OMG I need Help

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Geez do I need help!  I'll post a picture later.  When last I posted, I told y'all that I had scored doing two restaurants.  One here in GI and one in Hastings.  Finished GI with no issues other than the owner didn't provide the tear out crew he promised so labor wasn't bid correctly and I kind of lost my behind on it.  Just as I was about to finish GI, I tried to do a favor for a neighbor and his boxer bit my left "bird" finger.  13 stitches later and 6 weeks off work but I healed with no residual issues.

Winter made some difficulties in getting to Hastings but finally did.  73 chairs and I got those done with no problems.  There are 4 booths.  All booths have the base meeting in 90 degree angle.  Seats and backs were originally done in fabric.  Owners wanted the backs in fabric and the seats in vinyl.  I've done two of the bases and backs.  Backs are done with no problems.  The first seat has major wrinkles but I figured it was because I needed to cut slightly less vinyl than I would have for fabric.  Did that with the second one shorter and we stretched this morning.  When we flipped it and put it on the base, it looked great.  Vinyl was as tight as a drum with not a wrinkle to be seen.  The guys stepped on it when they put the backs in place, got done off of it and it's just a mass of wrinkles.

As I said, I'll post pictures of the original probably tonight.  There's a bridesmaid dress down stairs that goes out tomorrow so I have to finish the hem on it tonight so I can steam it tomorrow morning.  Once I'm done with the dress, I'll dig out my photo shop password and get that picture uploaded.

I'm wondering if we should have stayed with fabric.  I also remember in the recesses of my mind, that I did a boat seat that was similarly configured.  I sewed cord on the back of the center seam and we tightened with that (to keep wrinkles down).  Never got any complaints from the customer so I don't know if there were any residual issues or not.

Hoping y'all can give me some advice!!!

[kodydog]

If the seat was tight as a drum when you delivered it I'm thinking the guys stepping on the seat made the vinyl stretch and unusual amount. Or the springs stretched or the webbing, whatever is under the foam may have stretched. A seat is made to support a butt. Not someone climbing all over it. How big where these guys and where these your guys or the restaurant's guys? Did the seat have to be attached before the back?

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

If the seat was tight as a drum when you delivered it I'm thinking the guys stepping on the seat made the vinyl stretch and unusual amount. Or the springs stretched or the webbing, whatever is under the foam may have stretched. A seat is made to support a butt. Not someone climbing all over it. How big where these guys and where these your guys or the restaurant's guys? Did the seat have to be attached before the back?

Thanks for your response kodydog.  Further clarification is in order.

Those seats are too large for my vehicle plus the owner is responsible for tear out; so, I go to the restaurant early in the morning and we work until about 30 minutes before opening and then stop and clean up.  I was gathering my tools when they decided to stand on the seat to install the backs.  There is no reason that the backs cannot be installed prior to placing the seat on its base.  There are no springs or webbing or anything like that.  Cushions are foam on plywood or the like, stretched and stapled on the back of the plywood.  They sit on top of a wood base.  Backs have large screws sticking out the back and they fit into holes in the back base.

[MinUph]

Sounds like the vinyl will recover itself. Like Kodydog said they shouldn't be stood on but sometimes it is necessary. Look at them tomorrow and see if they are recovered. If not then the vinyl is too loose or the foam is no good.

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Thanks Paul!

We replaced the foam with a very good quality foam.  I've used this stuff in 3 or 4 other projects and have not had this issue.  If it doesn't recover, I told Tony that we would pop the staples and see how much tighter we can get it.  Going back to my military days, I could have bounced a quarter off that booth seat.  I will also let them know in no uncertain terms that they are NOT to stand on them.

Very frustrating as this is my last "big" upholstery project.  Start drawing SS the 3rd of August.  Will keep my shop open but am limiting the size and scope of projects.  I want to do stuff that I want to do as that is just impossible these days.  I won't mind doing dining room chairs and porch furniture.  Will still do my formal wear and custom machine embroidery but my goal is to not spend any more than 10-15 hours a month working.

Just tried to logon to Photoshop and it no longer recognized me.  I signed up again but I did not see an option for the free Photoshop I used last time.  Has Photoshop gone "Pay for Play"?

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Duh, it's photobucket not photoshop.  Have tried 3 times to upload this picture to photobucket and I keep getting an error message that it can't load it.  I'll keep trying and post the picture as soon as I can.  Grr.

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Think I did it.  I needed to click on the picture not the location, if that makes sense.

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Is it not a good idea to try and do this in vinyl or is simply need to be tighter and people should not stand up on it?

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

http://s629.photobucket.com/user/virginiafahnestock/media/DSC_0002%201_zpsk3eddpte.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

I don't know why the picture isn't showing but if you click on the link, the picture appears. 

[MinUph]

No reason not to do them in Vinyl. I'm pretty sure they will be fine when they recover. It will stretch in use but as long as it returns your good.

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Thanks!

We'll see what the morrow brings.  If they don't recover, we'll stretch them again on Tuesday when I recover the one pictured. Just really frustrating as I generally stretch things once and it's good to go.  The GI location I had 28 booth seats and never had to restretch one of them.  So it goes.

