Antique Chair, part 9

I have then applied a piece of burlap over the springs. I leave enough of the burlap to be able to fold it over and then staple it to the rails. Any excess can be trimmed off. To this point, I have described different tools that I use. If you want to be more than a hobbyist and feel that you might want to take your experience and knowledge to a different level. I can’t express enough of how important it is to invest in proper tools. This will make your job less complicated and your finished product more professional. One investment is a really good pair of shears. I have found that this particular shear, made from high carbon stainless steel, is one of the best I have used in over 28 years in the upholstery business. I believe they cost me, through one of my vendors, 94 smackers. Worth every penny.
Now on with applying the padding. But before I get to that, one little technique that I have found (through trail and error) is attaching, to the top of the rails is a piece of 1 ½ inch edge roll. Now this technique may or may not work for you on the piece that you may tackle. But what it does for me is that it raises the rail, it provides me with a smooth hard edge, and to be able to pull the fabric and padding down over it and consequently makes for a nicer, rounder edge, front, side and rear. I cut the pieces to fit between the uprights. I use a hack saw to cut the edge roll. Use what is convenient for you. I then stapled the edge roll to the frame rails. Placing the salvage edge towards the inside of the frame and stapling it to the frame rails. Make sure that the outside edge, of the roll, doesn’t go over the outside edge of the rails. They should be flush, if not a hair back. Now for the padding.