Messages

Our experience with "designers" has been all over the place. We have some basic rules when it comes to working with them. Number one is, our price is our price, we don't negotiate it. Seems like most we have encountered want to beat us up on pricing and do the work for next to nothing. We have plenty of work (very blessed to say that) so we can pass on tese types.
Secondly, we have to approve of the fabric before we will take the job. Too many experienses with fabrics that are not suitable for upholstery. and lastly, they have to work in our time frame. We won't push others aside to do their work, it's not good for our reputation.
We do have a few who are very good to work with so we can't lump them all in the same lot. Proceed with caution, interview them as well as they interview you and spell things out from the start and you'll do fine.

Just curious on todays going rate per button on tufted pieces? Do you all charge extra per button? Ballpark on what you think is a fair rate per button?
Thanks,
Chuck

Has anyone upholstered any Bill Stephens chairs? I have a client who wants a dozen of the waiting room type arm chairs upholstered. He wants them done as close to the original as possible but, last time they were upholstered I don't think they were. These are a one piece molded seat and back.
Thanks,
Chuck

Looking for leads on bonded poly suppliers. I am always running across the denser poly batting also but can't seem to find suppliers for it. Any leads? Also, what is your favorite material for wrapping foam cushions?
Thanks,
Chuck

Sorry, I didn't clarify that I was referring to a hand held rotary cutter. My bad.

I remember the calouses my dad had on his hands from using shears......in fact I have a couple myself. I have been using a rotary cutter for a couple years now but as of now I still sharpen my blades with a rig I made and use with a hand drill. Does any one know of a sharpener for 60mm rotary blades? One that's not made of plastic and made to last.

Thanks Paul, if I ever get a moment to breathe I'll practice.

We're doing more and more work for designers and quite often they want decorative nail heads. I've got some samples from a company called D'Kei but, they are pretty high priced. Looking for other suppliers. Often it is just a box at a time. Don't mind the shipping but, feel like the nails themselves are too steep.

Does anyone know a good, reasonably priced supplier for decorative nail heads.

When I learned to upholster (more years ago than I want to admit) Dad always did al the tufting jobs so, I never really learned much about it. Now I'm getting requests for them I need to learn. Know any good resources out there that I can tap into? I'm sure I should be charging more for this also but, how much more? Appreciate any guidance you guys and gals can offer.

Thank you guys for the comments, they are a tremendous help to me!

After 25 years in sales in an auto related business I too was forced to fall back on the old skills back on 2008. As kids, my brother and I started ripping furniture when we were about 7 & 9 respectively. Our pay was keeping all the loose change we found inside. I still fall back on the old ways a lot, things like the curved needle and the regulator. We get a great many compliments on our tailoring and attention to detail and those compliments turn into referrals. I thank my heavenly Father for giving me the skills I have and my earthly father for teaching me how to use those skills. I'm 56 years old, a third generation upholsterer and damn proud to be.

I have a customer who is insisting on recovering a club chair in leather. Beyond small jobs I don't have a lot of experience with leather. First, am I getting into something real different than working with faux leathers? Is there an easy way to calculate how much leather I'll need? How much more labor is required with leather versus vinyls, twice as much, three times as much? Looking for any help you all can offer.

Hey Gang, Thanks for all the great suggestions. I suggested a nice cloth bottom to the customer but he really wants the cushion to be reversible with faux leather on all sides. I may just try the small grommets under the buttons.

I'm making a faux leather cushion for a customer that is seen from all sides and I am trying to figure out how to vent it. He's concerned it will make too much of a poofing noise without venting. It has two rows of buttons down the center (10 total) and the cushion is 19" x 54" x 2" thick. Looking for suggestions.