Buick35 Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 On my 35 Buick the interior was redone by a upholstery shop in the 70s in broad cloth.It still looks good but having to remove the door panel to replace the window I noticed the it was held on by a lot of small nails but are between the outside fabric and fiber board if that make sense.Most of the nails came out during removal.My question is,could I reinstall the panel using Velcro strips? I don't know how they installed nails under the fabric?The door has a wooden frame.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpage Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 GM at that time used nailing strips which were fastened to the door panel. There are individual replacement nails that crimp onto the board available but it does require removing the fabric from the door panel edge. I don't think that there is a simple way to repair that correctly without some work. Velcro, is not the answer. Sometimes, there is no easy fix! Restoration Specialties and I'm sure the GM parts guys carry them also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 Velcro will work and allows removal to work on window and lock mechanisms, but tends to fit the panel a little less flush to the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Hagen Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 I used 1” wide strips to attach the door panels on by 51 Buick convert. I did it in case I needed to work on the power windows which I did have to do on the passenger side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 Thanks,I'll try the Velcro first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41 Su8 Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 Re-attach the door panel with very small finish nails. Pound the nail so it just starts to depress the upholstery material. Use a needle to pull the material up an over the nail head, being careful not to cut the threads with the needle. Trim shops us a tool called a regulator which looks like a very large needle. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 30 minutes ago, 41 Su8 said: Re-attach the door panel with very small finish nails. Pound the nail so it just starts to depress the upholstery material. Use a needle to pull the material up an over the nail head, being careful not to cut the threads with the needle. Trim shops us a tool called a regulator which looks like a very large needle. John Yes, this was the common method used with wood framed cars. There are brads which slip through fabric easily. Good description….you want to drive brads in far enough to hold, not so far it, as mentioned, catches fabric… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Thanks,I'll do that. I'm still waiting or my flexable window channel that I ordered. That will be a week on Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 12 hours ago, 41 Su8 said: Re-attach the door panel with very small finish nails. Pound the nail so it just starts to depress the upholstery material. Use a needle to pull the material up an over the nail head, being careful not to cut the threads with the needle. Trim shops us a tool called a regulator which looks like a very large needle. John What he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Here's a visual if that helps....black dot for reference and to show it's same material. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chistech Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 I use a magnetized Brad driver to start my brads. Often on original wood, a good bang of the hand on the tool will set the Brad to the perfect depth. When lifting the material over the head of the Brad, slip the teasing needle under the fabric about half an inch from the Brad and in about an inch or a little more. Lift the back of the needle away from the surface and it will pull the fabric over the head without stretching too much or leaving a hole showing. By the way, this method does not work on vinyl or leather. The holes always show on that type of material. Those use the metal tack strips fastened to the back of the panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 Thanks,I'll order a regulator tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 8:50 AM, trimacar said: Here's a visual if that helps....black dot for reference and to show it's same material. I got a large upholstery needle.Would that work as a regulator?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Buick35 said: I got a large upholstery needle.Would that work as a regulator?Thanks Yes. For leather I use panel nails on wood, work great, hidden underneath and drill a small pilot hole. Edited February 19, 2022 by trimacar (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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