Keep in mind that not all faux leather is the same. They come in different grades -- you want automotive grade. This way it's treated for higher levels of UV exposure, withstands more rubbing, etc.

You never want to use a fabric made for indoor furniture on automotive. Just like you never use automotive on marine. All these fabrics receive different chemical treatments to withstand the elements they'll face.

A good supplier should be able to point you in the right direction.

I really like the NC long arms — they have everything from regular to extra-heavy duty, single needles, twin needles, zig zags, etc. And they're all reasonably priced. Like @Tyler Resch said, the guys are great. Their customer service is unbeatable.

If you can afford to wait, buy it in October when NC's annual SEMA sale starts. You'll save money.

Reach out to Albright's Supply. They might have it -- or be able to point you in the right direction: www.albrightssupply.com

Shipping is rarely free. The seller just factors the cost into the price of the product and acts like he did you a favor. It's all psychological.

I don't see any problems doing this, especially if customers gripe when they see shipping costs on the invoice.

The good folks at Hydes Leather also sell really nice plaid fabric. Check it out here.

Happy New Year Fred! Times have been tough, but as Lee said, we're still standing, thank God.

Hey @James Fox. Check out this article we published in 2019: Pro Tip: How to Figure Out How Much Leather You Need

Basically, hides are highly irregular. No two will ever be the same in size, shape, grain, etc. They're also not symmetrical. That's part of the charm.

But a general rule of thumb is: 1 yard of 54″ wide fabric = 18 square feet of leather

So, if a project calls for 5 yards of vinyl, but you want to do the job in leather. Just multiply 5 x 18 to determine that you’ll need 90 square feet of leather.

Most hides range in size from 40 to 60 square feet, and as @Dan Reinke says, you also need to account for waste.

We published a full-on photo tutorial on how to do this in 2012. Click here to check it out.

How did you resolve this? Did you give EZ On a call?

Most aftermarket convertible top manufacturers have technical folks on staff who could walk us through difficult installs, but I hear not a lot of trim shops take them up on the offer.

One thing to consider is how old are your spools of thread and how you're storing them. Ones that sit around for months can build up a lot of dust and gunk that makes it sticky and difficult to unravel.

Factors like light, humidity, dust, and smoke can all impact spools of thread. Best to store them properly when not in regular use.

Hey @FRANK HEDQUIST, I agree with @Princess Dion, Dinamica is a great option. We published an article about it last May, which you can read here. A lot of people can't even tell them apart.

27 YEARS? I hope your back is ok... :rofl:

It's the same contact as before: www.electrontop.com

If you order from the new Electron, please update us on your experience.

Philip Opper purchased ElectronTop Manufacturing Company, changed the name to Electron Auto Tops and moved the operation from New York to South Carolina.

Philip Opper is the previous owner of E-Z ON Auto Tops.

I see the 2001 all over Ebay -- though they're used.

The 2100 is a nice gun.

:lol: :rofl: :lol:

It'll be interesting to see who buys up their inventory.

Everything hit the auction block this week: https://rjmauctions.com/online_detroitbodyproducts/assets.html

Yup @Adam Gabriel. It's absolutely true.

We just published an article about it: https://www.thehogring.com/2021/06/04/detroit-body-products-out-of-business/

Detroit Body Products is auctioning off it's entire inventory of OEM fabrics starting this weekend.

Wow, great find @Rebecca Rohland! Some amazing machines here.

We turned it into an article to let other trimmers know of this cool opportunity: https://www.thehogring.com/2021/04/30/jcpenny-auction-upholstery-machines/

Thank you!

@Vincent De Gronckel that was pretty funny!

Happy to post a short clip on Instagram stories to boost your views if you like.

Upholstery by RIP-J posted this DIY jig on Instagram the other day: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNWKKS8MVwY/

Woah, that's a decent price @Steve Ingram.

We get emails all the time from retiring trimmers looking to sell their books. It's difficult to say what they're worth. But that's a nice chunk of change for books you no longer use.

We primarily focus on short- to medium length projects -- mostly repairs. In our market, that's where the most money is.

Sometimes we'll take on custom and long-term projects for friends and loyal customers. But if we can help it, we stick with the repairs.

But that's just what works for us. I wouldn't generalize and say that's a good strategy for every shop. It really depends on your market -- what customers want, how much money they have to spend, and what the competition looks like. You have to assess all that to figure out your best move.

Hit up Tavis Highlander for input. He designs all the interior renderings in our free design studio. Really talented guy -- and super nice too.

If you're looking for a solid double-needle, the NC11 is a workhorse. You can even get it as a long arm, which is pretty sweet. Talk to @Mal Maher at NC. He can give you details.