NEWBIE QUESTION. I'm totally lost.

[BombSquad99 10+ year member]

I made this center console out of fiberglass. I'm mounting a TV and a couple other things on it. I want to wrap it with this fake suede. I really have no clue how to go about it. Ima use spray glue and a heat gun. But that's all I know. I don't know how to contour the suede to the console. How do I use a single piece of the material to cover the front, top, and sides??? It would be great if someone would direct me to a video tutorial. Any input would be much appreciated.

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[traksta15 10+ year member]

Heat gun, 3m adhesive, and a lot of patience. How stretchable is the suede? It's gotta be pretty flexable

 

[snakeye 10+ year member]

I would add in a hot glue gun to that list. judging by those pics i would try starting at the top and just heat and stretch with all your might

 

[BombSquad99 10+ year member]

It's pretty stretchy. I'm befuddled by what to do at a corner. Like this:

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

Yeah, with the shape of that console, you're going to have to have seams. No way to make that with just one piece. Probably two pieces of the sides and one piece that goes from front, over the top, all the way to the back, and just try and match it as best as possible. If you're good, you could possibly add some color matched or contrasting piping to make the seams look nice and professional.

 

[BombSquad99 10+ year member]

That's what I was afraid of. Am I correct in thinking that the seams are going to be where the red lines are on the console?

P.S. Thanks for the response bro. I've posted these pics and this question all over the place and everyone said the same thing "heat gun and stretch".

 

[BassMechkanic 10+ year member]

it would look better with some stitches, have it done in a french seam, it will give it detail

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

That's what I was afraid of. Am I correct in thinking that the seams are going to be where the red lines are on the console?
P.S. Thanks for the response bro. I've posted these pics and this question all over the place and everyone said the same thing "heat gun and stretch".

Yep, more than likely. There are several methods you could do to fancy it up a bit however, like I said earlier, maybe doing piping, or two tone, and make it look like there are seams there on purpose //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[Anniku989 10+ year member]

Take it to a leather/boot repair place and see if they can stitch it up nice for ya, shouldn't cost too much, and it'll give it a nice® look

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

Yeah, have them put a double stitch on it so it looks like factory leather seats. Just make sure they put some sort of padding underneath so that the seams don't stick up from the console and so the little bumps and imperfections in the fiberglass don't show through.

Good idea though Anniku

 

[BombSquad99 10+ year member]

I'm gonna cut out three pieces. 2 sides and a top. I'm gonna leave about an inch overlap to wrap around the bottom. How much overlap should I leave where the top piece connects to the sides? So the seamstress can have material to do the stitching. I'm pretty terrified to cut the material but hey, i'll never know until I try. This is my second foray into fabrication and my first time using fiberglass. I appreciate all your suggestions.

This is a pic of the first console I made:

 

[mmouse57 10+ year member]

go get a good sewing machine do that right and having seems isnt bad at all ill take nice sewing lines over wrinkles anyday

 

[BombSquad99 10+ year member]

I'm DEFINITELY not going to sew it myself. I have a very good seamstress that I use. And she's used to doing special projects for me.

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

i would just give her the entire piece of suede and let her cut and stick it then. no sense in possibly wasting the material by cutting it to the wrong sizes.

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

I'm gonna cut out three pieces. 2 sides and a top. I'm gonna leave about an inch overlap to wrap around the bottom. How much overlap should I leave where the top piece connects to the sides? So the seamstress can have material to do the stitching. I'm pretty terrified to cut the material but hey, i'll never know until I try. This is my second foray into fabrication and my first time using fiberglass. I appreciate all your suggestions.
This is a pic of the first console I made:

That looks really really nice. What kind of car is that for. That shifter and console looks familiar, I can't put my finger on it though.