DIY retrimming... anyone tried?

[pupp]

I know of BB's great efforts with his Griff dash, but anyone tried doorcards, bolsters etc with any success? Just done my bolsters and gearshift gaitor in navy hide (to match dashtop and carpets...rest of interior butterscotch) and am pleased with the result though it was a battle (hide was a bit stiff and maybe too thick)... anyone know the optimum thicknes/grade etc, oh and a decent adhesive...I used spray Bostick which was a bit marginal (time will tell)... Would like to try the doorcards next but am not lloking forward to tackling the tight curves on them

[parrot of doom]

I'd really like to make a nice 'gaitor' (right word?) for the steering column. I'm sure if I got a nice bit of biscuit leather, and found somebody local who could stitch leather, it would look great. Much better than the cheapy black plastic.

[zippee]

parrot of doom said:

I'd really like to make a nice 'gaitor' (right word?) for the steering column. I'm sure if I got a nice bit of biscuit leather, and found somebody local who could stitch leather, it would look great. Much better than the cheapy black plastic.

I'd certainly second that. The steering column really does let down an otherwise beautiful interior design - even with the leven stalks.
New gear lever gaiter first for me though. Mines cracked to hell, anyone any idea where I can get one made (at a reasonable cost) from hide rather than the vinyl I've got now?

[pupp]

zippee said:

New gear lever gaiter first for me though. Mines cracked to hell, anyone any idea where I can get one made (at a reasonable cost) from hide rather than the vinyl I've got now?

I used the vinyl original as a pattern, after slitting it along one seam and just formed the new one to the same dimensions out of one sheet (a sort of square bottomed cone), with just one seam that I hand stitched (instaed of four). Obviously lost all the detail stitching but I actually prefer the less fussy appearance. Obtained some good quality hide from a local leather stockist (£20 for three complete skins), but it was a tad thick for the job and takes some working.

[shadowninja]

Flintstone's done a fair bit of carpet work... (no obvious comments please )

[sparkythecat]

This thread is useless without pictures!

[M@H]

I'm just in the process of doing all my carpets and the doorcards.. I'm going to replace the flat ambala secton of the doorcards with matching carpet as per the earlier cars at the same time too.

Cheers
Matt

[rooster]

I reckon we can make a new gaiter sleeve using the old one as a template and using a leather needle on the sewing machine, mmm I quite like the idea of doing that!!!

[flintstone]

shadowninja said:

Flintstone's done a fair bit of carpet work... (no obvious comments please )

I thought that was our little secret.

[shadowninja]

flintstone said:

shadowninja said: Flintstone's done a fair bit of carpet work... (no obvious comments please ) I thought that was our little secret.

People will talk!

PS There is a large grey waterproof object here asking about his big blue friend...

[flintstone]

Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! The car cover!

Sorry, forgot. Off to parts foreign tomorrow, back next week so will drop in.

[gazzad]

If your'e after a newly made gaitor in leather or vinyl try Martrim on 01606 834480. They made me a new gaitor in vinyl to replace the old one, except I changed the colour to match the piping. They kept my old one as a template. Cost was £82.25 a bit costly I know but a fantastic job! all individual pieces stitched together, & not one piece with one join.
They did require a sample to match the new colour so I cut a little piece from under one of the side pieces either side of the tunnel. Highly recomended

[squirrelz]

Joospeed got me a leather gearlever gaitor from TMS for about £20 a couple of services back. Seems a bit more reasonable than 80 odd quid