Custom upholstery trim fabrication, wire-on, hidem, so forth....

[trimacar]

For years, Enfield Auto Restoration provided a service of making custom upholstery trim, such as wire-on and hidem welting, from your leather.  This enabled a trimmer to match the leather being put in a car, see picture, custom leather and wire-on made to match.

 

Enfield quit doing that service (although they're still in the restoration business, of course!), and put the equipment up for sale.

 

I'm happy to say that a company has bought the equipment, and is now back in the business of providing custom trim supplies.  Below is the contact information.  They make wire-on, hidem welting, single and double edge binding, from your leather and in any length.  No, I have no financial interest in this service, I'm just happy it's back and available to us!

 

Cory Cook

c/o L'Cars

110 West Poplar Ave.

Cameron, Wi 54822

 

His cell phone is 715-520-3776

 

[joe_padavano]

Thanks for the heads-up.

[Guest BillP]

Dave, could you enlighten this poor soul and explain what hidem, wire-on and single and double edge binding is?

[Walt G]

I had read here that the making of custom upholstery trim had stopped being made by Enfield Auto Restoration and thought "oh no" another valuable and necessary resource to keep cars being restored properly is now gone. Thank you so much for posting that a new owner has taken up the task and will provide this service, and their contact information . This is great news and sincerely appreciated.

[trimacar]

Sure.....

 

Single edge binding is a strip  of leather, 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide, skived thin, and folded over on one side

 

Double edge binding is same, folded over on both sides.

 

Both of the above are used for finishing off edges of tops, carpet, or anywhere a finished edge is needed.

 

Hidem is sewn with two beads, and an opening between the beads.  You can open this up, drive a tack (or staple) through, and the beads close up to hide the fastener.

 

Wire-on has an integral zig-zag wire, with a small bead on one edge, and a large half-round bead as the other side.  You tack (or staple) in place, then the large bead folds over to hide the fasteners, and the wire keeps it closed once bent.

 

I hope that, and the illustration below, help you understand these different trims.  These trims are usually easily available, in stock, as vinyl items, but finding leather trim is difficult.  The advantage of the custom made trim is that no matter what color or finish your leather, you can have exact matching trim, since it's MADE with your leather.  I don't know what current pricing is, it's done by the foot, but it's a very small percentage of an overall upholstery job and it can really make the finished job perfect....

[Guest BillP]

Thank you, sir.

[Restorer32]

Yeah, there is good news today!

[Friartuck]

One of the important trim items that this service offers is the wire-on and not pictured. This is where you want the seat edging to match the seat. It requires you sending Cory some of the leather from your project and it will be returned as wire-on, hidem, etc.

[PFitz]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

Dwayne made up two cars worth of leather trim for me just before the operation was put up for sale. Good to know it will still continue to be available.  

 

Paul 

[trimacar]

27 minutes ago, Friartuck said:

One of the important trim items that this service offers is the wire-on and not pictured. This is where you want the seat edging to match the seat. It requires you sending Cory some of the leather from your project and it will be returned as wire-on, hidem, etc.

You mean welting for the seams of seats?  I get them to skive the leather and then make my own welting, but think they do this too.

 

Just to be clear, the picture I posted of the different trims is NOT from L'cars nor the gentleman doing the leather trim work now.  The image was borrowed from an online fabric supplier, LB.....thanks dc

[PFitz]

1 minute ago, Friartuck said:

One of the important trim items that this service offers is the wire-on and not pictured. This is where you want the seat edging to match the seat. It requires you sending Cory some of the leather from your project and it will be returned as wire-on, hidem, etc.

 Here ya go.

 

First picture is the special wire-on core material.

Second is wire-on made by Dwayne at Enfield.

Third is wire-on folded shut over it's tacking strip.

 

Hopefully, Cory does equally well, because It's not easy to make wire-on without the proper setup.  

 

Paul 

[lump]

Great photos, Paul. That really makes it clear to everyone. 

[Friartuck]

Lcars has updated their website to announce their service:

 

http://lcars.com/pages/upholstery.php

 

 

[trimacar]

The equipment that was sold to L'cars includes a device that takes round cording and makes it into the half oval shape needed for the wire-on shown.  The other secret to all the things they will now make, the leather has to be skived (thinned) to a very thin top layer only.   I wish them great success with the business, it's a valuable service, somewhat of a niche market, but my understanding is they hope to expand it as they go.

[INTERNI AUTO MAIELI SNC]

Good afternoon everyone .. we are an Italian vintage car upholstery .. I am looking for the uncoated wireon profile.
Can anyone help me???
Thanks so much

INTERIORS CAR MAIELI SNC