Replacing Upholstery

I've used the following company to purchase staples many times. They're inexpensive and ship very, very quickly.
FasternerUSA

I have a question though....I have an 18 gauge, narrow crown pneumatic stapler that is used for cabinetmaking. Is this appropriate for the upholstery? The crown is a little narrower but they're heavier gauge wire.

dip wrote: I have an 18 gauge, narrow crown pneumatic stapler that is used for cabinetmaking. Is this appropriate for the upholstery?

It could hold upholstery if used at the right air pressure and quantities but I would say it is not appropriate for the following reasons.

1) I use a 3/8" leg staple for boat upholstery, I have never seen narrow crown staples that short.
2) As Pete said their ability to hold vinyl is reduced with the narrower head.
3) If you ever went back to re-upholster again you would hate yourself. They would be a lot harder to remove.
4) The 18 guage staples would be abusive to your seat structures, especialy on removal.
5) You would miss using a perfectly good excuse to buy a new tool.

That was by far the best part of my rebuild!! It wasn't that I had a nice boat to ski behind, it was the fact I got lots of shiny new tools I needed for the job

3/8ths are what I usually use. They are short enough to be removed and not cause to much damage but long enought to go through welt or a few layers of vinyl.

Chris4x4gill2 wrote: I'm about to have shiny new staples to go with my shiney new tools.

Now I'm jealous.

I pulled all of the old skins off over the weekend, all excet the motor box. I have about 3 or 4 od the wooden bases I need to rebuild, either partially or completely, everything else was in good shape.

I also finished two of my "Honey Do" projects so now that they are out of the way I can clear the garage sapce back out to build these seat bases.

Ask LAKESIDE.

LAKESIDE wrote: Thanks ..Yes that is what i do for a living...Last 23 years.. I bought the sn about a month ago. Completely redone the whole inside..

Thanks Chris, I just ordered it.

Hollywood, LAKESIDE did such an incredible job I actually wanted to order my skins from him.

chris,
any special trick to getting the motorbox skin off?? was it glued as well as stapled?? i need to remove/repair/replace my motor box skin this winter and I'm worried that it's glued on and will get damaged during removal.
thanks.

MI-Nick,
   a heat gun can be your best friend with this stuff.... glue will usually soften when heated.   be careful and patient. don't allow anything to get too hot or you stand a chance of burned fingers, parts, and true frustration.

thanks guys!! i'll start a separate thread and post pics when i actually get started.

^^^thats why i refuse to wetsand mine. imo its worth the time being a 94 and its a boat. still looks good with a buff n wax. good luck and post some before and after pics!

i was using just plain dish soap mixed in the water.

Thanks for the encouragement Keegan. I know this first pass is going ot be the worst, but there sure are a lot of steps ahead of me too.

Finished doing the starboard side with 400 grit last night. I ran out of paper at that point so I switched gears a little bit. I mixed up a quantity of CPES and hit any exposed wood and screw holes on the boat. USed the left over to coat the staple holes on the new seat bases I made over the weekend. I plan to pick up some more 400 grit today and I should be back to sanding in a day or two.