So I skinned the back seat, heck of the lot of little square nasty clips held the skin to the cylindrical frame bars. How I assume that I can get a tool that allows me to reattach this all in some manner?
Perhaps I should have asked that before I skinned her, but I like challenges. The top of the seat is cracked from sun perishing.


hull

pesky pins

skin
.

 

I want to say the tool is called hog ring pliers, but it’s been a long time!!

 

The nasty little clips sure have a hog ring vibe to them.

 

Yes, those clips are called "hog rings" and are a staple (no pun intended) of the upholstery industry. And following that, the special tool used to attach/engage them is the "hog ring pliers". Very readily available and easy to use.

Dave

 

Good to hear, thanks. Hog rings as a name has a real Southern American BBQ sound to it. I shall track them down.

 

get creative and just bend them back with regular pliers. One by one.

 

Right after I finished cutting the lawns with nail scissors......

 

You'll find hog pliers in a variety of configurations/shapes/sizes. My suggestion, FWIW, is to buy a longer style with a curve. The shorter, straight style may not allow the reach you need

Cheers
DD

 

Hog rings and pliers are usually available at upholstery shops. Sometimes at tool stores. don't buy the first one you see as better pliers make the job far smoother.

geneo

 

Your local ACE Hardware may have them, I know ours does. Good luck!

Jeff H

 

forget that cover, I have a very nice rear seat back from a 1983-build. PM if interested.

 

Like Doug said, buy a longer curved pair of pliers.

My experience recovering seats in the past is to go with leather. My experience with the reproduction vinyl seat kits was disappointing. The material is nowhere near the thickness and strength of original vinyl of the period, and I had issues with the stitching pulling out at a couple of seems. I eventually went with a complete leather kit from GAHH and while not inexpensive, the quality was top-notch.

 

Darren:

XThe little rings are knwn as hg rings The tool is a hog ring plier i am aware of small ones and arge ones. m son borrowed mine!

Google for a suplier. i would be surprised if amazon did not have tem.

ny upholstery supply shop should.

In a pinch grid a groove in a chea ordinary plier

Carl !

 

I chose the vinyl seat covers from GAHH and the material is thicker than the OEM stuff in my Chevy's, fit was excellent. I'm sure there are other brands that don't measure up.

Dave

 

me too, but I bought the set of seats already upholstered, all I had to do was to swap seats one by one. Whoever did them used new foams, they are super-comfy. Leather is too high-maintenance and fragile for my taste.

 

You can also use zip ties in place of hog rings. It's especially useful on areas where you need a precise amount of tension on the material.

 

I too like the how durable the original MB Tex is, but my experience was probably with a lesser grade material. GAHH leather, while not inexpensive, was very high quality. Good to hear their vinyl is good quality too.

Another trick is to steam foam cushions. It can bring a lot of life back into them.