Vinyl covering ??

[BamBam28 10+ year member]

I'm about to cover a box I just built with some black pleather/vinyl material that I got yesterday and I was looking for some tips/advice on how to do this and have a seamless look to it. I have done carpet a couple of times with good results but this vinyl is much thinner and will show mistakes much more than carpet would. Anyone here done this before and know what to do and what not to do?

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[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

The box has to be PERFECT for vinyl to look good. Sand the whole box completely smooth, no screws poking out, no seams on wood, no nothing. If you need to, get out bondo and bondo and sand the whole box until its flawless.

If the box is going in and you're only seeing 2 sides of the box, only cover those sides. To get it tight around corners, heat it up where its going to bend and stretch it tight. On the corners, be sure to round them over so it doesnt tear the vinyl.

Its tricky stuff, but you will get the hang of it.

 

[Bender. 10+ year member]

The box has to be PERFECT for vinyl to look good. Sand the whole box completely smooth, no screws poking out, no seams on wood, no nothing. If you need to, get out bondo and bondo and sand the whole box until its flawless.
If the box is going in and you're only seeing 2 sides of the box, only cover those sides. To get it tight around corners, heat it up where its going to bend and stretch it tight. On the corners, be sure to round them over so it doesnt tear the vinyl.

Its tricky stuff, but you will get the hang of it.

this...i always go to a discount store and buy alot of cheap towels and cover the box in a layer of them first too

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, its a different look if you pad under the vinyl. A good way to do padding is to carpet the box first, except put the backing out. Carpet it with the actual carpet facing the box, with the carper backing facing out. Carpet it like normal, then wrap vinyl over that. Its a much different look to do padded vinyl like that, than it is to do real tight hard vinyl.

My doors are going to be vinyled, with it padded on the bottom, and the top with the tweeter pod being wrapped in very tight vinyl. Will all be one color, but will have two different looks because of the padded/tight wrap. Should look sick.

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

joanne fabrics sells vinyl in a few different colors that has a small amount of backing/padding on it already. works like a dream.

another option is to go to a carpeting place and get some rubber carpet padding. i have a friend who installs it commercially and he gave me some to use. it's a little less than 1/2" thick but very easy to work with.