Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) the are the tools that I use.... the tool at the bottom makes the lines when held against the ruler. I bought a really thin steel ruler at hobby lobby so the tool goes by it really easy... this tool started out as a Trumpeter rivet maker for airplanes. I replaced the wheel from the wheel of a paper cutter head and using the hardware from that paper cutter head to attach to this tool. The idea is to have the wheel turn as you push it across the foam so the foam does not stretch. Some guys have been able to get good results by using a straight blade the back of, but I have never had good results till I made this tool!!!! Edited February 5, 2018 by Darren B
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 I use the ruler and a fine point sharpie to mark out the size of the buttons. In the scale of 1/24th scale 3/16" works good. Larger tufts you can go to quarter inch and up and up and up, its just what looks good for the scale. then using the ruler line up the ruler on the lines starting in one direction, place the tool and the wheel on the tool right up against the wheel then make your lines....
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 this tool I found makes the great button sizes in 1/4" scale. I got it from my son that got a dry transfer kit and no longer wanted it. Just line it up in the cross section of where the lines meet and press down hard....
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 for larger scales you need to make bigger buttons. I made this out of 1/32" aluminum tubing and using a #11 xacto blade widened the hole and put a wider lip in it by placing the blade in the tube and twisting the blade....
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 My photos are hard to see I apologize for that but the hole above the bottom left one used by the aluminum tool actually made the shape of a button!
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 For even bigger buttons I use an old mechanical plastic pencil with a reamed out opening. and if you go 1/16th scale you can use larger aluminum tubing.
Darren B Posted February 5, 2018 Author Posted February 5, 2018 (edited) So that is it. That's all it takes for me to make the headliner upholstery and for seats and back shelves for cars. I discovered it on the layitlow.com forum and the guys that invented it use it for the old school low rider upholstery, and what I use it for. You can even use a cheap paper cutter with the cutting wheel ground flat to flatten out the foam for the lines. I tried it but found the sharpie and ruler easier to get the lines more uniform. The size of the buttons and squares are up to you and your project. It is just a matter of making it look the correct size...... Edited February 5, 2018 by Darren B
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted February 6, 2018 Posted February 6, 2018 2 hours ago, Darren B said: This is the foam that I use for the button tufted upholstery.... Thanks for the information!
Darren B Posted February 6, 2018 Author Posted February 6, 2018 21 minutes ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said: Thanks for the information! Not a problem, hope it helps.
Darren B Posted February 6, 2018 Author Posted February 6, 2018 4 hours ago, gotnitro? said: Great tutorial thanks Jeff, I threw it together really fast. Hope it helps.
Darren B Posted February 11, 2018 Author Posted February 11, 2018 19 hours ago, DrKerry said: Love that headliner, wow!!! Thank you, I have to redo it, it was just a sample and I cut it crooked. May go with black instead of tan.
DrKerry Posted February 12, 2018 Posted February 12, 2018 1 hour ago, Darren B said: Thank you, I have to redo it, it was just a sample and I cut it crooked. May go with black instead of tan. Like what ya did though. Gonna have to try that myself. Would look good for bunk house walls too!!!!
Darren B Posted February 12, 2018 Author Posted February 12, 2018 11 hours ago, DrKerry said: Like what ya did though. Gonna have to try that myself. Would look good for bunk house walls too!!!! It does, gonna add them to the papa truck hauler as well!!!
Darren B Posted February 12, 2018 Author Posted February 12, 2018 no real progress on the rat rod but moving forward on the hauler. Glued the bed pieces together, now to clean up these pieces and to start on installing doors and shelves and all that good stuff now.
gatorincebu Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 Looking real good Darren ! Be Well Gator
Vince66 Posted February 20, 2018 Posted February 20, 2018 Liking these builds. Thanks for the interior forming tool shots.
Darren B Posted February 21, 2018 Author Posted February 21, 2018 On 2/14/2018 at 9:24 PM, gatorincebu said: Looking real good Darren ! Be Well Gator Thank you gator!
Darren B Posted February 21, 2018 Author Posted February 21, 2018 On 2/15/2018 at 5:14 PM, gotnitro? said: Looking good from here ! Thank you, Gotnitro!
Darren B Posted February 21, 2018 Author Posted February 21, 2018 9 hours ago, StretchW9 said: Liking these builds. Thanks for the interior forming tool shots. Not a problem, hope it works for your builds!
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