Rim from top of front seat, in S/W

[apbright]

Hello,

The part pictured I pulled from the top rim of the front seat of the S/W Town Sedan I have begun restoration work on. There was a soft material inside of it (see second, detail picture) into which nails were tacked which held up the top part of the upholstery.

The condition of the soft material of the existing part I have is I doubt good enough for reuse. To date, I haven't been able to find this part, or the material that would go inside it, from any of the standard parts suppliers. Would anyone know the name of this part, or (again) the soft material that goes inside into which upholstery nails are to be tacked?

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

[Doug in NJ]

I had exactly the same issue when I redid my S/W seat. I couldn't think of any way to fix up that crumbling glop to securely hold tacks. My solution was to get a big piece of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and cut a strip that replaced the entire metal channel. Here is what it looks like:

http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_3115
http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_3116

The stuff holds tacks and staples very well, and is cheap and easy to cut and drill. I cut the strips from a wider piece with a table saw, and used a plane to round the corners so it matched the contour of the original metal channel. To form a permanent bend, you just have to dip the strip in boiling water and bend it, and it will hold the bend after it cools.

I got the materiel from McMaster-Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com/#8588k131/=qk57m5

I used the same material to replace those twisted paper tack strips above the doors. I cut narrower strips and made them into a half-round shape with a router:

http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_5178_001

There may be a different type of plastic that is a little better, but I was totally happy with how it turned out.
BTW, I have never seen any other solution for the seat tack strip in any article, or from any vendor, so I am happy I was able to figure something out.

Doug

[jwmckenzie]

When my Slant was upholstered the guy actually used old fan belts, seemed to work. he somehow worked them into the channels, held tacks OK.

[apbright]

Originally Posted by Doug in NJ

I had exactly the same issue when I redid my S/W seat. I couldn't think of any way to fix up that crumbling glop to securely hold tacks. My solution was to get a big piece of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and cut a strip that replaced the entire metal channel. Here is what it looks like:

http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_3115
http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_3116

The stuff holds tacks and staples very well, and is cheap and easy to cut and drill. I cut the strips from a wider piece with a table saw, and used a plane to round the corners so it matched the contour of the original metal channel. To form a permanent bend, you just have to dip the strip in boiling water and bend it, and it will hold the bend after it cools.

I got the materiel from McMaster-Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com/#8588k131/=qk57m5

I used the same material to replace those twisted paper tack strips above the doors. I cut narrower strips and made them into a half-round shape with a router:

http://31ford.dougbraun.com/All_Photos/IMG_5178_001

There may be a different type of plastic that is a little better, but I was totally happy with how it turned out.
BTW, I have never seen any other solution for the seat tack strip in any article, or from any vendor, so I am happy I was able to figure something out.

Doug

Interesting. Indeed, you pre-empted what one of my next questions was going to be (about that twisted paper stuff above the doors).

Are you able to say how well this materials has 'lived?' (i.e. how long you have had it now?)

I also like the fan belt idea.

Thanks to both!

-Andrew

[Doug in NJ]

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Originally Posted by apbright

I
Are you able to say how well this materials has 'lived?' (i.e. how long you have had it now?)

I also like the fan belt idea.

-Andrew

I installed the car's upholstery and interior about 3 years ago, and I haven't seen a single staple or tack come loose.

The fan belt idea was pretty cool.

BTW, if you do upholstery, you REALLY need a air stapler. I used one from HF, and it worked fine.

Doug