Stapling a New Seat Cover

Must be cold up there. Making things comfy for Santa?
dan

CelticDude said:

That plastic is tough! 8O

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I had the same wrestling problem when I did mine, had to press down really hard for the staples to go through the plastic if not like you they just buckled.

Regards

Sparks.

When I did mine, I bought 3 different staple guns to try. All of them failed miserably.
I ended up going to an upholstery shop and paid them 10 bux to do a perfect job.
(On the half that I didn't bodge anyway)

the only one that works for me is a 30 year old bostich with the pentroof type staples (which are hard to find anymore). i've got a newer arrow that seems pretty wimpy. but its true you have to hold it tight against the surface

I had the same problem too, then used the smaller framed hand stapler, stanley t 25 I think, and it worked fine with 1/4 or 5/16 staples. The staples are finer and stab in easier it seems. I swab the area where the cover will touch the base with contact cemetn to help it from tearing through the staples.

I use a heavy duty mechanical stapler, not a powered stapler. I make sure the stapler is in the right position, push with my body weight to keep it in place then push hard and fast on the lever (I just added this precision, as it could sound awkward).

I always do the tips fist, then the mid section (behind the tips of the wedges), then in between, and make sure I pull strong on the seat cover each time.

I have done 3 seats so far, the latest when I added the Gut Racing seat with a custom seat out of some strong material one guy sold me one day on TT. The result is as good as out of a shop. Now, the seat plastic will not allow for much reupholstering. I'd say 3 seats total and then you're done.

I have tried an electric as well as an air powered stapler. The first one was not powerful enough, the second was too inaccurate. I guess you'd need an expensive air stapler to do the job right, something dedicated for uphosltery.

I realize this thread is old but… I just recovered my seat with the same electric stapler that I used on other bikes over the years, same issue, bent, poorly seated staples.
I bought an Arrow PT50 air powered stapler for like $30, used the same t50 staples and they went in beautifully, no duds.

ditto. i even had to turn the pressure way down