Topics

I have a collection of trade magazines that date back decades.
Anyone have an idea how I might find someone who could use them?
thanks,
Rich

I have an EZ Fasten long nose gun that is misfiring because the driver blade will not fully retract to allow the next staple to move into the firing position. I've tried to find a rebuild kit for it with no success. The manufacturer, Central Fastener Co. Ltd, is in Taiwan and did not respond to my email contact.
Last year, I even sent it out to someone who claimed to be able to rebuild it and it still will not work properly. I'd like to be able to use this gun again, so I'm asking if anyone here knows what causes to driver blade to retract? Is it the O rings that are leaking? I can't see anything that would push the blade back up with enough force to overcome the pressure of the spring loaded staples pushing against it.
Thanks,
Rich

How to price our service comes up here now and then, so I thought this might be helpful for those who aren't content with using "pricing by the hour" as a formula for profitability.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/state-advertising-rebelling-against-billable-hour-tim-williams?trk=eml-mktg-inf-m-my-industry-0315-cta-p4

Rich

Having been in business for many election cycles, I've come to find that election campaign years are usually bad for business because of people's uncertainty of the future. This one has been unaffected in my experience though and I think it may be because most people feel that no matter who our next president is, it has got to be better than it's been.
Any personal insights on this?
Rich

I'm looking for a floral print fabric-Esteem Vintage made by Swavelle.
I've sent a request to Swavelle, have not heard back from them yet.
The fabric was used in my travel trailer made in 2006 and I was wondering if anyone here might have bought their fabric and had some left.
Thanks,
Rich

Does anyone have experience with a good staple gun that is still available? I'm particularly interested in one that will resist jamming. My Duo-Fast guns do this as well as a Rainco gun I've had for a few years. I'm using 50 series staples and it doesn't seem to matter if they are brand name or off-brand staples, if they hit another staple, they will break leaving one leg of the staple jammed alongside the plunger.
Thanks,
Rich

Does anyone use the MFA Time standards manual http://marinefabricatormag.com/repository/6/16594/0113mf_tsm.pdf
for estimating boat cover times? Do you find them to be accurate or low or high in their time estimates?
Thanks,
Rich

Does anyone know of a GOOD reason why we perpetuate this time change nonsense? After doing a quick search, I came up with so many more drawbacks than benefits (increased accidents right after the time change for one) that I wonder why we still do it. I for one would prefer that the the powers that be choose one time and stick with it, or, if they persist in keeping this time flip-flop year after year, then make the change at midnight on Friday instead of Sunday and declare the Monday and Tuesday following to be National Acclamation days so we can get used to the change before having to return to work. I see Arizona doesn't go along with this and I wonder why, if it works to stay with one time for them, it can't work for the rest of us.
Can some one enLIGHTen me about this?
Rich

I watched an episode of "How it's made-dream cars" last night and they were showing the building of a Rolls Royce Phantom. The most interesting part for me, of course was the interior and at one point, they were installing the headrest covers with a vacuum machine to shrink the foam. The foam was placed inside a bag made of a green material which was fastened to a vacuum port at the bottom. The worker held the open top closed and turned on the machine which compressed the headrest foam so the cover could be slipped on. The part I'd like to know more about is that after the cover was in place, he pulled the assembly off leaving this bag still attached to the machine. So, it must be a strong enough fabric to be re-used and not tear when being pulled out from inside of the headrest assembly.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Thanks,
Rich

I have an old card with actual samples of extruded plastic "J" channel which is used at the bottom edge of automotive seat covers to secure it to the lip in the bottom of the seat frame. I called Three Rivers supply in Homestead PA and was told that they can get about 8 or 9 different styles. I was wondering if anyone knows of another source where I might find different profiles.
Thanks,
Rich

Check out this article that focuses on the re-use of products rather the replacement of them. You know, like it used to be.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-circular-economy-20130630,0,515157.story

Maybe what goes around comes around, only in a slightly different way? I think it's encouraging for upholstery shops.
Rich

Just a thought-Has anyone ever noticed how meaningless the titles on this site "General Discussion" and "The Business of Upholstery" are? You can find both under either heading!
Rich

