Remove old seat covers first?

ezgojohny

I am still waiting on my new seat covers. I have seen a youtube video where the person just covers the old seat cover with the new one. However, I have also seen installation instructions saying to remove the old cover first. What did you do when putting on your new covers? What do you suggest?

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

bokeasmowl

I've done a couple seats and I've always put them on over the other cover. I think its easier and you don't have to worry about distorting the foam when you're stapling it on.

DOOmsman

Watch the grade of covers you get if not heavy it will slide and stretch on the old vinyl and pucker. It kind of sticks to the foam if applied direct.

LowanSlow

Take that old crap off and toss it. You will be much happier with the finished product.

I have an upholstery business. While I do furniture I did do a set of seat covers for a friend. His wife had bought him the formed seat covers from a company and then he decided it would be easier to have me do it.

If your seats are used the foam is already mashed down and you will have very little foam issues if any at all. The only issue will be stretching the vinyl cover so that it looks good.

Let the new vinyl sit in the sun for an hour or two before putting it on. That way it will be good and soft and it will work easier. If you have a steamer you can use that also but not really necessary. The sun does well. After you get it finished sit those seats in the sun and it works magic taking out wrinkles and puckers. Still get it the best you can and then let the sun do the rest.

Here's the trick. Your job will be 10 times easier if you base tack the new cover on first. What do I mean by base tacking? Get the new cover in place - not perfect yet - but pretty much - not as tight as the finished job. I use a magnetic tack hammer and put #3 blue tacks in my mouth and use the little tacks to hold the cover in place. Dont hammer the tacks all the way in - just enough to hold the cover in place - and so you can pull them back out when you do your final stapling.

If you dont want tacks in your mouth just base tack however you feel comfortable doing it. You can even hold your staple gun away from the wood so the staples dont go all the way in. Then you can pull them out with pliers or diagonal pliers. That works like base tacking.

Ok, so you have the new cover base tacked on close to where it will finish. Now you can make sure its on correctly. Centered? Corners match up? Things look pretty even? If so, now you can work small areas at a time and get them looking good and staple it in place. Once you're base tacked on start from the center and work outward. Pull one or two tacks out at a time and work that area. Then staple that area, Do a couple of tacks at a time. Dont go all the way to the ends yet. Check and make sure you wont end up with a wadded up portion from your stretching and working it.

Dont be afraid to work and stretch that vinyl. Work it back and forth side to side as your pulling it over the back edge. As your pulling with one hand use the other hand to rub and work the vinyl in that area so you get it as smooth as you can.

If you base tack it first it will come out way better. Base tacking will also allow you to get a feel for how it works -AND - you wont screw it up trying to staple it w/o having it in place.

Good luck. Do it right and you will be glad you did every time you look at it or sit in that seat.

ezgojohny

Thanks for the advice.

LowanSlow

If you have any questions just post and I'll try and answer.

ezgojohny

Lowanslow,

How many base tacks do you recommend?

LowanSlow

Every 4-6" is prob good. That may be a little overkill but it will work. Do what feels good for you. As you do it you'll get a feel for it. Maybe do 8-10" if that works.

You just want to get it fitted and positioned correctly so you can staple it in place. It holds it in place so if your pulling to get it right in the right upper corner it still stays in place in the bottom left corner for example. If it wasnt base tacked you would be pulling that left corner away from where it needs to be. Then you go back and fight it again. Then back to the right corner.

W/o base tacking its like groundhog day.

ezgojohny

Lowanslow,

What is your opinion on the technique used in this video?

LowanSlow

He got the covers on so it worked.

Ive never had anybody stand on something while I stapled, but it worked for him. If you can do it like that go for it.

M guess is the seats shown on the cart are not the ones that guy did. Possible but not likely. To get them to look nice there may be a lil more effort involved. However, what he did there is the basic idea. Thats all there is to it.

I suggested the base tacking because its fool proof and you know it will be right. It eliminates the errors. Ive been upholstering for 30 years and I still base tack almost everything I do.