adventures we share a systems review to see what works and what’s questionable. If the wings are firmly attached and the motor works we’re probably good to go. If the landing gear is about to collapse, the control systems aren’t working, or the tail feels like it’s going to fall off we’ll probably sit this one out and wait and see if tomorrow brings a better report! "

LOVE IT!!! I do pretty much the same thing, ice pack...check, cane...check, pain-meds...check, can I really make this adventure?....Your post just hit me in the funny spot and I didn't want to re-quote the entire post. I'm watching your progress and keeping quiet until I see the finished results, I don't want to say great work and then they don't come out right I can say Fantastic detailed info! I give you credit, that's a lot of work and I KNOW what you're feeling to be hunched over in one spot for so long...I feel your pain brother. Looking forward to the finished product!!!! Then we all can drool
__________________

[markeb01]

Sitting around waiting, I’ve had time to reflect and reconsider if what I’m doing is really what I want. I’ve also been wondering how long it’s going to take to complete this project facing the painful start/stop approach.

Since I already have so much of it completed, my initial thought was it would be easiest to just “finish up” the seats and the full size door panels:





I went back and reviewed all the photos I’ve collected over the years, and noted what inspired me to create the tufted style I’ve already completed was this hot rod - which was upholstered in 1968:



On further review, I came to realize what I always preferred (since childhood) is this more traditional style of diamond upholstery, and this example isn’t even tufted, it’s sewn:



The larger tufts look more like the classic tufting from horse drawn carriages and early cars:





So I spent yesterday disassembling the seat in progress and started over, looking for the correct fabric allowances for larger diamonds. It took five attempts and rotating the fabric 90 degrees to sort out the new arrangement. In another day or so I’ll get started again going from this:



To this. Again it’s just roughed in with bare button backs to check size appearance and the fabric measurements:



I’m not sure it will actually take any longer to do the whole interior over than to just do the seats and door panels in the smaller pattern. If the small diamonds are 100 on the misery scale, the bigger ones are about a 10 by comparison. It’s that much easier on the hands, and rotating the stretch of the fabric sideways instead of vertically, allows the pleats to stay in place with little effort. The only bummer is the cost of some new foam and perhaps some Naugahyde. I may have enough vinyl on hand but none of the existing foam can be reused. I tried filling the punched holes with foam cores, but it shows through.

Hopefully the next update will finally show some level of completion.

[1963c-10]

Too bad you put all that work into it already.....but if your not going to be happy with the finished product, your better off stopping and starting what you do want. I know it'll come out looking as great as your other projects.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Too bad you put all that work into it already.....but if your not going to be happy with the finished product, your better off stopping and starting what you do want. I know it'll come out looking as great as your other projects.

[BOXER957]

What about laying the two different styles up in the truck and see which one seems to go with the flow ,so to speak? One may accent what you already have, or clash. Just a thought. Good luck with it either way. I'll stay tuned for the updates.

[piratexpress1369a]

looking good so far ..stay at it

[McMurphy]

I completely understand your situation Mark, my current project is a process of attempt, disassemble, re-try, take it apart....ect

FWIW I like the larger diamonds. It looks more comfortable to me.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

I completely understand your situation Mark, my current project is a process of attempt, disassemble, re-try, take it apart....ect

FWIW I like the larger diamonds. It looks more comfortable to me.

It’s interesting to me how my outlook has evolved over the years. In a previous life I learned to tolerate whatever I had. Then 20+ years ago my new squeeze retrained me to never settle for second best. She encouraged me to keep at it until I had what I really wanted.

One of our earliest projects together was her making a really nice vest for me. It took about 6 or 7 completed vests to get everything perfect. All that work went right in the trash and she never complained once. Her attitude was inspiring and changed my entire perspective. I try to be practical about money, but if something doesn’t come out right it never goes into service either.

Then life occasionally gets in the way and demands attention. My mom died last week and everything came to a halt while we attended to all the associated difficulties. We’re seeing it as a blessing for her as she had been in severe pain for many years, and recently deteriorated dramatically. I’m thankful she was lucid and capable of managing her own affairs all of her life. She was a strong and opinionated person and would have hated being incapable.

I took care of the moving the big stuff and then the gals took over handling the tedious process of cleaning her apartment and distributing her belongings. That left me sitting around waiting for legal documents so I can complete all the financial obligations. So my squeeze suggested I get back on the upholstery project as a diversion. I’m so thankful for having a supportive wife and family.

So back on the upholstery, I originally considered installing the upholstery with hog rings, but there are very limited areas on the frame for attachment. Here’s a photo of the bare bottom portion (shown upside down):



I decided to add “tacking strips” instead, and install the upholstery with staples since they allow much more precise stretching of the covers. It’s like the frames were made for tacking strips. I cut four chunks of ½” plywood that fit inside the back or bottom each frame, and removed everything but a 2” wide perimeter. No drilling on the frame was required. The bottoms were attached to the ¼” hog ring wires with ¼” Adel clamps, and the backs were attached to the main tubes with 1” nylon Adel clamps. I shaped the wood to provide a uniform lower edge. As can be seen in the photo of the front edge of the bottom frame, the hog ring wire (which forms the factory lower seat outline) is very crooked:



This is a photo of the back of the frame. The top of the seat is near the camera. The factory provided no provision for hog rings, as the molded cushion is one piece and comes with a custom slip cover that attaches only at the bottom:



All four foam pads are cut, punched, and have the backing attached:



The last step was modifying the original upholstery (fabric) template so I could easily transfer all the new dimensions to the 4 pieces of vinyl to make sure each is identical and has no variations:



After what seems like endless hours of preparation, I’m finally ready to start the fun part of creating the actual upholstery. Life should be returning to normal relatively soon, at which time I can start making some serious headway.

