The Ford Barn

Rustyspokes · 05-09-2011, 11:20 AM

I just installed a New Headliner in my Ford 4 Dr. I have some wrinkles mainly at the seams and one panel is a bit slack, the Question is How do I get the Wrinkles out of those side areas and tighten the one panel ?? any help would be Greatly Appreciated , thanks Guys ...

The material is the cotton Beige that LB has for their Upholstry kits Thanks

B-O-B · 05-09-2011, 11:37 AM

might help if you stated what the material is. sometime steam will work. whenever I do mine it goes in the dryer for a spell. Best I can do for ya. others might have a better idea. might be best to start over. more info would also be more helpful.

gmc1941 · 05-09-2011, 12:27 PM

Find a hand steamer this will release the wrinkles.

jakesbackyard · 05-09-2011, 01:46 PM

If the front, back and sides are all secured try the steamer. Put the steamer about 1/2 inch away from the fabric and use a folded up hand towel to smooth it out. Let cool and see how it did. If it's not all secured you may need to stretch it some more.

rotorwrench · 05-09-2011, 01:48 PM

Cotton will shrink a bit with light controled dampening with water even if the material went through pre-shrinking. That's where a steamer set up works well. It controls the moisture applied to the surface. That and careful stretching of the material during the installation process. This is where you find out how good a quality of a kit you purchased. No kits are perfect and all require some adjustments hear and there.

Kerby

Bruce Lancaster · 05-09-2011, 01:55 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I once, looong ago, read an article about the Packard assembly line in the 1940's. The last two steps before the cars rolled out:
1. 300 pound specialist armed with pieces of 2X4 finalized door fit...he expertly put pieces of wood into proper place on any imperfectly fitted door frame and then hurled himself against the door, precisely fitting them by brute force and years of experience. An american Sumo...
2. A steam line was shoved into each car and the interior briefly filled with steam...instant precision fit for headliner and seatcovers.

BobM · 05-09-2011, 07:01 PM

Used a spritz bottle with distilled water (leaves no ring when dry) parked out in the sun on a warm day with the windows down. Worked for me.

Kentf1003 · 05-09-2011, 07:41 PM

When an artist painting on canvas begins to sag, he simply mists the back of the canvas with water. It draws up like a drum.

Old Redneck · 05-09-2011, 07:46 PM

When I worked for Ford in the assembly plant and when we had a headliner that had wrinkles we use to steam the heck out of the headliner. They will come out with steam.

Rustyspokes · 05-09-2011, 10:56 PM

Thanks to all you guys for the help re the "Headliner with Wrinkles", I'll give it a try with the hand steamer and distilled water....

Russ/40 · 05-09-2011, 11:13 PM

When I did my '50 I used a spray bottle of water and a hair dryer. Came out perfect without a loose spot or wrinkle. Was real easy.

1931 flamingo · 05-10-2011, 01:16 AM

Be careful with the hair dryer!!!
Paul in CT

05-09-2011, 11:20 AM	#1
Rustyspokes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Coast Canada B.C. Interior Posts: 332	Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? I just installed a New Headliner in my Ford 4 Dr. I have some wrinkles mainly at the seams and one panel is a bit slack, the Question is How do I get the Wrinkles out of those side areas and tighten the one panel ?? any help would be Greatly Appreciated , thanks Guys ... The material is the cotton Beige that LB has for their Upholstry kits Thanks Last edited by Rustyspokes; 05-09-2011 at 01:05 PM.

05-09-2011, 11:37 AM	#2
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? might help if you stated what the material is. sometime steam will work. whenever I do mine it goes in the dryer for a spell. Best I can do for ya. others might have a better idea. might be best to start over. more info would also be more helpful.

05-09-2011, 12:27 PM	#3
gmc1941 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Palatine, Il Posts: 486	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Find a hand steamer this will release the wrinkles. __________________ 1939 Fordor Deluxe 1939 Ford Coupe Std 1940 Ford pickup Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.

05-09-2011, 01:46 PM	#4
jakesbackyard Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wahpeton, ND Posts: 71	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? If the front, back and sides are all secured try the steamer. Put the steamer about 1/2 inch away from the fabric and use a folded up hand towel to smooth it out. Let cool and see how it did. If it's not all secured you may need to stretch it some more.

05-09-2011, 01:48 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Cotton will shrink a bit with light controled dampening with water even if the material went through pre-shrinking. That's where a steamer set up works well. It controls the moisture applied to the surface. That and careful stretching of the material during the installation process. This is where you find out how good a quality of a kit you purchased. No kits are perfect and all require some adjustments hear and there. Kerby

05-09-2011, 01:55 PM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I once, looong ago, read an article about the Packard assembly line in the 1940's. The last two steps before the cars rolled out: 1. 300 pound specialist armed with pieces of 2X4 finalized door fit...he expertly put pieces of wood into proper place on any imperfectly fitted door frame and then hurled himself against the door, precisely fitting them by brute force and years of experience. An american Sumo... 2. A steam line was shoved into each car and the interior briefly filled with steam...instant precision fit for headliner and seatcovers.

05-09-2011, 07:01 PM	#7
BobM Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 213	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Used a spritz bottle with distilled water (leaves no ring when dry) parked out in the sun on a warm day with the windows down. Worked for me.

05-09-2011, 07:41 PM	#8
Kentf1003 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 138	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? When an artist painting on canvas begins to sag, he simply mists the back of the canvas with water. It draws up like a drum.

05-09-2011, 07:46 PM	#9
Old Redneck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waynesburg,Pa. Posts: 1,910	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? When I worked for Ford in the assembly plant and when we had a headliner that had wrinkles we use to steam the heck out of the headliner. They will come out with steam.

05-09-2011, 10:56 PM	#10
Rustyspokes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Coast Canada B.C. Interior Posts: 332	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Thanks to all you guys for the help re the "Headliner with Wrinkles", I'll give it a try with the hand steamer and distilled water....

05-09-2011, 11:13 PM	#11
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? When I did my '50 I used a spray bottle of water and a hair dryer. Came out perfect without a loose spot or wrinkle. Was real easy.

05-10-2011, 01:16 AM	#12
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Just Installed a New Headliner..Wrinkles out ?? Be careful with the hair dryer!!! Paul in CT