Topics

1. If you're the kind of person who has to pick up each staple when you remove it, and throw it right into the garbage, this is not for you.

2. If you hate blood blisters, don't do this.

3. This is not the kind of project you want the cat around.  That's why most of the people on this board have dogs.

4. Make no mistake: this is WORK.  That's why there are no upholstery theme parks, and no upholstery spectator sports.

5. If you and your family live in an apartment, and you need to take over a room for your upholstery project, put the kids into foster care.

6. It's probably insane to buy a DuoFast electric stapler for one DIY project, but you will find yourself constantly trying to justify it.

7. You will curse the head of the factory man who shot all those freaking staples into your chair.  And then you will do the same thing.

8. Try as you may to avoid it, eventually, you have to tackle corners.

9. Soon, you will stop washing your hands every 5 minutes.

10. Above all, take heart: such is our lot in life as mere mortals --   
      That we are born, take our place in society, cover a few chairs, grow old, and die.

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Please add to this list. 
And quit laughing at me.

I feel this is some comeuppance for my sin of pride.

I really thought I could do this with only 12 staples per chair.

Is it the dog thing?  Do I need to get a dog?

j.

[Is it possible I'm pulling the fabric TOO tight?]

REF: Utter newbie recovering the bottoms of 8 Queen Anne Chairs, Mfg: White Furniture of Mebane (RIP).

Okay, the first chair isn't horrible: it's just not what you guys would do.  Where the fabric turns under the wood frame, it's a little wavy, pulled.  Is it possible I'm pulling the fabric TOO tight?

IMPORTANT DACRON BATTING QUESTION: I cut the dacron almost as big as the fabric.  Should I cut the dacron short so I'm only turning under and stapling the fabric?  The original upholsterer didn't use batting at all: just covered the foam with fabric so I can't tell from taking it apart.

ALSO do you ever say, "Oh, those few staples aren't quite right: let's pull them out and redo them."  Or are you banging out every staple perfectly every time?

ALSO ALSO What if I STEAM the fabric where it turns under?  You think that will shrink it a little so it tightens up a bit?

I DO feel the second chair will be better and also: I did an armchair first so I can hide it at the end of the table.

I have 7 more to go.  I did everything I was supposed to do.  I am sad.

j.

WHICH model Duo Fast?

And can I use it for protection?

j.

Kodydog sez: Stripes will drive a newbie crazy.  I went looking at fabric today and I noticed that a lot of patterns, even if they aren't actually stripes, are very stripey.  Like, the patterns are layed out in wide bands.

Should I skip a pattern of repeat diamonds as well?  Just go for a random pattern?

I FEEL the answer...

j.

[Does anyone ever just shave/carve off the sharp edge on the foam? Round it out a little?]

Things are progressing slowly here at the QA8 Project (newbie recovering 8 Queen Anne Chairs made by White Furniture of Mebane North Carolina RIP)...

Thanks for the tip about rounding the sharp foam edges by using quilt batting between the foam and the fabric.  HOWEVAH,
when I took a chair apart, I noticed there wasn't any quilt batting.

Does anyone ever just shave/carve off the sharp edge on the foam?  Round it out a little?

Got the electric knife, the quilt batting, the foam.  Still need to get the fabric, staple gun, and weed guard nonwoven.  I AM READY TO START SPITTIN' TACKS!

Steve A: the lead on Gramercy Supply is GOLD.  I can't thank you enough.

Jane in NYC

So nice to have a factory or workshop: pretty much everything you want is right there.  Even if you need some odd European reverse screw that they stopped making in the mid 1800's -- if you empty out enough jelly jars, you know you'll find it because you remember seeing it about 4 years ago when you were looking for something else.

I'm pretty methodical and on my list was that the first thing I'd buy is the electric knife: I know there's one at a thrift store down in Jersey where my father's house is and I'm going down there tomorrow.  If it's gone, I'll just buy a new one.  Then get the foam, then get the fabric, then get the staple gun, staples, and nonwoven weed guard for the bottom dust cover.

I got one chair taken apart.  I'll finish that one which will really kick up my enthusiasm: you'll know when I've done it because you'll all be able to hear my squeal of delight from wherever you are.    Then, I'll try to take apart a chair a night after work.

Okay, so how many jelly jars full of odd bits of hardware do YOU have RIGHT NOW?

j.

Okay, WHAT IS IT with the staples? 

Doc suggested a Youtube video to help me recover my dining room chairs.  In the vid, the guy is fastening a 3" wide strip of webbing to the chair.  To fasten just ONE END of the strip, he uses FIFTEEN STAPLES.   Pahpahpahpahpahpahpah.  Fold the fabric over and does it again, and one more just to make sure that the thing doesn't jog loose during the Second Coming.

Honored Upholsterers: It's a STAPLER, NOT 357 Magnum. (Although that WOULD make an interesting Clint Eastwood movie.)

I'll shall put myself to taking apart one chair every evening after work. I can handle that.

But I can hear the ghost of the White Furniture chairmaker laughing his @55 off at me...

j.

I'm going to try to replace the fabric on my dining room chairs by myself.  Please help me --   I'm pretty handy, take good direction, and won't be a pain.  Here come the questions:

Queen Anne Chairs
White Furniture of Mebane
The seats are about 20 years old

CHAIRS UPSIDE DOWN: there's a thin black woven gauze on the bottom. What do you call that?  Should I replace it?

CHAIRS RIGHT SIDE UP, SEATS TAKEN APART
How long does foam last? Should I replace the foam? 
The foam looks like it's shaped to be rounded and poofy: can I buy this shaped foam or do I have to shape them myself from block foam?  Foam looks to be 2 ½ inches thick.
There's a stiff woven fabric between the foam and the zigzag metal coils: what do you call this stiff fabric? 

What kind of staple gun do I need?

A word of encouragement would go a long way to help me quit wimpering...

Thanks in advance for all help!

Jane in NYC