I thought of you when I decided to go looking for awning replacement fabric for my travel trailer. I'm considering both vinyl and fabric, do you recommend one over the other? Also, what's the best way to buy this, it's an 18' A&E awning. Can I buy the fabric and cut and sew it myself, or am I better off buying something ready made?
Thanks,
Rich

I've been thinking lately about the subject of increasing productivity. Doyle has brought this up a few times and in a post on the Uffy tacking tool, sofadoc speculated about how much time could be saved by using one. He suggested that if the time could be dropped from 3 hours hand driving the tacks to a 1/2 hour using the tool, then at $50.00 an hour shop labor rate, there would be a $125.00 profit realized. My thought was something that has not been settled in mind and I thought maybe the great minds on this forum might have some insights. Here's my question; Let's say you actually could reduce your time by 2 1/2 hours with this tool and so, at $50.00 an hour, realize a $125.00 profit. If the tool costs about $600.00 as Gene noted, would you divide that price by $50.00 (shop labor rate) to come up with 12 hours? I say no, because that $50.00 charged for each hour of labor has to pay not only for tools and equipment, but also salaries, shop overhead etc. So what is the correct method for estimating the pay back potential of the purchase of a time saving tool?
Thanks,
Rich

For years I've posted my concerns about the lack of innovation in upholstery tools and today, I see something that's encouraging. This Uffy decorative nail setting tool looks like the answer to the archaic methods which the small shop has been forced to use to set these nails. Finally, a move into modern times! I don't see a price mentioned, but for the shop that does a lot of these, I would think that in time, it would pay for itself.
Rich

Check out this aticle about a small hardware store that has found ways to compete with Home Depot. Walmart, now poses a new set of challenges, but with his mindset, he may survive them too!
Can we come up with strategies to set our businesses apart in the eyes of our customers?
Rich

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/intown-ace-hardware_n_2456458.html?ncid=webmail11#slide=more274657

My wife and I have used one poorly made steam iron after another at home and are fed up with having to replace them every so often. We were wondering if it makes sense to buy an industrial steam iron to use in the home. I'm thinking it would last much longer, but is there a cost benefit being that the price is a good bit higher? I saw one on Keyston's site for about $125.00.
Any input?
Thanks,
Rich

Not that it was strictly adhered to, but in this new forum, I no longer see The Business of upholstery as a separate section. Has it been done away with?
Rich

Frank and Ernest is the only comic strip I can ever remember that has upholstery as it's subject. I remember years ago clipping one that went something like this; Caveman sitting on a rock says "Bronze age, Iron age, when is someone going to invent upholstery?". Yesterday's comic, which I found in the Washington Post is, I think, even funnier;
http://wpcomics.washingtonpost.com/client/wpc/fk/2012/10/07/

Rich

I operate my business mostly myself. Of course, I couldn't do it without the help of my wife who keeps the office in order (and a million other tasks) part time. But, all of the productive work, you know, the stuff customers will actually pay for, is done by me. I don't get off the hook for much of the related stuff, however, since I still have to make phone calls, write up quotes on the more intricate jobs, talk to customers both in person and over the phone, reply to emails etc. So, recently, I decided to do something I hadn't done in many years, which is to keep a log on everything I do during each business day. Last time I did it, I found that for a 50 hour week, I was running a bit less than 50% in actual productive work. Let me explain that term. I define productive work as those hours which are directly billable to my customer. That means time I spend talking to a prospective customer is not productive. Time spent writing up a quote for that customer is not productive and time spent placing an order for materials for his job is not productive. Only the time spent actually doing the job is productive and it is what he gets billed for. Of course, the billed time has to take all the other time into consideration, but that's another discussion. 
This time, I find I'm actually spending a little more time doing the unproductive stuff, but what amazes me is that I find it difficult to get more productive hours in since the related administrative time multiplies right along with it. There seems to be a limit to how much of my day I can actually call "productive".
Has anyone who does most or all of the work had a similar experience? Of course you just about have to record your time for a few weeks to see how it all pans out and that's not the most fun job I can think of, but fortunately, after a month I can stop. In the meantime, what an eye opener!
Rich