Greetings fellow Trimmers,

I have been reading the Hog Ring forum and doing some on-line training trying to get back in the game after taking a twenty plus year break. Things have been progressing very rapidly as I have already completed a 1996 Glastron, a 1983 F150 full interior (which included repainting all the plastic with SEM paint), several motorcycle seats, and a 1952 170B Cessna. You don’t know it yet, but thank you so very much for all of your assistance and inspiration. Thanks to Mr. Muaddi also for the access to the Hog Ring and the wonderful articles. I found a gentleman, John Pollock, on YouTube from the Lucky needle who is a school trained Trimmer and has posted some helpful videos. John also has quit a few training videos that he sells as a course; they go into more detail than the regular videos. I was having real trouble with pattering and read about others using plastic to make patterns but until I went through his course it just didn’t click. I am going gang busters now and am creating my own custom seat patterns. I sent John an email with a couple of pictures where he had helped me pattern a seat and we started to email back and forth. I checked out his Facebook page and saw where he had taken a course with Mobile Solutions in Tempe, AZ after looking at some extremely nice door panels he created. I asked John how he came across the course and he said they have a website that has all their training on it. So I went on-line and checked it out and sure enough there was a course 4-7 August 2018 called “Master Tech Hot Rod.” It cost $1,500 for a four day course but when you look at what you can learn I thought there is no way I am passing this up.

-insert tactical pause here-

So, I retire out of the Army in 17 months and want to do Upholstery again. I used to help out my Dad when I was younger and have an extreme passion for working on cars; so in April I filed with the State and feds to Start Fish House Upholstery LLC. I have purchased 2 new Consews, a skiving machine, carpet binder and completely retooled my shop to focus on upholstery. My master genius plan was to start slowly, maybe do 2 or 3 projects a year and go full throttle when I retire. Plan “A” failed. I have more work than I can do, which feels awesome! I have had to take leave 3 times to finish jobs but at least I work for a very understanding boss. I am just glad I am not in a line unit anymore and my G3 Operation position will allow for a good transition.

So I ran into a fellow name Ken on base who is a civilian that build three to four cars a year. I told him about the course I am going to and showed him the before and after pics of the F150 project. Ken was impressed enough to give me the interior job on the 68 Mercury he is working on. It works out perfect because he wants custom door panels and console which falls in line perfect with what I am going to learn next month. Anyway I am pretty nervous about posting anything as I really don’t know enough to be a very good contributor, but I am willing to learn and at least share my failures or successes for the betterment of the group. I would also like to make a pitch to see if there is any way to give John Pollock “the Lucky Needle” another chance to apply to the forum. He belonged before I got here and for whatever reason didn’t make the cut. The only thing I will say is through dealing with him I was able to translate the concepts you all were talking about into a step by step process that made perfect sense. I saw other folks posting the same questions I was having. His course cost me 40 bucks or something like that, which to me was more than reasonable, but even all the free info was a super helpful.

Between this forum and taking some courses, and getting help from a local Master Trimmer, John Eckhart, things are going very well. I really wanted to say thank you all for your knowledge and great topics that you discuss. It is very informative as well as interesting and I look to the day that I will be able to contribute back to the profession that I truly love.

I must also give a huge thank you to Mr. Cesar Chavez as I have been a long time subscriber to his YouTube channel and have gained a whole new appreciation for the art of wrapping interiors in leather.
Thank you Sir.

Does anyone here know of any other professional courses out there for Trimmers?

Don LaMott
Fish House Upholstery LLC.
Boise, ID
(208) 869-4057