Bench Seats, Having them Reupholstered

[TKCR]

Just finished up a fully restored 81-87 bench seat. This was done in Black Velour/Vinyl.

[TKCR]

This seat taken in as a core. It was given a second chance at being beautiful again. It was completely stripped down and restored for the Black Velour, in the above post.

[TKCR]

Spent the day getting some tracks and hardware sandblasted and painted. Such a tedious job, and I have a long way to go.

[TKCR]

This was a surprise find. Found this under a bench seat, I was removing from a truck, at the Pic-N-Pull. It was all rusty, so it got sandblasted with the rest of the stuff. Now it just needs some polishing.

[TKCR]

Now that I have a bunch of hardware completed, cleaned/sandblasted/repainted, it’s time to start bagging. I put all the hardware needed to build 1 seat, in a baggy. All those bags are put in a container. When it’s time to build a seat, I grab a bag and go. I don’t have to spend time sorting thru all the hardware. Same with all the springs, they get sorted and put in a container also.

[hatzie]

Black oxide may be faster and more durable than paint for parts like springs.
The industrial process name is Oxide passivization.
It's similar to Bluing and Parkerizing on firearms. You're using a chemically produced oxide of Iron to provide corrosion protection.

Caswell sells kits that work well.

This guy uses dirty motor oil as a final step. I use clean motor oil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwC9-dx9XLo

I've used black oxide on threaded hardware and washers, Zinc plating with Chromium yellowing on carburetor bodies to mimic the original cadmium plating, and electroless copper and nickel on machine tool handwheels.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Black oxide may be faster and more durable than paint for parts like springs.
The industrial process name is Oxide passivization.
It's similar to Bluing and Parkerizing on firearms. You're using a chemically produced oxide of Iron to provide corrosion protection.

I've used black oxide on threaded hardware and washers, Zinc plating with Chromium yellowing on carburetor bodies to mimic the original cadmium plating, and electroless copper and nickel on machine tool handwheels.

That’s awesome, thanks for the video. I will certainly look into that. Now for a question when using this. Can I still sandblast everything, especially the bolts, and still use this process? A tumbler just doesn’t get all the rust and gunk out of the threads of the bolts, like sandblasting does. When I paint, this is what I’m using
https://www.vhtpaint.com/specialty/v...-weather-paint

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by TKCR

That’s awesome, thanks for the video. I will certainly look into that. Now for a question when using this. Can I still sandblast everything, especially the bolts, and still use this process? A tumbler just doesn’t get all the rust and gunk out of the threads of the bolts, like sandblasting does.

UPDATESo I went to the Caswell website and found the answer to that question:
How to achieve professional results in minutes:- Thoroughly clean the part to be blackened by either sandblasting, wire brushing, wire wool abrasive cleaning, or by scrubbing in 'VIM' or 'COMET' household abrasive cleaner. Make sure you have removed all rust, paint, oil and grease.

[Funstuie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

This was a surprise find. Found this under a bench seat, I was removing from a truck, at the Pic-N-Pull. It was all rusty, so it got sandblasted with the rest of the stuff. Now it just needs some polishing.

That looks like the $5 ones they sell at harbor freight.

[TKCR]

The 81 Green Benchseat is on its way to California

[pitterpat]

Nice job.

Instead of sandblasting the nuts and bolts it might be easier to get one of those tumblers to clean them. Much easier and less tedious.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by pitterpat

Nice job.

Instead of sandblasting the nuts and bolts it might be easier to get one of those tumblers to clean them. Much easier and less tedious.

Thanks Pat. I’ve tried the tumbler, it just doesn’t get the job done like the sandblaster does. And I’m pretty OCD, so it’s not good enough. I want it all as perfect as I can possibly get it.

[TKCR]

Just picked this up today. A tilting rear seat from a Crew Cab, 77-80. In really good shape, as most rear seats are. Whoever got the front seat, would have made out better with the rear seat. They are always in better condition because they are rarely used. And the front seat, in a Crew, DO NOT tilt, the rear seats DO tilt.

[Funstuie]

Looking for some advice - the bench seat in my 76 (actually its in the garage at the moment) is in good condition but the cover is crap and old and I’m sick of saddle blankets. What’s the best diy option? This thread is huge and I am sure I’m asking repeated questions, sorry.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Funstuie

Looking for some advice - the bench seat in my 76 (actually its in the garage at the moment) is in good condition but the cover is crap and old and I’m sick of saddle blankets. What’s the best diy option? This thread is huge and I am sure I’m asking repeated questions, sorry.