[kodydog]

  Has Photoshop gone "Pay for Play"?

I think everybody here will agree photo bucket has gone completely user unfriendly. They still have a free service but it is almost impossible to use. Their pop ups completely take over within 30 seconds. If you "pay to play" it gets better.

Good to see you are back btw.

We have been experimenting with several different photo sites. My favorite is Google Photos. Unfortunately it does not have the thumbnail option. But they do have a link. You can upload you photo, copy the link and post here.

[SteveA]

V - bench seats are just prone to wrinkling.  I had a customer ask me to add fill to a sofa bench seat and even though the casing was bulging when I was done -  after they sat and got up there were wrinkles. 
Welcome back to the site   - seems like the last email I remember was - go Bernie - and the knee healing.  Anyway we have tried to stay on upholstery subjects but sometimes low responses initiate alternative subjects which seem to be fine with the group.  We have a new administrator who hails from Norway - Inger is doing a great job - she diverted a problem when the hackers were taking over the site.  Photos w/photobucket are pain but not impossible with perseverance !
I picked up a serger probably more your meat and potatoes - haven't used it yet - still wondering what it will do for me :)

Regards,
SA

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

V - bench seats are just prone to wrinkling.  I had a customer ask me to add fill to a sofa bench seat and even though the casing was bulging when I was done -  after they sat and got up there were wrinkles. 
Welcome back to the site   - seems like the last email I remember was - go Bernie - and the knee healing.  Anyway we have tried to stay on upholstery subjects but sometimes low responses initiate alternative subjects which seem to be fine with the group.  We have a new administrator who hails from Norway - Inger is doing a great job - she diverted a problem when the hackers were taking over the site.  Photos w/photobucket are pain but not impossible with perseverance !
I picked up a serger probably more your meat and potatoes - haven't used it yet - still wondering what it will do for me :)

Regards,
SA

Steve:

I have a serger, only have figured out how to do one stitch.  GRRR>   

Was going to fill in at "The Buckle" while their alteration spet was out for knee surgery.  Worked one week and their serger was my best friend.  I just made sure that I had new thread color tied to the old so that I didn't have to figure out how to thread it.  Worked one week.  The next week, got bit by the neighbor's dog the morning of my shift. With 13 stitches on my left index finger and it needing to be elevated, that ended that.  Oh, well.

Getting friendlier with my serger is on my to do list when I start social security this August.  I think I'm down to under 100 days.  LOL.  Not like I'm counting or anything.

We are going to restretch using the deepest staples and putting staples literally right on top of each other.  If it still wrinkles, I will tell him that if he is offended, we need to switch back to cloth.  Otherwise, I'm out of ideas.  Also will tell him to NEVER ever stand on that seat again.  He could have moved it so that they were standing on the base.

We were out for breakfast this morning at one of the other restaurant's I've done.  After a customer sitting next to us on a booth seat left, I went over and examined the seat.  Sure enough, it was wrinkled.  We were there for about 45 minutes after the guy left.  The wrinkles had not completely dissipated  but they were much less noticeable so I see what Paul was talking about vinyl recovering.  I did about 2/3 of the booths and they are constantly moving the seats around so I have no idea if I did the work on this one or not.

I try real hard to stay apolitical so will avoid your remark about my being "go Bernie".  I'm in a concerned wait and see attitude -- I will say that much.  Also had some concerns about Hillary but not near as much.  No more politics for me now.

Thanks for your advice and we'll see what shakes out.

I should have more time for posting once I get done with Hastings restaurant.  2 more booths to go and then get him happy with the wrinkle issue.  I'm definitely ready to be done as I ordered the fabric last May (for both restaurants).  GI was a drag as they were supposed to do tear out and renig'd so it took forever to finish it.  So it goes.

[Virgs Sew n Sew]

Good news, bad news thing here.

Just got back from Hastings.  I was so excited when I looked at the cushion that got stood on last week.  The vinyl recovered itself, just as Paul said it should.  The first one has a few wrinkles but we will be able to get them out when I stretch it a bit tighter the last day I go there.

The bad news was that the seat that we stretched had a crease at the seam.  We spent so much time on that piece.  It looked like Tony and Noddie didn't stretch the vinyl tight enough at the seam.  Everything else looks perfect but by the time, they called me over, they had pulled staples and restretched 2 or 3 times.  I could see where they had left too much vinyl at the opposite end so it was short a bit at the seam joining the other section.  If we start fresh, I should be able to get some additional fabric that will give some give and hopefully work out the crease.  It was already past opening time and I needed to get out of there and give them their restaurant back.

Tony said it was fine because you would only see that if the table wasn't in place.  I told him that as far as I was concerned, it should be redone (at my expense).  I told him that I'll call him next week and if he wants me to redo it, I will.  I go in on the 14th for an all day session.  We will stretch the last booth then and take a walk around and make sure that everything is as Tony wants it. 

[kodydog]

Sounds like you are giving the customer more than they expect. That's how you keep them coming back for more. :)