Question for those that do upholstery

[bigherm00]

Hi! I'm currently in the process of building a console for my '85 Silverado and I'm doing it in sections. The first section I've got done is shaped like an octagon and it's about 8 inches deep. I've bought the materials to cover it in black vinyl but I can't seem to determine a good way to get it covered as well as I want.

I was wanting some feedback on some ideas to see what I might not be looking at. So far, I've considered attaching each of the side pieces and then folding the excess onto the top and bottom face and trimming them, since the top face has a hole cut out for a 10" sub. I'm also wondered if making a cover would be best that would be sewn together and then placed onto the octagon section. However, I can't sew nor do I know how to use the sewing machine to create such a cover.

Thanks for reading, I look forward to any tips or suggestions you've got.

[Captkaos]

care to post a picture that would help visualize what you are talking about?

[bigherm00]

Ok, let me go take a couple

[bigherm00]

I really hate my ISP right now!

Either way, 1 new photobucket account later, here are the pictures.

[Captkaos]

How is it going to sit in the truck, as in what is the bottom?  I am guessing you are wanting to do this without cutting or sewing the material?

[bigherm00]

This piece as of right now is going to rest on the floor pretty much. It will have something underneath it in a few places to hold it up, but there will be a skirt of some sort around the edge to conceal the gap between the object and the floor. And there will be a few different sections to the console as a whole as well. This is just the first part done, and we need it completely done to measure for the next section and so forth.

As far as covering goes, I have a couple yards of vinyl and a couple yards of a foam padding to put underneath the vinyl against the wood. I'm just trying to figure the best way to cover it so that it looks best, without paying someone at an upholstery shop to do the work. I prefer the DIY method, especially when it's something new, like this is. If it needs to be sewn, I can get it done, but I'd rather not, so that I can tackle it without involving someone else.

Thanks!

[beastie_3]

Which way is the speaker going to face? Sounds like up?

[bigherm00]

It will face up for now. If after everything gets going I don't like the way it sounds, I'll re-do this section and face it down towards the floor.

[beastie_3]

As far as upholstering it, im not the one to ask, but all the subs ive seen in the center are pointed up. Just make sure you pick out a sub that has a grill to protect it.

[Captkaos]

with straight sides I don't know how you will make it look the best without sewing seams down the edges.

[bigherm00]

I think with a technique I'm going to try I can make it work. If it doesn't work I'll just try an upholstery shop lol I'll also make sure to post up completed pics

[Da67goatman]

You could wrap the material around the circumference of the octagon and you'd only have on seam down the side.  The subwoofer will hold the top down and the bottom could be left unupholstered because you will never see it.  At least that's how I would do it, its up to you though.

[SUX2BU99]

You could try laying a large piece of vinyl over the top (where the speaker hole is) and try to stretch the vinyl down the sides and around the back to keep it all 1 piece. Using some heat from a heat gun helps the vinyl stretch and some vinyls stretch better than others. If it's warm where you are, leave the vinyl in the hot sun for an hour before trying to wrap it. Also, for the side that you may not see, stretch that side last in case you can't help but have an overlap.

[bigherm00]

I plan to wrap the circumference and both faces. I think it wil turn out ok so long as my vinyl Doesnt seperate from my pad. I'll be glad when I get home and get to try it out. Thanks for all the tips so far.

[bigherm00]

First attempt is as complete as it's going to get. I'm pleased in myself for being able to execute my plan, but I'm disappointed in the way it turned out.

Between the wooden box I built, and the black vinyl, is a sheet of 1/4" foam to help it feel nice. I think the foam may be why I'm as disappointed as I am with it. It doesn't allow the vinyl to sit flush with itself, and sometimes the foam pokes out.

If I knew of something to poke down in each would-be-seam it might become tolerable, but I don't know what I would be looking for. Something plastic, shaped like a T, so that it goes into the "seam" and extends out over the top. That might make it look a little more complete. Or maybe wrapping it again without the foam, but with the stretching properties of the vinyl I may run into the same issues if I use the same technique.

I'm considering ripping this part off and using a paint method to finish it. But I don't want it to look like wood, so I'd either layer it up with primer, sand it smooth and paint it and clear it. Or try (for the first time) covering it in plastic body filler and sanding/painting, but I need to research both methods to see if they would even work.

If any of you know, please feel free to educate me, I'd appreciate it.

What would you do in this case? Abandon the crazy shape? Attempt to paint it? Just take it to an upholstery shop and pay someone to do it? Something else I haven't thought of?