68torino460
New Member
Nice!
Seat Upholstery
- Thread starter 68torino460
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live4theking
Old Man with a Hat
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I'm getting ready to do some sewing myself. I'm just going to make a slip on cover as a trial run, using my wifes machine. If it turns out I'll be looking to buy a walking foot machine.
What machine did you buy?
Margos Dezirian
Member
I bought a Consew CP206RL.
It's a cheaper version of the sailrite.
I currently have a Vintage Consew 226.
It was a great deal on Marketplace.
Actually a much better machine than the portable.
But I did my first work on the 206RL.
Rustyrodknocker
Senior Member
Since you are not concerned with originality and these are not terrible at all, I would say just get them repaired and roll
NeverTooLateToRegress
New Member
Nice seats but $9K???!!!! That's ridiculous. If you have a walking foot sewing machine, you can learn to do it yourself. Just have to source the appropriate fabric and foam. There's a youtube video I saw the other day that offers a course in making those exact kind of seats. Even beginner students did a pretty good job.
Dan Scully
Well-Known Member
Not the same, but local guy who is great did the seat for my 68-hearse seat. Had embossed emblems I had an embroidery shop make them and he sewed it all together from his materials, with everything done was $800. Did the seats in the wagon from scratch for $750 French seam and all.
Rustyrodknocker
Senior Member
That an incredible deal on the wagon seats.
Rustyrodknocker
Senior Member
Oregon Auto Shops’ Labor Rates Surge by 25% Since 2021
Shop rates are way high these days. I understand, I bill out labor at not a bunch less. 20%ish.
My employer supplied pickup transmission **** the bed on me last summer, went to the dealer on a tow truck. The good news because it was under 60k miles, the warranty covered the repair. They noted it should get the 60k recommend service, and I agreed. At the end, they emailed me a bill for $1600.
I called the service manager and and told him he said the warranty would cover it. He agreed and said that was the 60k service I agreed to....
Granted, upholstery shops are not charging $150hr typically but some are close I would guess.
Would be great if there were more skilled people to barter, kudos to the diy guys. I started out welding because I wanted to fabricate and spotted owls don't roost in the places that trade is applicable.
Since, I have acquired machining tools and autobody tools and paint equipment and been watching for the right deal on a sewing machine for years. But im out of space and low on time. I started out just wanting to build motors because the cars still had paint and interior... fixing up old cars is way more work these days.
Shop rates are way high these days. I understand, I bill out labor at not a bunch less. 20%ish.
My employer supplied pickup transmission **** the bed on me last summer, went to the dealer on a tow truck. The good news because it was under 60k miles, the warranty covered the repair. They noted it should get the 60k recommend service, and I agreed. At the end, they emailed me a bill for $1600.
I called the service manager and and told him he said the warranty would cover it. He agreed and said that was the 60k service I agreed to....
Granted, upholstery shops are not charging $150hr typically but some are close I would guess.
Would be great if there were more skilled people to barter, kudos to the diy guys. I started out welding because I wanted to fabricate and spotted owls don't roost in the places that trade is applicable.
Since, I have acquired machining tools and autobody tools and paint equipment and been watching for the right deal on a sewing machine for years. But im out of space and low on time. I started out just wanting to build motors because the cars still had paint and interior... fixing up old cars is way more work these days.
At the dealership level, labor rates are still market-dependent, BUT the OEMs know what everybody is charging THEM in a particular market region, so they know those things. When a dealer submits to increase their labor rate, the OEM must approve it.
A friend recently bought a used Range Rover for his college-graduated grandson. He took it to the dealer (whom he knows) for some work. He almost had a heart attack when he discovered the labor rate was $250.00/hour. I laughed to myself as he puffed-up and said "I know the owner. I'll see what can be done about that." I grinned internally.
Several years ago, I went to the area Range Rover dealer to get parts for our UCD, who had traded for one of the trendy models. For 4 rotors (OEM drilled and slotted, which can't be turned), wear sensors, 2 sets of pads, our dealership cost was $1300.00 for those parts. I shook my head, "No wonder they traded it in! They found out how much the brake job would cost. LOL". In that same general time, I got many foreign-brand brake parts. Mercedes, Lexus, etc. Mercedes brake parts were MUCH more reasonable in price. That was about 6 years ago.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
A friend recently bought a used Range Rover for his college-graduated grandson. He took it to the dealer (whom he knows) for some work. He almost had a heart attack when he discovered the labor rate was $250.00/hour. I laughed to myself as he puffed-up and said "I know the owner. I'll see what can be done about that." I grinned internally.
Several years ago, I went to the area Range Rover dealer to get parts for our UCD, who had traded for one of the trendy models. For 4 rotors (OEM drilled and slotted, which can't be turned), wear sensors, 2 sets of pads, our dealership cost was $1300.00 for those parts. I shook my head, "No wonder they traded it in! They found out how much the brake job would cost. LOL". In that same general time, I got many foreign-brand brake parts. Mercedes, Lexus, etc. Mercedes brake parts were MUCH more reasonable in price. That was about 6 years ago.
Enjoy!
CBODY67
NeverTooLateToRegress
New Member
One should be able to find a decent industrial walking foot in the range of $300 to as much as $1000 on like Craigslist. The best are people that buy them in bulk and flip them then you'll get a chance to get that low price. I got mine (Consew 206RB4) for $600 and it came with a table, lamp, thread stands, tools, a GPS, a few thread spools, variable motor from an older couple who started a business sewing boat covers and I think they were expecting me to haggle them down to $400 but six of one, who cares. They threw in a bunch of extras that made up for it.
The best places to source them would be where there are major clothes making factories, like PA, NC, maybe Baltimore, probably NJ and NY, etc.
The best places to source them would be where there are major clothes making factories, like PA, NC, maybe Baltimore, probably NJ and NY, etc.
Robert Saigh
Senior Member
The whole interior and leather seats for $9 grand... that's not too bad, still a little high. IMO!
Just Carbs
Senior Member
For the old cars I drive a lot I've been using the peel and stick vinyl panels for repairs to sections of leather and vinyl seats. It works well if the seats are "just" cracked and split and the objective is to arrest the progress of deterioration.
It's nice to sit down on a seat that's in one piece.
It's nice to sit down on a seat that's in one piece.
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