I want educated answers here, not guesses and stupid comments. I just ordered some vinyl today for my door panels. Now I molded Grand Am and Cavalier door panels together so basically Im rewrapping the GA door insert. The upholstery shop wants $75-100 to do both doors and then the 2 armrest areas on the rear panels.
Is this something I can do myself? I have the inserts taken out of the door. Its a formed piece of ABS with foam on it and then the stock vinyl. There is about 1" of exposed ABS all the way around the piece. Can I just use 3M super 90 spray adhesive and stretch it over the existing vinyl? There are also some vertical ridges running the length of the insert. Can I use some sort of flat tool to push the vinyl into the ridges?
Thanx
Im sure you could do it yourself. I have tried my hand at recovering with vinyl
and it takes a lot of patience but it isnt too hard unless youre doing something
that has a lot of curves. If youre just wanting to do the parts of the door panels
I wouldnt think it would be too hard. I didnt use any adhesive at all on mine. I
just stretched it over and stapled it. If I can cover mine I'm sure you can handle
it.
Z2FLIP4 wrote:I want educated answers here, not guesses and stupid comments. I just ordered some vinyl today for my door panels. Now I molded Grand Am and Cavalier door panels together so basically Im rewrapping the GA door insert. The upholstery shop wants $75-100 to do both doors and then the 2 armrest areas on the rear panels.
Is this something I can do myself? I have the inserts taken out of the door. Its a formed piece of ABS with foam on it and then the stock vinyl. There is about 1" of exposed ABS all the way around the piece. Can I just use 3M super 90 spray adhesive and stretch it over the existing vinyl? There are also some vertical ridges running the length of the insert. Can I use some sort of flat tool to push the vinyl into the ridges?
Thanx
You pretty much got the way to do it down pat, A spackle blade or edger might help you get into those ridges.
Flip-
While I condone all of your efforts for doing your work yourself, I would have to say spend the extra money for the shop to do it, that way you have kind of a "warranty" from them. I know I feel better about myself when I accomplish something being done to the car, rather than paying someone, but there is a point where you have to say, let the expert do it. I would just pay them, and get on a personal level with the shop, and go from there. Who knows, maybe they can help you out with sort of a sponsor program somewhere down the road. Until then, bite the bullet and let the pros take care of it. You have too much time put into your project to have a mistake happen, and you have to start over.
PS- Car is looking good despite all of your troubles with the shop you dealt with. Keep up the good work!!!
^^^^bah, id do it myself personally. i did my armrests without ever havign a clue how to do it, and they came out perfect 3 different times. then i did my headliner, front dash top, and rear dash the same way, with nothing but flawless results.
i use 3m super 77 and hot glue around the edges, and works great
Brian, I believe that you can do it yourself, i have wrapped several different pieces in Vinyl for my car and all turned out great. Its not hard you just have to have patients.
If that shop is competent have them do it. Your doors are not flat and smooth. This is for a high profile vehicle, and you won't be happy with how they turn out unless they are perfect (at least that's how I am).
Most glues we have tried release in the extreme heat anyhow. We haven't had any luck with Select Products or any other glue we purchase as an auto products dealer. If that shop specializes in automotive upholstery and you are happy with their work, the price is pretty good.
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Eazy Ent. ( 716 ) wrote:^^^^bah, id do it myself personally. i did my armrests without ever havign a clue how to do it, and they came out perfect 3 different times.
yep...i agree if i can do work like this then anyone can learn to reupholster:
Well the vinyl gets here next wed. Ill do it myself. The last time I let a shop touch my car it ended up destroyed and I was out $5000. I dont really trust anyone anymore. If I @!#$ it up its only a piece plastic which can be picked up at the junkyard for cheap. That and Im super anal about the work I do on my own car, Ive seen some real hacks out there(The Speed Shop, Loves Park IL) and this car will be flawless when its done.
Flip with as much modified s**t you have done to your car yourself, ask yourself why the h*ll can't I do this??? You have done things your self that some people including my self could'nt, and like you said hey what the h*ll if it messes up it is only replaceable... do it
yes you can do it your self! just have some pasiants and ya you will get it the way you want to!
It takes patients and a little trial and error. Bottom line it's not to hard to do with most things. But if it's real curvey and has wacky styles thats when its hard. If there is too many curves to do with one piece and it needs to be stiched and sewed that when you should hit up the shop.
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im not sure exactly what the pieces your doing look like, but if its flat and you can get a staple on the backside its relatively simple to do. once you get into curves is where it can be difficult. one of the most important things is to find a good glue. most upolstery shops use glue and shoot it thru a hvlp gun. most of the stuff you buy at the hardware stores is junk and won't hold up in the heat unless you get lucky. u really need a high temp glue. most of the 3m stuff esp. the 90 is junk. it wont hold up to the heat unless it is secured in other ways. ive used 3m toneous cover top glue and its held up well its allot stronger then their standard stuff but you have to get it from an automotive shop the hardware stores dont carry it as far as ive seen. i believe i got it from car quest that was also a paint seller. as far as shops go, just check out their work, i had a local shop do my seats because there is no way i could get them looking professional. sometimes it pays to have someone qualified do it. esp. if your car is pretty much a pure show car. people may get down on you for not doing all the work yourself. but when you want to walk off the stage at car shows consistantly your sometimes better off having a professional do it.
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you can do it your self just make sure you dont use that cheap spray glue in the cans. if you have a air compressor and a extra paint gun i would use the contact cement glue that comes in a gallon. best one would be a brand called hybond,it will with stand the heat and and wont sag the way spray glue in car can works.. i know cause i work at an upholstery shop. first hand experience
also it is good to have a heat gun and heat up the backside of the vinyl so it can stretch around the corners better
how much does this stuff cost exactly. per gallon. and how do i go about getting ahold of some
Here is the piece Im redoing, the long diagonal that goes from the speaker to the rear of the panel. Ill stop by the autopaint place I get all my supplies from and see what they have tfor adhesives.
Heres the panel done and in primer
all you need to do is prep the panel by scuffing the hell out of it paint it precut the vinyl to the panel then make sure it is all good and warm strech it over so it is where it should be then spray some 3m arasol glue start from one side to the other and staple the edges when your done!
you cant really staple the pieces we want to do. and i need a stronger glue than the crapy 3m stuff. it dont hold wortha damn. and yeah.Z2FLIP4 - if you can get me a name and price of some stuff it would be great. thanks
the 3m 90 holds AWESOME. but it takes awhile to REALLY hold. so if u need this peice done super tight, it is gunna be hard to do with any glue that isnt instant completely dry
the trick to the 3m 90 is to do one layer of glue, wait till tacky adn then do another layer of the glue wait till tacky and then put the vynl on.
i did this with my headliner and it is AWESOME. it has been through 2 100+ degree summers in california and is still perfect.
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The Door panels look really good! Id say go for it yourself, unless you want those lines in it. A shop can re-produce those, you might have a little trouble
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I took it to a shop and he said he'd go right over the existing material...............so if theyre gonna charge me $100 to do that I might as well do it myself for free.
He called yesterday and said the material arrived so I have to pick it up tommorow or friday.
Ya the door panel turned out perfect. I started on the other side this week too.
