Reupholstering 1959 Seats - not so easy

[Ian G.]

Hi folks,

My car came with repro-style reupholstered seats. The original bottom springs were gone and didn't have that hollow look. I could also tell that they didn't use burlap or cotton, and the metal frame was wearing the edges. I decided to reupholster my 1959 seats myself. I got all the parts... the original-style springs, burlap, cotton, foam and of course the vinyl. I watched the Al Knoch video and boy does he stress that they make it look easy but it isn't. I'm using cheap amazon hog ring pliers, which have worked fine to this point.

I've been trucking along and got the bottom and back frames to the point of putting on the vinyl cover and I got stuck at the point of hog ringing the seat back cover inner loop wire through the foam, and the burlap to then ring the inner wire on the seat back itself. Per the video, you gotta push hard till you see the points of the hog ring just poke through the back and then squeeze. Well I cannot get them to poke through and I'm ruining the foam. I'm wondering if anyone who is an upholstery pro or has done this themselves have any tips or tricks for this process? I can't find any posts (or old restorer articles) of folks who have tried this, but I assume some enterprising members have.

I figure my first step is to get better hog ring pliers... Maybe Eastwood or C.S. Osborne? But I'm not sure they will make the hog rings tips any more "prominent". Also possibly further bending my "bent" hogring pliers into a 90-degree angle (which I can see on the video Al Knoch's guy has done to his pliers presumably to get more leverage).

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[Gary C.]

Ian,

Best to get the seat covers warmed up in the sun. If you need to punch holes in the vinyl and the hog rings aren't sharp enough, mark the locations with a sharpie and punch a small hole with an ice pick.

Gary
....

[Ian G.]

Thanks Gary. Right now I'm trying to do what this guy in the pic is doing... Just pushing the hog ring through layers of vinyl, foam and a wired burlap pad and a burlap overlay... so it's a lot of layers. It goes through the vinyl sheath of the wire just fine, the foam, but I just can't get it to poke through the burlap. I hog ringed the foam through the burlap in three places already in preparation, so I think the hog rings just aren't long enough to go around the seat cover wire, the foam, and all the burlap layers and poke through... Maybe I need longer hog rings? I'd expect to have received them from Al Knoch if I did though... Maybe I need stronger arms :P

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[Patrick H.]

Do you have the rings that were on before?

I found that when I did a set of seats, the rings and other attaching wires did not match what the factory installed, especially regarding length. I had to modify the replacements, and reuse some originals.

Hog rings do come in different sizes (Google the descriptions). I would also suggest different hog ring pliers. The ones I got with my installation kit were the cheapest around. If I were doing it now, I'd buy different ones. I also have acquired some additional tools (modified straight slot screwdriver) from other members that help grab through the foam and attach the rings.

[John W.]

Ian,
I reupholstered the seats in my 69. I had a multitude of different size, new hog rings, but still needed to re-used quite a few of the old, original ones. I think quality pliers make the job a little easier too. The offset (bent) hog ring pliers are extremely helpful. I got my supplies and pliers at Eastwood. It was worth the cost. (They have them for $24.) Be patient, you can do it!

Regards,
John

[Ian G.]

Thanks Patrick & John. There were some extra rings here and there, but I cut them off -- I didn't observe always save the originals -- but they didn't look bigger than the ones I got as I recall. The hog rings I have are I guess D-style 3/4" and have a depth of about 13/32". I'm not seeing hog rings 1" with more depth than this online sadly. I'll keep looking. I do plan on getting a better set of bent pliers (either CS Osborne or the Eastwood).

I actually got hog rings from both Corvette Central and Al Knoch and they were the same (probably both from Al Knoch). Seats were reupholstered prior, so I didn't have original stuff to work from for the most part and have been looking online and on eBay for original examples. I went on chatgpt and asked it a few questions and its recommending 1/2" inch hog rings, but I'm not sure I buy it.

[Ian G.]

Update. I managed to do the hog rings on the inner seam. At the end of the day I had to just learn the "feel" of it, and get a pair of bent CS Osborne Hog Ring Pliers. To do it, I found it necessary to do so by feel, partially squeeze the hog rings and push the jaw of the hog ring pliers over the welt wire (not just the tip of the hog ring). Then push with a great deal of force top down, through the layers of foam & burlap and feel for the tip of the hog ring on the other side overt the back wire and squeeze. Essentially "digging" through the foam vs compressing it. Even then I had to try a few times for most of the hog rings, and had to take numerous breaks to rest my shoulder and hand. The outside was easier force-wise but a lot more finesse. Here's the finished result.

I'm not happy with the wrinkles along the right side. I did the seat inside and it was no more than 75 degrees. I tried adding some more cotton batting up underneath, but it's very difficult to get my hand under there even after removing several hog rings. Also tried pulling the vinyl a bit more towards the upper right bolster area and applied some heat and beat it with a little wooden bat. It relaxed a bit. Some of the wrinkles look to be from the factory packing and I'm hoping it will all relax with time. I think a bit more cotton pressed into the top of the foam along the seam would have helped, but I can't do it without partially disassembling and I'm certain I'll ruin the foam. If anyone has any ideas on tricks of the trade I'd be grateful.

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