1870's Victorian Chair Restoration Part 5

Part 5 of an in depth series of traditional upholstery techniques. Foundation and spring work on an 1870's Victorian Gentleman's Chair.

[@balbino108]

These classes that you give us are undoubtedly of great importance because it contains many techniques that are not taught in my country. Thank you so much for everything. May the good Lord continue to bless you greatly.

[@Catalyst2]

You don't know your stuff, you rule at it. Cheers dude! Thanks for giving the knowledge to the masses.

[@josephhoak1235]

Beautiful craftsmanship and pretty chair

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

Always enjoy watching you work. Plus you don't talk us to death like so many others do.

[@ceknott]

Excellent

[@peggyt1243]

It seems more like a new chair built with 1870s techniques and materials. Your attention to detail is impressive. I look forward to the final episode.

[@lancemitchell7883]

Absolutely true craftsmanship at it's finest.

[@2cents859]

Such a knowledgeable person you are!! And amazing workmanship,.. loving ur videos I just found an eastlake parlor set and it needs lot of repair and am learning from masters like you and I feel I will be able to do that project 😀 thanks 🙏🏽 for these awesome videos ...

[@Marina0306]

Красивая работа мастера, вот именно такой должна быть мебель. Thank you!

[@lisahankes1329]

Your teaching style is fantastic and I love your informative videos! Thanks a million for sharing your techniques with us. I am working on my family antiques in Washington. Thrilled that I could use your videos to learn! You are truly a master and I love your videos!

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

My pleasure.

[@cassiededon7785]

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I really appreciate it.

[@erikazieglar7738]

The videos are excellent demonstrations, showing the upholsterers skill and art. As a hobby, I have worked with springs once on an old footstool. Very helpful for my current amateur project.

[@revelatorBob]

i get tons of ideas and learn a lot. thank you very much! please continue with tutorials such like these.

[@melindafabrikant2369]

I'm watching these videos again and again as I restore a very old chair my mom left me and which I've spent a great deal of time enjoying over the past 40 years. My questions at this point are 1) where to find the fine type of straw stuffing you're using and 2) whether I can reuse the horsehair originally used in packing the seat, sides and back of the chair?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

The straw was salvaged from this and previous projects. Keep watching (part 8) and you will see how to use the original hair.

[@melindafabrikant2369]

Hah! Nevermind - I found reference to it in your Eastlake chair video notes. Thanks so much!

[@earlbowers9577]

Beautiful to watch, Thank you for sharing.

[@nacerber1035]

Great job sir, I've watched the five parts. Thank you.

[@balbino108]

Good afternoon, Mr. Buckminster! Thank you for responding to my comments. I would like to know if it is possible to record a video that talks about the types of seams used in upholstery. Thank you very much. A big hug.

[@3Carmelina]

Excelente trabajo. He aprendido muchísimo de tus , gracias por tomarte la molestia de realizarlos. ¡Eres un experto! Saludos desde México. Thank you so much.

[@igorpolasiakmeble6057]

You are master with that . Complimenti !!

[@mmpoggs2033]

lovely job thank you

[@user-fz9gx2pg2o]

You are the best

[@dancegirlhaver3182]

amazing

[@magdatartarotti9590]

Muito obrigada!!! Fron Brasil!!!

[@darioseratti3649]

Genius!!!!

[@boblevey]

Pretty amazing work you do. I’m a wood-finisher of over 50yrs experience, when would you let the finisher have at it on something like this project?

[@israelfernandez1533]

I'm looking forward to the end result.

[@steven6068]

It is so great to watch someone passionate about their craft. Are both the pneumatic tools you are using in your videos a 22 gauge wire stapler and a narrow crown stapler or is the blue gun a wire stapler with a longer nose? Keep the great videos!!

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

Off hand, I can't tell you what gauge wire the staples are. The Duo-Fast gun is around 43 years old and shoots a smaller wire. The blue gun has a wider and heavier wire but isn't a long nose.The staples should be readily visible in the video. More videos are in the making. Stay tuned. Thanks.

[@israelfernandez1533]

I am impressed by the attention to detail. I enjoy watching the videos, I could not find the final episode did you post that yet?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

+Israel Fernandez ... No, not finished yet.

[@bluesky7838]

I'm holding out hope for the final stages of this job. I'm not an upholsterer, but I've paid (a lot!) for enough poorly done upholstery to appreciate the calm, precision and obvious care for quality work here as well as the quiet, clear and informative explanation. Even as a consumer, it's helpful and important to understand what constitutes a good job. Really nice video work, too--makes it easy to follow the small details. I'll also confess that this is just mesmerizing to watch. Thank you!

[@nancyburridge]

Have you posted the next part of this series? Looking forward to it. Great series so far. Your work is exemplary. Thank you.

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

I hope to get back to this project soon. Other things have stepped in the way. Stay tuned!

[@gmonyuph7834]

I’ve been watching the series on this chair, you are a true craftsman. This looks like a lot of work and time. My question is how much does it cost for a project like this not counting fabric?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

The chair belongs to me. I have literally hundreds of hours in restoring it. It would have cost far more than an average customer would spend.

