ericisback Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Upholstery button on front seat Uggggggggg! Any thoughts on how to get this repaired or replaced?!?! the car is a 65 Riv GS. The top of the button is gone (of course). The seats are original Black Beaumonde fabric inserts with vinyll bolsters interior (code 618). Thanks so much for any help!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Clark’s sells these buttons. Contact Clark’s Corvairs by phone is typically best. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71GS Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 https://ssl.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog.cgi?show_page_previous=R-1&show_page=13&cat=R- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 Thanks to all!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 You do realize that you’ll have to completely remove the cover to retie the button. 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moran75 Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Hi Eric i had same button missing on same seat and managed to get replacement on without major surgery. May well work in your case as well. I used what they call in UK a ‘tufting’ needle. It’s a way furniture reupholsters use to sew buttons on without having to completely open up a piece of furniture. there are videos on YouTube of people demonstrating it. it took a couple of efforts but so far button hasn’t fallen off , and though not quite as tight as the others you wouldn’t notice. And of course much better than having no button. also be careful that needle doesn’t go all way through and out the back!😀 cheers kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne R Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 ericisback, do this or similiar, make your on button to the size required by using something like in my photo,--one of those small plastic modern car push buttons that holds the engine covers on under the engine---these are corolla. then use a small tin of bondi fiberglass to shape the button to the exact size you want with a small oval shape on top.---when finished cut the ceratted base off the button so button its nice and flat. Then you go buy permanent pen , the colour you need like your seats , here in Australia you can buy any colour you want, example i purchased dark blue same colour as my seats and vinly in my convertible, When finished button, just apply to your seat with a small amount of contact cement,---buy small tin, dont use spray, just use very small detail brush, leave it apart for 30 minutes,---it will work.---well. In the mean time until you decide to complete the job correctly at a later date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 11 hours ago, RivNut said: You do realize that you’ll have to completely remove the cover to retie the button. 😳 You are not fun to talk to …. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 34 minutes ago, ericisback said: You are not fun to talk to …. 😉 Since I posted this, others have come up with alternative solutions. Hopefully one of them will work for you. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Clark's only has the type of button that you have to tie. My upholsterer was afraid he couldn't reach up into the seat back and tie the buttons off so that they would be straight and tight. Apparently, the originals are 2 piece and you push them through a hole in the fabric and snap a retainer on the back. At least that was what was on my seats that I believe to be original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 Well, the cloth for the button is back ordered at Clark’s. They do not know when they will be getting the material in. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 If the button just recently fell off, it's got to be in the car somewhere.....find it and glue the old one back on. The metal backing is still tied to the seat....it should be easy to glue it back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 1 hour ago, Seafoam65 said: If the button just recently fell off, it's got to be in the car somewhere.....find it and glue the old one back on. The metal backing is still tied to the seat....it should be easy to glue it back on. The front of the button was missing when I got it back from my detail place. I’m sure it’s gone in the same vacuum by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 1 hour ago, Seafoam65 said: If the button just recently fell off, it's got to be in the car somewhere.....find it and glue the old one back on. The metal backing is still tied to the seat....it should be easy to glue it back on. How lucky would I be, if I could find the front of that button? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogDriver Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Wouldn’t hurt to ask them if they could look in the vacuum cleaner. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 1 hour ago, ericisback said: Well, the cloth for the button is back ordered at Clark’s. They do not know when they will be getting the material in. ☹️ SMS Auto Fabrics has it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, Rockable said: Clark's only has the type of button that you have to tie. My upholsterer was afraid he couldn't reach up into the seat back and tie the buttons off so that they would be straight and tight. Apparently, the originals are 2 piece and you push them through a hole in the fabric and snap a retainer on the back. At least that was what was on my seats that I believe to be original. If the buttons are not tied off how do you get the tufting in the seams? Edited September 9, 2023 by RivNut (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 (edited) If you know the name of the fabric pattern search the internet for suppliers of vintage upholstery. Ask for a sample if the suppliers says he has it. Cap the material down over the dome of the button and gently epoxy the covered button in the button cup holder. Let the button cure. Then carefully epoxy the loose button in place. Now I cannot tell you how to be careful. I made a mask with a hole large enough for the button and epoxy to be fitted. Then I taped the newly placed button to stay for curing. The red buttons on my 63 leather upholstery kept coming off. Well I used epoxy to reattach the button. The button is not coming off. None of the buttons come off, now. Later Gator 🐊 Edited September 9, 2023 by Turbinator (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 Test Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 SMS Auto Fabrics has the black 1965 Riviera black fabric. I just brought it up again on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted September 9, 2023 Author Share Posted September 9, 2023 1 hour ago, RivNut said: SMS Auto Fabrics has the black 1965 Riviera black fabric. I just brought it up again on their website. Is this it? https://smsautofabrics.com/products/1965-buick-cloth-65-5718?_pos=6&_sid=07072ff77&_ss=r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 I think so but I couldn’t find the numbers that go along with the Buick trim code, should be 618 for the black cloth. It won’t cost you anything to ask for samples of a few different ones that might be close. Who knows, a sample might give you enough material to cover your button. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 21 hours ago, RivNut said: If the buttons are not tied off how do you get the tufting in the seams? Like this. The button is stuck through the fabric and the retainer captures it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Rockable said: Like this. The button is stuck through the fabric and the retainer captures it. That’s new to me and kooks like it works but, how can this retainer determine the depth of the button which creates the tuft AND to install the button/retainer you still need to remove the cover from the cushion to connect them. Edited September 10, 2023 by RivNut (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 The tuft is formed by layering and sewing through sew foam. In my case, we are installing new seat covers. The buttons will be installed before putting the seat covers on the frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 24 minutes ago, Rockable said: The tuft is formed by layering and sewing through sew foam. In my case, we are installing new seat covers. The buttons will be installed before putting the seat covers on the frame. That’s the only way I can imagine getting any tufting. Just putting a button on the surface would not accomplish that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 This is an image from Clark's website. You see the the seams have created the raised portion of the seat cover (tuft?) The factory simply snapped those buttons in and they were ready for installation. They didn't hand tie each button like you'd have to do with the looped ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 I think those 2-piece upholstered buttons are available (without the fabric) from multiple sources (e.g., furniture upholstery supply). Find the right size and then steal a snippet of fabric from somewhere it won't be noticed. (Maybe pull the lower back seat cushion and snip a piece from the margin underneath where it isn't needed.) Then you can try assembling the new button front (with the fabric) to your existing button back. In a perfect world, it could be snapped/crimped back together, however, likely it will be just different enough to require it be glued (2-part epoxy) together instead as @Seafoam65 suggested. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericisback Posted October 13, 2023 Author Share Posted October 13, 2023 (edited) I thought I should follow up with the outcome of my button issue. I found the correct material for the seats at SMS Auto Fabrics. They were very helpful. Just FYI, you can also order custom-made buttons from them as well. I went ahead and ordered some extra fabric just in case I ever need it. In my case, I have a local upholstery shop in my town (Pearson and Marzian Inc., in Louisville, KY) that could make the buttons and install them in the seat. They have been around since the 1930s and do great work. Since I already had the fabric when I arrived, the whole process took about an hour from start to finish. Here are a few photos of the before and after, and a photo of the upholstery shop making the 22 ligne (size) buttons for the front seat. The cost was $40 buck. Thanks to all for the help!!! Edited October 13, 2023 by ericisback (see edit history) 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted October 13, 2023 Share Posted October 13, 2023 Perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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