Connect with your social network account

[jeffberk]

I upholstered my seats, door panels, and transmission tunnel using pre-cut, stitched leather kits from a couple of sources. The dash ended in disaster. The kit for the dash was ordered from a company in the UK and did not fit right. I shipped it back and they replaced it with a better but still not correct fit. I replaced a few panels on the dash cover they sent but it was still not correct. After a few month, it shrunk and I'm ready to strip it off. I've done some minor leather sewing (i.e. I'm a novice) and was going to try and start from scratch with leather or a leather alternative.

I read in a post here that Allsport might be a good leather alternative because its stretchy and durable. Are there any training videos on using this material? Because of the many curves in this dashboard, I'm going to need to do a lot of contouring. The inset gauges were a pain in the butt when I used the precut leather cover. I've attached photos showing a similar dash so you can see what I'm dealing with.

[WILD BILL]

Are you using glue? If so which one?

Also, A 4 way stretch may help but I suspect what ever you use is going to need a lot of heat/steaming to get it to take those curves.

My plan of attack would be use clamps on the flat areas along the windshield area, then stretch and steam to fit the rest getting it to kinda take the shape before doing a final steam/stretch and gluing it down.

[jeffberk]

I was using 3M Fastbond and lots of clamps including tennis balls to form the inset gauges when I installed the leather a couple of years ago. I used steam to help stretch the leather but as I said, the leather later shrank. It didn't help that the vendor cut the product too small.
I'm assuming that the allsport vinyl is far more stretchy than leather and looks almost like leather.

If I use the allsport, do I need to use heat to stretch it? Are there any videos or instructions that discuss the procedure?

If I try and use leather again, what type of leather would work best with the complex curves involved?

Thanks for the help. I made a bit of a mess out of this dash and I'd like to get it looking right.
Jeff

[WILD BILL]

Never heard of that 3M Fastbond. Most of us use Weldwood. Contact adhesive.

https://www.amazon.com/Dap-Weldwood-Con ... XS29&gQT=1

I Have not used the Allsport so I can't ansewr those questions.

I know I've seen a few dash covering vids on You Tube. I wouldn't imagine much difference in technique between vinyl and leather aside from I would expect vinyl to stretch a little easier.

[jeffberk]

I used Fastbond because I had it on hand and its safer to use from a toxicity and flammability standpoint plus it can be cleaned up with soap and water until it dries.