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So, the banner ad (today?  Always?) is an uffy decorative tack gun.  Anyone have any experience with these?  Do they dramatically improve efficiency?  Is there a compromise in quality (I'm watching the video and perhaps it's wasn't meant to be but it looks like the operator didn't produce a straight line just before they cut the video.)

Thoughts???

Well we started off the year busy as could be, but things have tapered off a bit so I'm drumming up new business.  Got a call from a good client asking if we could do wall panel upholstery.  So, I go see them and they want an elevator cab reupholstered.  Anyone done that?  Know how it's done?  We're about to find out, but if possible I prefer not to learn in front of the client!

Jeff

Does anyone have a booth pricing formula that sonsistently works for pricing large jobs?  When I first started 12yrs ago, someone told me to use $45/ln foot for standard plain straight booths to do seat&back... So, that's what I've consistently based my pricing on.  But corners/curved booths, high backs, etc...  I don't have standards for those. 

Thoughts?  Do you just wing it?

Most of my work is COM, someone else does the fabric purchasing.

Anyone do these as a business and if so, would you care to talk method and prices?

I'll go first.  We're doing one that we just bid at $500.  I'm planning to go onsite, pull all the panels off, bring them back to the shop and upholster.  Then go back onsite and reinstall.  Figure it'll take about $100 in vinyl.  I'm thinking I charged too little but I'll see soon!

But, the thing that got me thinking is the client will be without a chair for a week.  This time it's okay, but does anyone do these without taking a chair out of service?  Is there a better method?  I've done a little research and there seem to be a few guys doing these things who have patterns all premade and will ship you new upholstery/foam/backing so all you do is screw on new panels.  But I'm guessing that's pretty impressively expensive!

Anyway, just curious.

Does anyone here regularly work with leather or do upholstery work which involves a double stitch?

I've thought about buying a double needle machine but never have.  One of the questions I have a hard time with is how best, and what machine to use, to handle leather box cushions for sofas.  Do you need a split-needle bar?  Walking Foot?

Any advice or help would be much appreciated.  Those things aren't cheap!

Jeff

We took in an ottoman for repair.  Customer complained that the corners of the ottoman had collapsed and also that the ottoman wasn't overly comfortable.  The story she told was that it was an "$1000 ottoman that she bought from The Dump for $300, but now they won't stand behind it."  If you aren't familiar, The Dump is supposedly an outlet that sells designer high-end furniture at closeout prices (usually from distressed manufacturers or something of the like.)

I'd been there before and generally was not impressed but this was my first repair on furniture specifically from the store (as the customer claimed.)

We get the cover off and find the corners are definitely in bad shape...



But when we flip it over, we really got a shock.  I've NEVER seen something so obviously wrong.  This picture was taken from the underside of the ottoman.  The lateral frame supports are level with the seating surface and there is NO jute, elastic or any other support for the foam.  Just the wood slats.  Poor foam never stood a chance.  (Sorry for the bad lighting in the photo!)



In this day of low-quality construction, I think this takes the cake.  Surprised it lasted 3 months (I suppose that speaks highly of the foam & glue!)  I suppose the moral is be ware of $1000 ottomans at close out prices!  :)

Jeff

I'm knee deep in reupholstering a old green vinyl chair (the green monster.)  I've hit a snag.  There is a cording/trim that was used that I assume is out of production.  It has a flexible metal base (so that it curves easily) with a half-round piece of rubber tubing to create the appearance of cording.   On the back side are clips to secure vinyl/material AND nails to secure the whole thing to the frame of the chair.  They did this so vinyl could be wrapped around the rubber&vinyl base and secured to the backside of the metal.  Then the whole thing could be driven into the frame much like tackstrip.

So, my challenge is (well, to find the stuff would be fantastic but I doubt possible) or to recreate a single cord thick enough to be used to hide nails, flush to the frame, that curves around the arm panels.  And it's being done in vinyl.





Front side of antique cording/trim (base is metal, black is the rubber 1/2 round, green is vinyl)



Backside of the upholstery trim.  Nails for attaching to frame and clips (basically hidden) to secure vinyl

I would very much like to get input on what fabric vendors everyone sells and what they have success with.

I'm in Dallas and do mostly furniture.  I have books from Greenhouse, Duralee, Scott Fabrics (for commercial work), Kasmir and Kast.

In that line, I probably sell 65% Duralee, 25% Greenhouse... Then the rest.

What I'm wondering, does anyone have a vendor of lower-cost fabrics that they can sell around $20/yd fabric?
Also, does anyone have any experience with using hanging galleries instead of books?
Do you have a fabric supplier who encourages hanging galleries and will bring them in at a reasonable price?

I'm willing to share what I know and hope you will too!

Jeff