Customer Reviews

Automotive Upholstery Handbook

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book is perfect to anyone who is new to automotive upholstery. It starts off with a chapter on automotive upholstery supplies: fabrics, tools, materials, equipment, etc. This chapter exactly tells you what to buy and what not. There is even an list of nationwide suppliers included at the end of the book. The next chapter is a chapter on basic step by step sewing instructions introducing you to the most commonly used stitches and techniques in automotive upholstery. Next you can test your newly obtained sewing skills by doing an basic upholstery project. The next few chapters cover more projects including reupholstering a bench, bucket seats and even an motorcycle seat. In the final chapters headliners, doorpanels, vinyl tops, etc are covered. The last chapter is on custom interiors, a nice closing of the book to show you what your interior could look like. I enjoyed reading the book very much. The book has lots of photographs with detailed instructions which teach you the technique of upholstering even if you start off with zero knowledge. This book is definitely worth your money !

Automotive upholstery (trimming) is challenging and rewarding. This is by far the most organized and valuable guide I have seen. It starts with the basic tools and operations necessary to build or repair upholstery. It then moves on in a task oriented path of building complexity and difficulty.

The reference section is helpful and the illustrations are excellent. For beginning trimmers, it is an excellent guide.

I would have to agree with most of the folks here that this is the resource for auto upholstery, including airplanes in my case. This book is a must read and will be money well spent. His other book, custom car interiors would be another one that would complement this book. As a person who wants redo panels and seats in an aircraft, I felt I needed to see a lot of pictures to drive the point home. The second book, after reading this, gave me a feeling of thinking outside of what was done already and that is always worth more than a measly few bucks. as you walk away thinking, instead of copying.

This book starts off with tools and sewing and then goes off into projects. If your reading about auto upholstery for the first time, you need to get this book. The second book acts more like a cookbook and is really geared towards people using thier imagination in creating something that may be 'new', instead of a restore or kit seat, as I mentioned above. both together gives you the tools.

Both books are beside me by the sewing machine as practice on scrap for the real project.

So why four stars ? I thought the very important section on explanation of seat cover movement and listing wires was lacking. I had to go to a professional trim shop to ask what all that meant. Everything else in the book was a no brianer.

This book is great for getting started in the basics of Auto Upholstery. It explains the very basics, the tools needed, terms of the trade, and even gives you a project to try out your skills and tools. It is plainly written so is easy to understand. The only things I did not like were the black and white pictures and that the book only really dealt with working with vinyl, and it has many sections on replacing vinyl tops on cars and convertables when I was hoping for more basic projects like normal car seats that are out of fabric instead of vinyl. One plus is it does have a section on boats seats and motorcycle seats. Overall, it is a good book to have especially to get started with.

I am a retired college teacher, have done some upholstery over the years and I am somewhere between a beginner and advanced beginner. In a world of nortoriously poorly written trades manuals, Taylor's book stands out as a work of art. Written in a crisp clear style, the reader will find one or more aces to keep on every page. There should be more than five stars for this book. The author should produce more books; he definately has an unusual talent with the written word.

Vernon Duvall

This book told me everything I need to know in regards to making
upholstery for my car. It gives instructions on how to measure
yardage, the type of thread I needed and what attachments I need
for the industrial sewing machine.

Great, just take a look of what it has on the inside (thanks AMAZON.com for this feature). I covers all you need to know about auto upholstery... try it! it's easy... The only thing is that you will need a good sewing machine, but who cares if you are going to earn a lot with it!

If you are planning to do your own designs, and see them come true in all kind of cars, this is your book. It's a great step-by-step guide!

It just don't get the 5 stars because all photos (exept those on the cover) are Black and White... I just can't understand why there are still books like this in B/W.