Hopefully the next update will show at least one completed seat in the truck.

[Low Elco]

I like the bigger diamonds. Sorry about your Mom, but at least she's done suffering. BTDT, it's no good for anyone.

[scottofksu]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mothers passing... Constant pain is no way to live, but that reality still doesn't completely ease the suffering of those of us who are left behind when a loved one departs. Best wishes for you as you work through those emotions...

Regarding the truck, just amazing work as usual! I too look forward to seeing the final product!

[Grizz1963]

Mark, deepest sympathy on your loss.
But as mentioned, sometimes the suffering of the person makes you realize its a blessing in itself.
What I will leave you with is my late mum and dads advice on death....... Celebrate the life of the person as its probably what they would want most.

PS. Keeping busy is good therapy too.

[Ta2Don]

Praying for you and your family during this time…
Seats are gonna be sweet!!! All your hard work is paying off!

[likaroc13]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. And Amen to what the other guys have said, as I can't really add much more. Praying for you & your family as you go through this tough time.

On a positive, I'm looking forward to continued seat progress as well. And it's great that your wife has helped you to not settle for second best, as we know that'll just leave you not happy & constantly second-guessing yourself. She sounds like a great partner in crime.

[BOXER957]

Mark, I truly am sorry for your loss and agree with all the above comments. Celebrate the life she had and the memories left behind. As for the seats, I didn't want to have any influence on your decision making....not that my opinion matters but I too like the bigger diamonds. I think they are going to accent the rest of the interior as opposed to blending in. Kudo's to your wife for both being supportive and patient. I think when it comes to our toys we men can certainly test those limits. Looking forward to the finished product.

[markeb01]

Thanks for all the thoughtful comments guys. If keeping busy is good therapy, I’m certainly being well taken care of. Today I was “volunteered” to fabricate and install a center jump seat and seat belt in our youngest daughter’s 1980’s Mazda pickup. Not exactly a thrilling enterprise, but she needs a third position and isn’t that what dads are for. She’s fun to be around and pitches right in, and isn’t afraid or hard work or getting dirty. It’s nice to enjoy some quality time regardless of the excuse.

[bj383ss]

Sorry for your loss Mark. Prayers sent you way. Diversions are good at this point to keep your mind off of it.

My father in law has been gone for over a year now and there are so many questions I would like to ask him about his truck, but he keeps me motivated to get if fixed and back on the road. I think he would have been proud to see it running again.

Bret

[pdxhall]

Sorry for your loss Mark. I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying watching you do the seats. I admire your work, as I always do.

[piratexpress1369a]

sorry to hear about your mom

[markeb01]

I was finally able to get back on the upholstery project today. A few years ago when I first tufted the kick, door, and rear panels, I pushed the buttons in place with my left thumb and did the best I could to bend the prongs with my right hand. After several hundred buttons it gets pretty painful and is difficult to have them all come out the same depth, especially when working near the center of a large panel.

This time I fabricated a tool out of junk to fully support the button head while installing and bending the button prongs:



The gold piece is a lamp topper, the center is a steel sleeve, and the bottom is a wide base plastic knob. It’s held together with JB Kwik. The only engineering defect is the diamter is too small and can fall over is use. I’m going to make a bigger one, having a 1” diameter (the same size as the hole in the foam) so it is trapped and can’t fall over.

Regardless, having this tool is a finger saver. As seen here, the tool is placed under the button head, which is piercing the fabric, foam, and coming through the backer. Rather than trying to reach around and push on the button head, the assembly is simply pushed straight down on top of the tool. A support washer is dropped in place and the prongs bent:



Once all the buttons are fastened, I like to bend the prongs just outboard of the washers to make the lie flat against the backer:



This provides two benefits. It’s less likely your arms will get snagged while working on the project, and the finished panel sets flatter. When doing a project like this one when the backer will be glued to the seat cushion, it allows for better adhesion. The comparison is pretty obvious:



When all the buttons are installed and the panel is flipped over, this is what it looks like:



And this is about 5 minutes later after forming the initial pleats between each of the buttons:



This is tomorrow’s project. The above cover glued in place on the bottom seat cushion and reinstalled on the frame trimmed with a full coverage tack strip:



And this was today’s project. The fist seat back was completed. It took all day and was rather complicated as I figured out how to work around the pivot and latching mechanism at each side of the bottom:





I included a couple of photos as it was kind of difficult to get a lifelike picture with the crappy interior lighting. The seat back looks much cooler in real life.

And here are a couple of shots of the first finished seat back. The reverse side still needs to be covered, which I’ll attend to after the bottom is finished. Although it looks flat in the photos, the seat retains the sunken contour in the center as does the bottom cushion. I’m hoping to have both seats done and in the truck by the end of the weekend. I’m not sure if I’ll build the new door panels next, or redo all the other diamond panels first. Either way I’ll be busy for a while.

[markeb01]

Also, while surfing the net I found this very cool tool and bought one immediately. It’s a foam hole cutting drill/saw, so I no longer have to ruin my wrists pounding out holes in the foam with a pipe.



I’ve never seen one before, so this might be the only source:

http://www.upholsterystudio.com/

[likaroc13]

You're doing a great job Mark! Great that you found the foam hole cutting tool too, as I know it'll help ease your aches/pains.

[Ta2Don]

Seats are looking Great!

New Tool...