Does anyone want to learn upholstery skills? Is there a member out there who wants to guide, encourage or demonstrate upholstery skills?
I think we probably have all the tools from different areas to pull together a starter project.
We have a heavy duty sewing machine.
Do we have an air compression stapler?
Just a thought. Are you game to learn?
Wow, I was having a similar thought! There are two chairs I’d like to reupholster for a friend, but have 0% experience with it. Always down to start a learn-together project, though.
I would like to learn
I don’t think that we’ve got an air-compression stapler.
I am about to become a member, but I would like to learn this as well. I have an old table with chairs that I would love to re-upholster. Let me know if this comes to fruition!
I would love to learn to that definitely will come in handy in automotive!
Would you happen to know if we have a regular staple gun? I’ve used one for making my own canvases before and would be good for learning with. If I can find mine I’m happy to donate to the DMS if we don’t yet have one.
pneumatic staplers are reasonably useful for generic things, and resonably inexpensive, so appealing to the chair @mreynolds for 1 (or some) might be well-accepted if a good argument is put together.
something like this, perhaps?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Freeman-Pneumatic-20-Gauge-9-16-in-Fine-Wire-Stapler-with-Belt-Hook-Compatible-with-Arrow-T50-Staples-PFWS/203162223
I also thought the woodshop kept pneumatic “nailers” that use brads - sometimes those will ALSO do staples, and might be worth a look-see for cross-project support using existing equipment.
PS I would L O V E to learn/practice some upholstery skillz. I sincerely doubt I’ll have the time to join, but I’ll sure be watching for it to materialize and join if I possibly can!
Ooh ya that one would be nice! I did a quick google search of them initially and saw there could be some safety issues and remembered the type I’ve used before, something like this:
https://www.harborfreight.com/three-way-tacker-staple-gun-kit-62992.html
Slightly less intimidating and a bit more newbie proof lol but either way works! And I will check w woodshop, ty for the tip!
and yes, same. I’m a big thrifter/reuse person so this has always been a goal. I’m excited to see what happens! I’ll ask my friend to see if I can borrow their chair for a project.
It’s a really nice chair frame from a yard sale that the sweet, angry angel in the background turned into her scratching post 
((shameless pet pic plug))
Vector has one.
Actually, I’ve just recently purchased a 2006 Mini that the driver side seat stitching has torn (the threading gave out but the leather is near perfect).
This would definitely be something I would be interested in especially since I was considering when I got back in town getting a hold of @AmeliaG and see if I could enlist her help with at least a Direction to repair these correctly so the threads don’t break again.
Apparently in the Minis, the leather was great, the threading they used was too thin and tended to break, but the leather and the punched holes held up great.
At least it’s held up better than the Katzkins leather kit that’s in my Challenger…
I am not up for doing this myself, but i have a chair that needs to be recovered. I also have some materials from the time someone was going to do it, but he died before he did the second chair of the pair. I would be willing to pay to have the chair redone, if this project gets going.
We’ve been using a couple inexpensive Freeman branded staplers from Amazon for several years now at my workplace, and they’ve held up well with no issues.
There is no air supply in or near CA, so while it might be a suitable tool for general use in the workshop it doesn’t seem practical for CA.
Electric staple guns are available from a wide variety of sources for about $30. We use ours on the cedar posts in front of the house … it easily has enough power to drive things for upholstery.
I’d love to learn and then eventually teach it to kids at Launchpad. It seems like the kind of thing that might be really successful and productive over a series of classes. 
Thank you for this info. Are you an upholstery professional? Could you teach a class or more?
oh tell me more about Launchpad!
sure! it’s a nonprofit standalone makerspace for brainiacs with a bedtime the easiest way to learn more is at our website — and we’re optimistic about a space we’ve found in west dallas to open in early 2025! [Launchpad - A Slice of Pi](Launchpad - A Slice of Pi]
No, I’m a picture framer, we just use the same staplers…
I have experience with both auto and furniture upholstery. I also have and electric stapler that I can bring up and make available. I may have two, and could possibly donate one. Happy to assist with guiding a demonstration class, but not on the sewing part… I am not good at that.
