Upholstery Supplies

 

In upholstery there are basically three types of supplies. There isn't a clear separation of the 3 types, because they overlap with each other. Many of the supplies in any group might just as well fit in one or two of the other groups. But here is how we generally identify them.

  1. Supplies ordered and used for a specific job
  2. General supplies used for all jobs.
  3. Shop Supplies, of a more general nature, used to keep the shop going.

Some of the pages connected to this group may give a general overview of each of the above groups. Other pages will give a more specific description of individual or similar types of tools.

Fasteners

Screws

 Power Pro Screws

 

Power Pro Screws

 

I recently found a new type of screw that I had not seen before.

 

 

 

 

 As I was going to the screw aisle of our hardware store, I saw a cart of these screws. Having used the torx head before, I decided to give these a try.

 

 

This close up show the head that takes a torx driver.

Power Pro Screws Close Up

In many cases the screw can be driven in with a power driver without predrilling the screw hole.

The only negative thing I've noticed with these screws is that they can break easily when using a power driver. So you must be careful not to drive them into the wood too deeply because they might break.

Glues and Adhesives

Glue Choices

Do you need to know what kind of glue to use for your project(s)?. Here are some resources to help you make a wise choice.

This to That:* What Glue should you use to glue two different types of material together? This website gives some recommended glues for each type of material.

Titebond:* Professional Titebond Cabinet Shop and Woodworking glues. Go to their website to download the Product & Application Technical Guide

Homestead Finishing Products:* Woodworking Glues - Some Facts That Will Stick   by Jeff Jewitt. is an article about various types of glue and how they work.

The Wood Magazine has a "Guide to Woodworking Glues*" on their website

Visit the Woodweb for "The largest collection of woodworking related information all in Woodweb's Knowledge Base.*"

*For these web links, special thanks to Keith from the
Guardsman FurniturePro Cincinnati East
https://windowtreatmentblog658.wordpress.com/
https://www.yahoo.com/

Shop Supplies

Shop Supplies

  1. Fine Tipped Marking Devices (Used to mark fabric before cutting. The type of marker used depends on the color and type of fabric, and the color and type of marker)
    1. Tailor's chalk
    2. Carpenter's pencils
    3. Fabric Marking Pencils
    4. Don't use felt tipped markers, such as Sharpies. The may bleed through the fabric with time, use, and cleaning.
  2. Masking Tape: apply to the back of fabrics and mark clien't name or furniture part ID on it.
  3. Antiseptic spray
  4. Bandaids: In upholstery, there are numerous things to give you tiny knicks or cuts. Use a bandage on ALL cuts and knicks, no matter how small. Even the tiniest cut can bleed a drop of blood that can make have redo a large part of your furniture project. The bandaid keeps you from bleeding on the fabric.
  5. First Aid Kit: You get to figure this one out.
  6. Fine steel wool
  7. Old English Scratch Cover Polish
  8. Carpenter's yellow wood glue
  9. Single edge razor blades
  10. Button Molds (sizes 22, 30, 36, 45, 60)
  11. Disinfectant spray: used to kill bugs and ... inside the old furniture.
  12. Painter's Plastic, roll of 9' wide X 400 ft . Good for:
    1. Covering up stuff, to shield from overspray when you use foam glue.
    2. Also good for laying over a dirty table when you want to keep stuff clean.
    3. Good for wrapping finished jobs.
    4. Can also use as a substitute plastic for vacuum stuffing cushions.
  13. Flooring Paper: roll of about 35" wide: good to make patterns (or any type of wide paper might also work, butcher paper, maybe newsprint paper.)
Tags: 
upholstery supplies

Upholstery Threads

What Type of Decking Fabric

The Question was asked, "What type of decking does each upholsterers use?

My Response:
I generally keep a roll of regular decking fabric on hand. Right now the roll is kind of a goldish beige. I've also had rolls of beige, and also had dark blue, which I'd only use on certain colors.
I've also used a variety of different fabrics. I like self-decks, if I have enough fabric for the job. Often I have used the regular decking fabric. Also, at times I have went down to the local fabric store when they have had sales, and buy whatever is heavy and cheap in earth colors. Sometimes I'd buy a inexpensive fabric that would go with the fabric I'm working with. I'd especially go to a fabric store if there is not enough fabric for a self deck, and I don't like how the decking fabric I have goes with the fabric I'm working on.

I guess part of my motivation for not using self-decks to often is wanting to save as much of the covering fabric as possible in case I make a mistake and have to recut something. Also, whenever I do self deck, I often use stretcher cloths around the sides and back of the self-deck, which causes extra work. I hate to waste fabric, and using self-deck without the stretcher cloths seems like wasting the fabric, but it is extra work. (so I contradict myself here, oh well  )

But, as I'm writing this out, I'm rethinking this. I really like the looks of self-deck. Something to think about doing more often.

Best Wishes,
Stephen