I have a modern office chair I would like to recover. It is a plastic frame with cloth over sculpted foam.
The seat area has me baffled, the seat area is concave, if I stretched and stapled the new material there would be a void. The only option I can see is to glue the new material to the existing material.
Is this doable? What would be the best adhesive?
Thanks in advance Obviously not a Pro JIm
Not unheard of. Gotta make sure to get the old cover off without ruining the foam. And the new fabric must be able to take the new glue without soaking all the way through. When putting the new fabric on spray a coat on both the fabric and foam and let it dry a few minutes. Be careful when positioning the new fabric as the glue is very sticky and hard to adjust once its on. Any upholsterer who sells retail should be able to set you up with the right kind of spray glue (watered down contact cement). The stuff I use has low VOC's so you don't get high when your spraying.
Good luck jjrbus
Just reread your post. Covering over old fabric is a no no for us pros. But if your covering it for your self OK. The same method applies.
Thanks for the response always appreciated!
It's doable that's a big help!
There are no retail upholstery suppliers in this area, not in the phone book anyway. Could you recommend a commercially available adhesive?
JIm
Some of these people might disagree but my experience is their all about the same. Here's one from a supplier at the top of the page,
http://www.profhdwr.com/adhesiveU.htm
I'm sure there are others so you can shop around and never leave this site.
You can probably find an aerosol can of 3M #8080 adhesive at most any auto supply store. But it'll be close to $20, which may be over your budget for a one-time use.
Are there any trim shops in your area? If so, one of them might be willing to part with a partial can.
Thanks for the responses, always appreciated!
I find the adhesives confusing? I had some 3M general trim adhesive and did a test on that. It does not take much to pull the test piece's apart. So I am assuming that it will not work with the constant movement in the seat area?
I have found 3M™ Foam & Fabric 24 Spray Adhesive locally for $10 a can or would the #8080 be better. I don't mind $20 if it will work.
JIm
Quote from: jjrbus on September 09, 2011, 05:35:59 am
Thanks for the responses, always appreciated!
I find the adhesives confusing? I had some 3M general trim adhesive and did a test on that. It does not take much to pull the test piece's apart. So I am assuming that it will not work with the constant movement in the seat area?
Either you didn't use enough glue, or you didn't wait long enough (or waited too long) before pressing the pieces together. Sometimes some fabrics need to dry a while after you press them together (even over night) before you start tugging and stretching to staple it.
QuoteBe careful when positioning the new fabric as the glue is very sticky and hard to adjust once its on
After the glue has tacked up lay two pieces of wax paper or saran wrap on the seat and then line up your fabric. Fold the fabric in half and remove that piece of paper and lay the fabric into the glue. Repeat for the other side.
Hey Guy's thanks for the input.
I used 3M™ Foam & Fabric 24 Spray Adhesive from Granger.
Stapling into the plastic frame was a challenge, had to use a pneumatic.
Chair came out pretty good. Not as good as you would do, but I'm happy.
Now I hope it passes the test of time. JIm