Depends on how much work & money you want to put into it. First off, everyone says that their seat is in good or decent condition. But the truth is, 99% of the seats I tear apart to restore, have issues that need to be addressed.
This is why I started restoring seats, wether someone did the work themselves or took the seat to an upholstery shop, seats this old have underlying issues. Myself, years ago, I took my seat to an upholstery shop. I paid all that money and found out, upholstery shops don’t touch your frame. I looked at my seat, and said, OH that looks way better, nice new cover!! But I get it home and turn the seat over and get to looking, nothing else was obviously touched. I called the shop up and they say, that’s all we do, is upholstery. So I called a few other places, which there’s not a lot of, and got the same answer. Upholstery shops only do upholstery. Maybe that’s ok for some people, but not me.
1) Rusty frame is the big one. Let me ask, if you have a moldy wall, would you paint over it and not fix the mold? Most would answer No, because the mold is still there and will resurface thru the paint, so time and money wasted. Why would anyone put a NEW Cover over a rusty frame, seems like a waste of money.
2) These seats always have broken springs. That’s why the seat leans to one side or it’s sagging really bad. I have torn apart seats, that have some major rigging done, instead of replacing the springs.
3) Tracks are hard to slide or don’t slide at all. I’ve gotten seats from people, that didn’t even realize that their seat did slide,
But to answer your initial question, purchase a new seat cover. Take the old cover off and install new one. You’ll need hog rings & hog ring pliers. I guess it’s up to you what you want to do about the rest of the seat.

[Funstuie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Depends on how much work & money you want to put into it. First off, everyone says that their seat is in good or decent condition. But the truth is, 99% of the seats I tear apart to restore, have issues that need to be addressed.
This is why I started restoring seats, wether someone did the work themselves or took the seat to an upholstery shop, seats this old have underlying issues. Myself, years ago, I took my seat to an upholstery shop. I paid all that money and found out, upholstery shops don’t touch your frame. I looked at my seat, and said, OH that looks way better, nice new cover!! But I get it home and turn the seat over and get to looking, nothing else was obviously touched. I called the shop up and they say, that’s all we do, is upholstery. So I called a few other places, which there’s not a lot of, and got the same answer. Upholstery shops only do upholstery. Maybe that’s ok for some people, but not me.
1) Rusty frame is the big one. Let me ask, if you have a moldy wall, would you paint over it and not fix the mold? Most would answer No, because the mold is still there and will resurface thru the paint, so time and money wasted. Why would anyone put a NEW Cover over a rusty frame, seems like a waste of money.
2) These seats always have broken springs. That’s why the seat leans to one side or it’s sagging really bad. I have torn apart seats, that have some major rigging done, instead of replacing the springs.
3) Tracks are hard to slide or don’t slide at all. I’ve gotten seats from people, that didn’t even realize that their seat did slide,
But to answer your initial question, purchase a new seat cover. Take the old cover off and install new one. You’ll need hog rings & hog ring pliers. I guess it’s up to you what you want to do about the rest of the seat.

Thanks for the reply. The bench is in really good condition, there’s no rust, the springs and foam are not damaged or sagging. I think it’s been redone at some stage in the trucks life. The main issue is the current cover is sub damaged and brittle (also full of dog hairs).

The runners could definitely do with cleaning and but there’s no rust (California truck).

I’ll look for a cover and see what’s available. I would love to have this done professionally but costs are adding up on this truck as it is.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Funstuie

Thanks for the reply. The bench is in really good condition, there’s no rust, the springs and foam are not damaged or sagging. I think it’s been redone at some stage in the trucks life. The main issue is the current cover is sub damaged and brittle (also full of dog hairs).

The runners could definitely do with cleaning and but there’s no rust (California truck).

I’ll look for a cover and see what’s available. I would love to have this done professionally but costs are adding up on this truck as it is.

If your going to do it yourself, I would highly recommend USA1 Industries for the cover.

[ShortHaul]

Is this your seat!!?






https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...938066006.html

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

Is this your seat!!?






https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...938066006.html

Sure looks like it. The guy that bought it, was from California. He must be abandoning his build. He had said, he was going to change his interior to that color of green, to match the seat. Basically he was doing his build around the seat. Well that’s sad to see that he is selling the truck.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Sure looks like it. The guy that bought it, was from California. He must be abandoning his build. He had said, he was going to change his interior to that color of green, to match the seat. Basically he was doing his build around the seat. Well that’s sad to see that he is selling the truck.

Aww MAN! I knew it... that seat is the best part of his build! lol!

[Honest Bob]

I found this a while back for refurbishing old bolts. Similar to the post above but this guy sets them of fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTMU...83TMN&index=30

I found it interesting if not maybe a bit time consuming.

[pitterpat]

Originally Posted by Honest Bob

I found this a while back for refurbishing old bolts. Similar to the post above but this guy sets them of fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTMU...83TMN&index=30

I found it interesting if not maybe a bit time consuming.

Pretty cool! Looked at some of his other videos and they were pretty good. I subscribed to his channel. Good stuff!!

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Honest Bob

I found this a while back for refurbishing old bolts. Similar to the post above but this guy sets them of fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTMU...83TMN&index=30

I found it interesting if not maybe a bit time consuming.

Works for bolts but springs don't like being heated.

[TKCR]

Working on a few orders. A Charcoal Velour Deluxe with New foam. This one is Sold and going to West Virginia. I will be meeting him for the exchange.

[TKCR]

Next up, will be a Saddle Tan Vinyl Deluxe, with the original foam.