Recovering a seat

[BladeRob]

I have ordered a new seat cover but looking at the original it looks like I will need a special staple gun as some of the staples are in a deep recess. What sort of stapler is needed as I've never seen one with a deep jaw? Or is there another way of fitting the seat cover?
Cheers, Rob

[knackeredMk1]

One like this would be OK. Though you might have to push the staples home with a flatbladed screwdriver or such like.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAVY-DUTY-3-1-ST ... 4153169c2a

[Active Rascal]

You may find that the cover appears to be a loose fit, but this is most likely because your seat foam is that squashed down with age, and the cover was designed fo fit on brand new foam, so be warned!! This is only from something I read on here aes ago!

[BladeRob]

[quote="knackeredMk1"]One like this would be OK. Though you might have to push the staples home with a flatbladed screwdriver or such like.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAVY-DUTY-3-1-ST ... 4153169c2a[/quote]

I have a similar stapler to this and I'm fairly sure it won't get down the recesses in the middle section of the seat. It will be OK for the front and rear sections but there is about 6" in the centre of the seat that it won't get to.

Rob

[BladeRob]

[quote="Active Rascal"]You may find that the cover appears to be a loose fit, but this is most likely because your seat foam is that squashed down with age, and the cover was designed fo fit on brand new foam, so be warned!! This is only from something I read on here aes ago![/quote]

Thanks for that - the original is quite tight so I am hopeful it will be OK.

[voodookid37]

agrees with knackeredmk1........

done lots of seats with a similar gun.b+q if i remember right.

allow plenty of time....position with a few staples , start at the front and work each side evenly.......

needle pliers are a handle thing to have near.........

[BladeRob]

The cover is now fitted - I can confirm that the B&Q type of stapler is not really suitable for the MK3 seat as it will not reach down into the base of the seat. I suppose if you wanted to risk the staples coming out of the side of the seat you could try using the B&Q type of stapler but I was not willing to try this.
I ended up taking it down to the local upholsters and got them to staple it on for me with their air stapler. It took approx 5 minutes and they charged me a tenner.

Thats another job ticked off the list!

Rob

[knackeredMk1]

All I can say is I've done six or seven seats with one including my current Mk3 project ...........

[fallenmikethebike]

All I can say is I've done six or seven seats with one including my current Mk3 project ...........

+1
Mike

[BladeRob]

[quote="knackeredMk1"]All I can say is I've done six or seven seats with one including my current Mk3 project ...........[/quote]

In that case I must bow to your superior upholstery skills!!

[knackeredMk1]

[pmac]

I have recovered bike seats using a flooring stapler (are you friendly with any carpet fitters?), I had no problem with doing it using one of those staplers, a tip is to heat up the cover first, which will make it more plyable, and easier to stretch, and when it cools down it will shrink back and tighten up any loose / baggy bits.
Hope this helps.
pmac.

[back off road]

i discovered the easy way and used gaffer tape over the split

[Mudfacetony]

All I can say is I've done six or seven seats with one including my current Mk3 project ...........

In that case I must bow to your superior upholstery skills!!

Me too. Think I will try thinner, sharper staples or find an expert man who can

[helisupp]

You will not get the staples in behind the plastic side supports unless you use the thin air stapler as used by upholsters. The plastic is a hard plastic and the first seat I did (and have done may over the years) is not as good as the one done for £10 at the local upholsters, so I had it stapled a second time.

Remember that if the staples are not fully down (very hard to do with B and Q stapler) the seat will tear at that point.