[@periodcraftsmen]

Great job as usual. Curiously wondering why wood wool versus horse hair? Also why use staples versus tacks? Cheers, FR

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

+Freddy Roman I'm using wood wool where it was originally used. I'll be using straw and hair accordingly. I don't like the damage tacks can cause to the frame. Staples are quicker, easier and more accurate.

[@giselaszewach4673]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Your attention to detail is impressive. I really appreciate it and I learn a lot. I'm traveling to Nyc from Argentina, next week, could you recommend stores where I can buy upholstery tools? Thank you very much! Please continue with tutorials like these.

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

Albany Foam and Supply. Albany, New York.

[@giselaszewach4673]

thank you so much.

[@briedegro6014]

Can't wait to see the finished chair! Do you have the fabric already chosen?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

+Briana DeGruttola No fabric yet.

[@texasjewell]

How did you learn to do this? It is so entertaining to watch. So much detail. So nice.

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

I started hand-sewing around five years old. I was darning socks by age six... My mother was an old school seamstress and gave me my sense of direction. I was a very crafty kid... I had a couple uncles that were multi-skilled craftsmen that added to my influences. High school industrial arts with a fantastic teacher added woodworking, finishing and leather work. My mother suggesting a summer course in furniture upholstery (1975) at a nearby college opened the door to where I am now. A couple books and 42 years of practice... "See one, do one, ya'dig?" Adding Mr. Hylton to the family along with his fabulous video production skills brings us to date. I really hope to get back to the next video in this series sometime soon... Thanks for tuning in!

[@notnihen]

Thank you for taking the time to post such a detailed video. Is the burlap used for upholstery 'cleaner' than the craft kind? I just purchased a set of 5 old B.L. Marble Chair Co. chairs that have leather and possible horse hair? The padding etc is in pretty bad shape. I'm recently restored my great grandma's pedestal table and want to restore these to use with her table... but I'm allergic to burlap (the craft kind) - red blotchy skin, sore throat, red eyes, runny nose :( Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

+Elaine Hinton I doubt there is much, if any difference in Hobby Lobby burlap and that purchased from upholstery suppliers unless the craft variety has some sort of fire retardant you're allergic to. There are synthetic burlap substitutes but they are generally non-woven. In watching this video (and others) you see where following the weave lines is important in getting a straight and accurate job. Unfortunately allergies have kept many people out of this trade.

[@notnihen]

Thank you for your prompt reply sir. I grew up on a farm around many animals and plants. Not many things bothered me then except for dry tobacco hanging in the barn or mold. It is the 'fake stuff' that really makes me miserable like fragrances and cleaners. For some reason, whatever is in burlap, like from the craft stores really bothers me. Is there a suitable substitute? I worry that once the chairs were finished, I wouldn't be able to be around them anyway with the burlap inside them. My sense of smell is crazy sensitive. I once got in my sister's car and asked her if she had an air freshener in it somewhere. She did - in the glove box still inside the plastic. I'm hoping there are other (probably more expensive) options.

[@cvirtue]

@@Buckminsterupholstery Some craft stores sell an extremely open weave type of burlap which is for decorations only because it is so loose; it might be that someone just starting out would not realize the difference. (They may also sell good quality burlap; depends on the store.)

[@tonycobb4668]

If you had received the frame without any upholstery on it to copy how would you know what it should be like ? Are there reference books or would you just know through experience. Could watch you all day , brilliant work , congratulations from the UK.

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

+tony cobb I personally would not have known how to construct the back in this chair without having the original materials to guide me. There will be more interesting video in reconstructing the seat. There are books that demonstrate these traditional techniques but there are many variations from craftsman to craftsman as to how they can be applied to any given piece of furniture. Thanks for your kind words...

[@ncoaAAAA]

@@Buckminsterupholstery it´s funny, when i started to work as an upholster in my country, we work that way!!!!

[@tomluna9948]

The frame will tell you what the upholstery will look like as you construct it. On a piece that is only a frame the outcome is solely up to the craftsmans artistic veiws and experience. Often the customer will have their own ideas. Seeing what they see is the biggest challenge. But when you do hit the nail on the head the customer satisfaction is the best.

[@apwhoa7767]

Curious, was that wire part of the original design or added for support?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

Yes. Original design (not seen in Pt. 3). Wire is used for shaping the inner profile of the seat rather than wood. Not for added support.

[@Chiniotiposhish]

Good👍👌👈

[@rockoutlaw]

hi great videos i am having trouble finding new springs and the webbing any help would be appreciated thanks

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

DIY Upholstery Supply

[@rockoutlaw]

tyvm

[@pdn-vd5om]

Is it unnecessary to baton the back of the chair with webbing? Great sewing!

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

By stuffing the outer cavity the outside back upholstery will give sufficient strength and support. Webbing would not have been out of line but I'm following the original construction as closely as possible (except for tacks).

[@pdn-vd5om]

Thank you for telling me, as it is a great help.

[@bluesky7838]

Do you get work from outside of your area?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

I'm not sure what you're asking. Do I accept work shipped to me from a distance away from my location? Yes.

[@MsMOLLYKINS]

Did it get finished ?

[@Buckminsterupholstery]

I hope to get back to this project soon. Up next in my plans anyway...