Automotive Upholstery Handbook [Paperback]

Don Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

In this revised edition, learn to make and install complete interiors in your car, truck or van. The author teaches you how to sew like an expert, and avoid costly mistakes. Learn to recover and build bench bucket seats, make headliners and carpets, plus how to build boat seats from scratch. Materials are described with specific recommendations for vinyl, cloth, velvet, leather, Nimbus, panel board, etc. Indispensable for anyone interested in upholstery.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: California Bill's Automotive (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555610307
• ISBN-13: 978-1555610302
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Do-It-Yourself Guide to Auto Upholstery Restoration, March 7, 2004

By 

Andrea Acailawen (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Automotive Upholstery Handbook (Paperback)

This inexpensive handbook introduces many key methods for making and installing automotive upholstery. The focus of this text is on restoration (stock replacement) projects and covers everything from carpeting and seat covers, to headliners, door panels and convertible tops. Basic projects for trucks, vans and boats are also included.

This is probably the best introduction to auto upholstery sewing techniques that I've come across. This text is packed full of photographs and the steps outlined very clearly to take you from beginning to end of an upholstery restoration project as smoothly as possible.

A few minor criticisms on this text: all photographs in this text are black & white, and some of them are not as clear as they could be; pattern making is relatively bushed over (in favor of working on the actual fabric to be used); and a few very commonly used techniques are left out (although you will find them in Taylor's "Custom Auto Interiors" book).

All in all, this is an excellent introduction to auto upholstery techniques, a great time and money saver, and will get you off to a very good start. This book will tell you everything you need to know to restore your car's interior, making it look brand new.

If you are interested in creating custom upholstery and interiors, however, you'll need another book, as this text does not cover custom auto trim work. "Custom Auto Interiors" by Don Taylor and Ron "The Stitcher" Mangus beautifully covers custom auto upholstery/fabrication techniques, and together with the Automotive Upholstery Handbook, will provide you everything you need to know to create an incredible custom interior for your next custom project.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference and review book!, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Automotive Upholstery Handbook (Paperback)

If you have done auto upholstery before this book reviews the simple things that you have most likely learned to bypass. Don makes it perfectly clear that to shortcut is a big mistake. Take the time and do it right. Good book for the beginner and the journeyman. Thank you for the reminders.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excelent book for the beginning upholsterer, July 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Automotive Upholstery Handbook (Paperback)

This book contains a lot of information about auto upholtery. I had never touched a machine before reading the book, and I have succesfully covered several seats. My only complaint would be that I would have liked more coverage of making door panels, center consoles, and other custom items, but that is only because that is my main interest. There is enough basic information on those subjects to get me going though. Overall a great book.