Upholstery
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- vontresc
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:51 pm
- First Name: Peter
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N569DS
- Airports: KMSN
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 22 times
Upholstery
Just trying to get an idea of costs involved. Our -40 now has 3500+ hours, and the front seats are pretty worn. It is time to look at getting the leather and foam replaced. What have you guys. done? Get new covers from Diamond? Find a local shop? Also what should I be budgeting?
thanks
Peter
thanks
Peter
- astaib
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2018 9:00 pm
- First Name: Arnaud
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: FGNJX
- Airports: LFPX
- Has thanked: 244 times
- Been thanked: 51 times
Re: Upholstery
Hi Peter,
I had all my interior seats + sides and roof plates done for 3k€ by an old lady specialist in car upholstery.
Arnaud.
I had all my interior seats + sides and roof plates done for 3k€ by an old lady specialist in car upholstery.
Arnaud.
Arnaud
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
Wingtip, landing and taxing LED (Whelen)
Skitube
GNS430 NON-WAAS
Steam gauges
Non certified ADS-b
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
Wingtip, landing and taxing LED (Whelen)
Skitube
GNS430 NON-WAAS
Steam gauges
Non certified ADS-b
- Roxi5m9
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:13 pm
- First Name: Nick
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N597RA
- Airports: 5M9
- Has thanked: 42 times
- Been thanked: 16 times
Re: Upholstery
I’d love to hear more about experiences and costs as well as we should do our interior soon. Any recommendations in the Midwest or Southeast would be appreciated.
N597RA 40.444
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
‘04 DA40-180
ATP, CFI
5M9, Marion, KY
- perossichi
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:05 am
- First Name: Peter
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N925RH
- Airports: KVNY
- Has thanked: 31 times
- Been thanked: 75 times
Re: Upholstery
My front seats (2002) were a mess. The co-pilot had a 2" long cut in the leather and the pilot's seat was severely worn in the small of the back area. They were also dirty.
I bought a leather reconditioning kit from Leather World Technologies (they sell materials for car seats). I picked the grey color from their color pallet. You use vinyl filler to replace tears and holes. Clean, abrade and dye the seat. It takes a lot of patience as the dye requires at least 5-6 thin coats to cover everything. Then you seal with a silicone compound. I also redid the back seats which were dirty but in better shape.
I did this in 2017 and have flown 500 hours since then and the repairs still look like brand new.
The only problem is that this approach requires time and patience for the repair to come out well.
I bought a leather reconditioning kit from Leather World Technologies (they sell materials for car seats). I picked the grey color from their color pallet. You use vinyl filler to replace tears and holes. Clean, abrade and dye the seat. It takes a lot of patience as the dye requires at least 5-6 thin coats to cover everything. Then you seal with a silicone compound. I also redid the back seats which were dirty but in better shape.
I did this in 2017 and have flown 500 hours since then and the repairs still look like brand new.
The only problem is that this approach requires time and patience for the repair to come out well.
Sold 2002. Powerflo, Hartzell composite two blade, 530W/430, 345 transponder.
-
- 2 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:27 pm
- First Name: Peter
- Aircraft Type: OTHER
- Aircraft Registration: NONE
- Airports:
- Has thanked: 8 times
- Josh F
- 2 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 11:22 am
- First Name: Joshua
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N867DS
- Airports: KGAI
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Upholstery
The seats can be pretty easily refinished. Find your higher-end car upholstery shop near you. Pull all the seats out and have them repair and re-dye the seats. It won't cost you much
Peter, which kit did you use from Leather World? I just bought a 2008 XLS and the leather seats are in BAD shape - the center panels for lumbar and seat pan need replacing on all 4 seats. I'd love to fix them, but my reserves are already deep in the hole on required maintenance, so I'm interested in the DIY solution.
Peter, which kit did you use from Leather World? I just bought a 2008 XLS and the leather seats are in BAD shape - the center panels for lumbar and seat pan need replacing on all 4 seats. I'd love to fix them, but my reserves are already deep in the hole on required maintenance, so I'm interested in the DIY solution.
- Colin
- 5 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 2006
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
- First Name: Colin
- Aircraft Type: DA42
- Aircraft Registration: N972RD
- Airports: KFHR
- Has thanked: 319 times
- Been thanked: 527 times
Re: Upholstery
On the other forum I frequent interior work by non-aviation people is considered A Bad Thing, primarily because the materials in the plane all have a fire rating and, oddly, they do not in a car.
Of course, this matters less with our planes since there have been so few post-crash fires.
Of course, this matters less with our planes since there have been so few post-crash fires.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
- Charles K
- 4 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:46 pm
- First Name: Charles
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N5WU
- Airports: KCCR
- Has thanked: 26 times
- Been thanked: 98 times
Re: Upholstery
I'm also interested to know which kit from LeatherWorld as well as which color (thinking F37 Lt Grey). Mine are a bit dirty as well. Thanks!
Charles
KCCR Based
N5WU - 2004 G1000 DA40 40.400, GTX345R ADS-B, WAAS Upgraded in 2021 via Diamond Upgrade Program
IFR and ME Rated - Advanced Ground Instructor Rated
KCCR Based
N5WU - 2004 G1000 DA40 40.400, GTX345R ADS-B, WAAS Upgraded in 2021 via Diamond Upgrade Program
IFR and ME Rated - Advanced Ground Instructor Rated
- perossichi
- 3 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2018 4:05 am
- First Name: Peter
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N925RH
- Airports: KVNY
- Has thanked: 31 times
- Been thanked: 75 times
Re: Upholstery
I used IN52 Lgtgray2 as the color from Leatherworld technology.
The key to getting good results is to apply everything in very thin coats and be patient.
When u use the vinyl filler, also apply very thin coats and sand with 800 grit emery paper.
I should have taken before and after pics, but tears and worn spots are now gone. The silicone sealer works great.
I used a hair dryer to dry dye coats so that I could put on several coats per hour.
Make sure you allow the final dye coat to dry for at least 24 hours before putting the seal coat on.
I used the color prep solution very vigorously and with multiple applications to get rid of a great deal of dirt on the pilot and co pilot seats.
The key to getting good results is to apply everything in very thin coats and be patient.
When u use the vinyl filler, also apply very thin coats and sand with 800 grit emery paper.
I should have taken before and after pics, but tears and worn spots are now gone. The silicone sealer works great.
I used a hair dryer to dry dye coats so that I could put on several coats per hour.
Make sure you allow the final dye coat to dry for at least 24 hours before putting the seal coat on.
I used the color prep solution very vigorously and with multiple applications to get rid of a great deal of dirt on the pilot and co pilot seats.
Sold 2002. Powerflo, Hartzell composite two blade, 530W/430, 345 transponder.
- Josh F
- 2 Diamonds Member
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 11:22 am
- First Name: Joshua
- Aircraft Type: DA40
- Aircraft Registration: N867DS
- Airports: KGAI
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Upholstery
My key interest is repairing the lumbar inserts and seat pan inserts. Any sense whether the Leather World product could work on something like this:
https://lonemountainaircraft.sharefile. ... 2f713f5732
Thanks again,
Josh
https://lonemountainaircraft.sharefile. ... 2f713f5732
Thanks again,
Josh