seat material

[andy198712]

i've got a set of GT8's in black and pink leather....... they need to be recovered but what should i use? i'm in the UK and leather is way too expensive!!

i quite fancy doing it out of denim but will this be a ball ache? i've got a soft cotton denim cover we made for the rear seat and tempted to do it for the fronts but there is no stretch in it which makes it hard.

any cheap ideas on what to use?

cheers

[Piledriver]

in black and pink leather.

If it's just the color, leather dye work great.
(note I did not ask for a picture )

Otherwise, upholstery fabrics are always the best plan for upholstery.

A nice tweed-like fabric that can breathe a bit is my favorite, but even the velour is nice if nobody smokes.

[andy198712]

hard to clean though? i got two dogs wipe clean is nice but may have to compromise.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220985814590? ... 1423.l2649

lol

[andy198712]

i'd love to keep the leather and dye it but it has some damage too

[andy198712]

bit of an update,

i had a look through a big fabric shop today and didnt see much, till i saw some hides on a table.... nice suede dark brown pig hides, £12 each so got two
they will do the center section on the seats and then do fabric sides maybe

[ps2375]

I'm using a microfiber suede upholstery to redo the covers on my Recaros. It is a denim blue, maybe a touch too light in color, but I let my wife pick the color. All the panels are the same color, maybe next time I'll make the sides and rear panels a contrasting color and keep the denim color for the parts that actually touch the seat occupant. I'm really hoping they fit well and the extra fabric will be used for the door cards I need to make.

[Piledriver]

What I still don't get is why has getting a pair of seats re-upholstered professionally become a $1K+ project?
It doesn't require a doctorate, or even a green card, apparently...

Used to be ~reasonable, now many places act like they aren't interested even with minor repair, want $3-700 for some stitching coming apart. I can get very nice, new custom seats for less. (Made in the USA even)

I have some Corrado seats I love in my square, the drivers seat is suffering the usual wear, 2 places wanted 5/6 benjamins to redo one seat, just fix the side bolsters even, not even redo the centers (which are fine)

I don't get how they stay in buisiness. Maybe they are all fronts...

[ps2375]

What I still don't get is why has getting a pair of seats re-upholstered professionally become a $1K+ project?
It doesn't require a doctorate, or even a green card, apparently...

Used to be ~reasonable, now many places act like they aren't interested even with minor repair, want $3-700 for some stitching coming apart. I can get very nice, new custom seats for less. (Made in the USA even)

I have some Corrado seats I love in my square, the drivers seat is suffering the usual wear, 2 places wanted 5/6 benjamins to redo one seat, just fix the side bolsters even, not even redo the centers (which are fine)

I don't get how they stay in buisiness. Maybe they are all fronts...

This is exactly why I am doing my own, they quoted me more than my whole budget to get the car back on the road. So, I cut one apart, made patterns, ordered fabric (ebay) and enlisted my sister-in-law's help and her machine(but I think our low-end one could've dealt with this fabric) and we'll see how they turn out. And next time they should be even better.

[ps2375]

This is how the bottom section turned out, I think the fabric should be quite nice and would've been grippy even if the seat wasn't a Recaro.

[andy198712]

nicely done! yeah costs are just plain scary! same for painting a car!

[Piledriver]

Just had a similar realization of the markup involved with auto AC hose...
$3-4 from an AC "specialist" or ~40 cents a foot from a wholesaler. Same exact hose, same mfr and part#, just bought in 30' sections. If you are buying the big spools and selling by the foot the markup borders on insane...

Hmmmm... I think I just found a potentially decent paying hobby.