Recent posts

51

General Discussion / Re: Do you advise customers on...

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 09:00:09 am

We always try and direct customers to vinyl that we know will last for a long time.  Our preferred vendors are Omnova, Nassimi, and Naugahyde.  We have has lots of success with their products.  If a customer wants to use a poly for an item with tight pulls, we will suggest a similar looking vinyl.  It will save them money on the material and it will last for years longer.

52

General Discussion / Re: An Issue? Alignment/Cutti...

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 08:57:23 am

Most of the vinyl we use is two way stretch.  We need to make sure the vinyl is properly oriented when we cut.  We always take into account the amount of material lost to sewing and the amount gained from stretching.  Depending on the material we will make a new pattern and cut it bigger or smaller.  In addition, for very tight materials, we will adjust our item slightly and give it some addition seams on the arms to release tension.  We typically will add extra seams to this item

https://www.richardsonseating.com/collections/signature-bar-stools/products/button-tufted-cowboy-barstool

We add them at the top of the back where it curves around.  Otherwise it gets too tight.

53

General Discussion / Re: How long should restaurant...

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 08:52:39 am

Spirit Millennium is our preferred vinyl for most projects.  Here is a link to the actual cleaning information.

https://www.naugahyde.com/files/catalogsectiondocument/CareandCleaningBrochureREV2131818050853036.pdf

54

General Discussion / Re: 1950'S Dining room set

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 08:49:54 am

Naugahyde Zodiac is sold by Uniroyal.  You can buy cut yardage from Miami and many other places.  There are also competitors who make an imported version.  You can get this from Futura which they call Polaris.  It looks about the same but not exactly. 
https://futuratextiles.com/products/contract/polaris/

Another manufacturer that imports a similar looking product is Plastex.  Here is a link to their Sparkel pattern.  https://www.plastex.com/vinyls/nggallery/vinyl/Sparkel/

Here is a link to Naugahyde https://www.naugahyde.com/catalog/pattern.cfm?iteID=4338

Here is Miami which sells it by the yard https://www.miamicorp.com/products/VINYL/SPECIALTY/ZODIAC.aspx

55

General Discussion / Re: Camoflauge Naugahyde "Rea...

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 08:41:50 am

We stock one Realtree pattern and one Mossy Oak Pattern. Mossy Oak is Shadowgrass, and Realtree is Max 5. We don't have them on our website so you would need to message me.

56

The Business Of Upholstery / Re: Cracked Ice Vinyl

Last post by iralic - July 05, 2020, 08:40:17 am

The material is stocked by Richardson Seating.  The yard price is $35.00 but you can buy a roll for much less.  Here is how to find it on the site. https://www.richardsonseating.com/collections/upholstery-vinyl/products/cracked-ice-upholstery-vinyl

57

General Discussion / Laredo jeep seat dilemma

Last post by Chica - June 28, 2020, 05:17:55 pm

I have a question about some 1986 Laredo seats I am going to reupholster for my son. I'm not a professional. I have done a half dozen or so auto seats in the last 15 years. He wants to stay as original as he can, so he wants me to reuse the grey strips of fabric that have the embossing in them. I don't like the idea of using them because they have some cracking in them that extends past where the seam was sewn. And I am afraid it will just keep tearing across.
What I was wondering was if I used new fabric, does anyone know where I can find an embossing pattern that would match. It is supposed to look like top stitching. I know a guy who know's a guy that has a hand crank embossing machine, if I could just find an embossing die wheel with that pattern.
Any help would be appreciated. If needed I can post a picture.

58

General Discussion / Re: Test of images

Last post by MinUph - June 27, 2020, 03:38:32 am

Of course 65.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FurnitureUpholstery/

59

The "GREEN" Room! / Re: Recovering Dining Seats.

Last post by Bob306 - June 11, 2020, 05:53:56 am

Nice. 👍

60

General Discussion / Re: Virus update

Last post by Mojo - June 10, 2020, 11:03:13 am

We had to institute some new policies for our employees and customers and while it was a pain it worked out.

We are in a weird cycle right now. RV/motorcoach owners are throwing huge amounts of money at their RV's like no tomorrow. Many are holed up and cannot travel because so many campgrounds closed so they are taking this time to upgrade and do maintenance on their rigs. Our dealer network expanded again and we are getting some strange orders. We just got a huge job from a company that owns a fleet of specialty buses for all new awning assemblies and fabrics. The order was so huge we are doing 5 buses at a time.

Our awning company is backlogged big time. Putting in all the sewing stations was smart as we sometimes have 3 stitchers going on different orders. That big massive cutting table I built is crazy to watch. One stitcher is sewing an awning down one side of the table while another stitcher is sewing another down the other side. I thought the table was overkill when I built it but I reckon it isn't.

I hired another full time RV tech and our service company are going great guns. We added an executive Director to oversee all 3 companies and he is doing a helluva job. We changed up our marketing plan and we did a few strategic ad buys and that created the backlog with our awning company.

I just had the 1st quarter financials run and our sales with the awning company shot up 180 %. Our RV service and parts company is up 35 % and our parts manufacturing company is up 25 %. We are doing well but it has caused a boat load of stress and new challenges. We basically are at capacity now and cannot grow any further without expanding. The SBA came out with some new loan programs so I gave the go ahead today for expansion which will include clearing the property behind our shop and building a new service facility.

Meanwhile I am doing my best to stay healthy and stay in semi retirement mode. Thankfully we have hired some amazing staff who are doing an excellent job managing the companies. My wife ( being 10 years younger then me ) is still overseeing all the operations on a day to day basis. I am now the new housebitch ( as my kids call me ). Life is good.

Stay safe everyone and stay healthy.

Mojo