DIY Leather Wrapped Interior??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
DIY Leather Wrapped Interior??
Do any of the vendors sell DIY leather wrapping kits? What I mean by that is will they send the leather stiched for the dash and the doors, and I can glue, stretch, fit the leather onto my own parts and not bother shipping the parts around??
To the vendors if you're reading this...you might be able to really increase sales like this. I know of some other car communities can buy the stitched leather and install it on their dashes themselves and I have followed the threads. The installs turn out amazing for most.
Once you cut out the shipping cost of sending interior panels both ways, and your cost to install....the leather actually become affordable. I was planning on making my own templates and stitching my own leather....but why bother if there is an affordable alternative??
Anyone else support this? Lets see if we can talk a vendor into quoting us a group purchase price for a DIY leather kit. I need a project for this winter
To the vendors if you're reading this...you might be able to really increase sales like this. I know of some other car communities can buy the stitched leather and install it on their dashes themselves and I have followed the threads. The installs turn out amazing for most.
Once you cut out the shipping cost of sending interior panels both ways, and your cost to install....the leather actually become affordable. I was planning on making my own templates and stitching my own leather....but why bother if there is an affordable alternative??
Anyone else support this? Lets see if we can talk a vendor into quoting us a group purchase price for a DIY leather kit. I need a project for this winter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
I personally wouldn't tackle this as a DIY... I'll do pretty much anything mechanical but I'd be afraid of screwing this up. I saw a thread recently where a guy tried to do his own custom stitched leather steering wheel and it did NOT turn out pretty...
If your confident in your upholstery abilities I'm sure one of these two vendors could probably hook you up with some materials and let you do your own work. They both have pretty good reps here on the forum:
http://apsisusa.com/Iindex.htm
http://www.redlinegoods.com/
If your confident in your upholstery abilities I'm sure one of these two vendors could probably hook you up with some materials and let you do your own work. They both have pretty good reps here on the forum:
http://apsisusa.com/Iindex.htm
http://www.redlinegoods.com/
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
haha, yeah I saw that steering wheel too. I wouldn't want to stitch it myself...at that point, I might as well make my own templates and start from scratch. But, if they cut and stitch the leather, I would be willing to yank my dash out and glue, stretch, and smooth it out over my panels. I'll check with the vendors and let you guys know what I find out. A group buy would be awesome to save even more
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
Good luck, my friend attempted a new dash on a 75 Dodge Duster, let me tell you it looks like it would be simple, easy, straight lines, glue down leather... Well if you use the wrong glue, in the sun later (months, years) it bubbled up, it looks like, used toilet paper now.. This is one area that I want a pro or someone that has a lot of experience doing, since everyone will see it and it will reflect the quality of the ride.. Good luck, in looking at the C5 dash, way to many curves and bumps for me...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
well, if just using the right type of glue is the biggest hang up...I'm all game, I'm assuming a DIY kit would include instructions on what kind of adhesive to use. I've contacted APSIS, we'll see if they are willing to do anything like this
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Its alot more than just glue.
there is a reason we get 375.00 to cover a radio bezel, 1200.00 for door panels and 1200.00 to cover a dash. Alot of work to make it look right. These prices are very reasonable when you look at others.
We would be happy to quote your interior pieces for you
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
I think certain parts are do-able, but like Dennis showed, a door panel would be tough and I know from personal experience on the lower panels, which look simple enough, it is a ton of work to get them to look good. BTW Dennis, I got the leather samples today...simply beautiful...putting a few things together in my mind...thanks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
I'm not trying to sound like a jerk...but I can't imagine this being like brain surgery or anything. Like I said, I've followed threads on other forums where the guys started completely from scratch meaning they made templates, cut and stitched the leather, and glued it down. The results were great, and they hardly said the gluing part was the hardest. Its certainly a scary part, since you can really FUBAR it. For most of the guys, the stitching was the hard part unless they had a wife to do it. The adhesives they used cured fairly slow, and they were able to get it looking just right before the glue set. I'll try to post some links so you guys can see for yourselves.
I'm really just trying to find a way to wrap my interior in leather, and not pay a company 8k to do it...
I'm really just trying to find a way to wrap my interior in leather, and not pay a company 8k to do it...
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I've not heard of any vendors selling just the pre-cut leather pieces. If you can find some and feel like you can do it and make it look good, go for it. Me - I'm leaving it to the pros since I wouldn't want to buy the pieces twice if I screwed it up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Its alot more than just glue.
there is a reason we get 375.00 to cover a radio bezel, 1200.00 for door panels and 1200.00 to cover a dash. Alot of work to make it look right. These prices are very reasonable when you look at others.
We would be happy to quote your interior pieces for you
there is a reason we get 375.00 to cover a radio bezel, 1200.00 for door panels and 1200.00 to cover a dash. Alot of work to make it look right. These prices are very reasonable when you look at others.
We would be happy to quote your interior pieces for you
You will not go wrong buying from Dennis here guys, One of the great vendors on here.. Will take care of you befor and after the sale for sure...... Robert
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,080
Likes: 151
From: Toronto
Makes you wonder why alot of guys think that a 'Wheelskin' looks good.
Good luck, my friend attempted a new dash on a 75 Dodge Duster, let me tell you it looks like it would be simple, easy, straight lines, glue down leather... Well if you use the wrong glue, in the sun later (months, years) it bubbled up, it looks like, used toilet paper now.. This is one area that I want a pro or someone that has a lot of experience doing, since everyone will see it and it will reflect the quality of the ride.. Good luck, in looking at the C5 dash, way to many curves and bumps for me...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 38
From: Westchester County, NY
Double D Mods is the BEST!!!! In fact, I volunteer to have all the covers that Dennis put here and install them in my car, free of charge and have a label on my door "Customized by Double D Mods".
Jeff
Jeff
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 2
From: Yes it's hot! Arizona
Its alot more than just glue.
there is a reason we get 375.00 to cover a radio bezel, 1200.00 for door panels and 1200.00 to cover a dash. Alot of work to make it look right. These prices are very reasonable when you look at others.
We would be happy to quote your interior pieces for you
there is a reason we get 375.00 to cover a radio bezel, 1200.00 for door panels and 1200.00 to cover a dash. Alot of work to make it look right. These prices are very reasonable when you look at others.
We would be happy to quote your interior pieces for you
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
BTW- I've started doing this on some of my interior parts with great results. If anyone wants to add a CF look to their interior, give this a shot 
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201689
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201689
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 835
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles CA
I started with the armrest which was easy. Wanted to tackle the door panels and console but never got around to buying a sewing machine. FYI, the C5 console is a real PITA to wrap in CF vinyl. Mine started peeling off after about 6 months as well. Gonna go with a leather wrapped double DIN in the future.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
I started with the armrest which was easy. Wanted to tackle the door panels and console but never got around to buying a sewing machine. FYI, the C5 console is a real PITA to wrap in CF vinyl. Mine started peeling off after about 6 months as well. Gonna go with a leather wrapped double DIN in the future.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 835
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles CA
I cleaned it with Acetone. The peeling happened where the CF vinyl had to be stretched under a really high force to get it to conform to the surface. The relatively simple surfaces never exhibited problems with the vinyl coming off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 835
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles CA
They are 2 different types of vinyl. The CF is similar to the 3m stuff. The armrest is fake perforated leather.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
huh, maybe sanding will help get a better bite. If mine peels up, I'm going to use a laminating resin next time:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479978
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479978