hcfarm

I have 3 tears on drivers side below top seat material and below the seam..thanks for your comments..

jon

lexus114

I have the same problem! looks shabby.Dont know what to do for it though.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Got to a local auto upholstery shop or leather repair specialist (furniture shops will have a name). Experience is everything here, and we (as a rule) just don't have it! Whatever you do, don't use one of those heated paint kits you can buy on the TV, unless you want a real mess on your hands that looks worse than the original tear (I speak from bitter experience).

salimshah

PM if you are in or near Austin.

Salim

hcfarm

thanks for the heads up! will do, I almost picked up one of those kits from autozone..I appreciate it. you saved me a big headache..thanks

jon

hcfarm

Hey Salim, thanks for the offer, but I am about 12 hours away..I appreciate it though...

jon

thomas1

I just did a repair on the vinyl for the first time in my life. was on the door window sill and it came out perfect. Cant even detect it. So I have to disagree with the purchasing of the kit....But I did practice on some paper to see how it works. I know it is not for everyone though.

hcfarm

hey thomas, thanks for comment, did you happen to do any on leather?

thanks
jon

thomas1

No but the sides of the seat are not leather, they are vinyl, the tops are leather...

hcfarm

interesting, well I didn't know that..thanks for the info! I may try a kit...with a little bit of practice

jon

thomas1

Practice on a piece of paper and besure to move the little heating iron around on the grid paper. The key is not to let it sit still, distribute the heat. the first step takes four hours. The adheasive is put in the tear and allowed to dry for four hours. As for mixing the color mix some and smear it on the uphostry for a color match, if it isnt right wipe it off and change the mix a little until it is just right. I lucked out and the first mix was perfect. I should have bought a lotto ticket that day. I could not do that in a million years again. I tried the whole process on a piece of paper for practice. You learn a little from that. patience is the key... and be careful It is not rocket science. The deluxe kit from permatex is the one I got. It has the little heating iron included. cost $15

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

And be extremely careful applying heat or you will melt the surrounding vinyl causing the mess referred to above! (Leather in some ways is easier as it doesn't melt).

hcfarm

thanks for the great advice, I think I could do it, I think I will try it and post the results. I will practice the process like you said before applying..thanks for a great post! I will have to do it after the hurricane, we may have to evacuate..

thanks again
jon

meggo

Thomas1- I have the same Permatex pro style kit...did you use the cloth backing fabric that came with the kit? My tear is about 1" vertical on the driver's side vinyl and I wasn't sure if the backing fabric would stay in place or if it was needed. I plan to use the "fine" grain pattern paper. I'm new to the site and this is my first post- appreciate your patience and thanks to hcfarm for this question.

thomas1

Yes I do have that backing, but the door panel vinyl is very stiff and didnt require the backing. I would think with a little of the first glue that is applied the backing will stay in place. Also be very careful with the amount of final coloring that is added and try to keep the repair as small as possible so that the grain that is melted in wont be overwhelming None of the patterns matched exactly but after all said and done the fine grain showed the least, and without pointing it out is very hard to detect.