Hello everyone! It's Jim from Adams Upholstery.

Some of you remember me, but I'm sure there are many new members I was last active. I am an auto upholsterer with 40 or so years of experience. I moved to Japan about 4 years ago. Thought I had given up upholstery, but that doesn't exactly jibe with why I brought a lot of my tools with me. I guess I thought something might come along, and once in a while something does.

The scene in Japan is very different from the US. They have cars of course, but not as many big and fat people like me who wear out seats quickly. Not many people own classics either, and the ones who do are a lot like those in the US . . . just throw some kind of cover over the seats or put an after market seat in there. Still, there are customs, and there is work to be done, but the demand is very small.

I've been doing a little commercial work, hotels/restaurants, but mostly I work in tourism and as a writer.

Anyway, I know this is an auto upholstery group, but some of you have furniture experience too. Is it OK to ask a furniture question?

Any thoughts on how to make a back without decorative tacks?

Someone in the neighborhood asked me to look at some chairs. I've done a lot of restaurant and medical furniture, but not much home furniture. The only thing I can think of is wrapping a cardboard/plywood panel after sticking some flathead nails through first. I hate doing that with leather/vinyl because it's so easy to puncture while hammering them in.

Thanks.