I bought this Bespaq sofa on eBay because I love the lines and the
simplicity of the frame. The fabric however is another matter.
I want to reupholster it but I am not sure about the best way to remove the
fabric. If anyone has some experience with this sort of project, I would
appreciate your tips and advice. Perhaps you even have a 'How to" link you found
you would like to share.
Thank you!!!
This gentleman does a lot of reupholstering of Bespaq and JBM, etc. Maybe send him an email?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/50655402@N03/8231754409/in/set-72157625743648239
I am afraid I am not able to find an email address for Ken Haseltine. He sure does a beautiful job on all the pieces he reupholsters though.
DeleteDoes anyone have an email address for him?
Dalle foto sembra incollato, quindi potresti provare a staccare le varie parti con l'aiuto di un cutter, e foderare una parte alla volta, mettendo la colla solo sul retro delle varie parti.Se invece vuoi anche cambiare colore alla struttura devi smontarlo completamente foderare le parti e poi incollarle
ReplyDeleteGrazie Melymel. Spero proprio che non rovinare il legno, ma se lo fa accadere sarò rifinito esso. Sono un po 'preoccupato per questo progetto
DeleteYou could try carefully peeling the upholstery off, and if it's stuck, heat it a couple seconds in microwave to soften up the glue.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susu. I never would have thought you could do that. :-)
DeleteHere you go: https://plus.google.com/103310758626522019753/about#103310758626522019753/about
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I have sent ken an email. I will be a bit surprised if I hear from him though. I will let you know if he answers me. :-)
DeleteLovely sofa Catherine, I can understand why you bought this one. I have never reupholstered a piece like this, but I know a lot of people do so I guess it shouldn't be that difficult.
ReplyDeleteI think I would start picking the fabric loose with a scalpel or something like that. Starting at the outside sides and back so you can then see what is going on on the inside and front. Lightly pull at the fabric and maybe heat it with a blow dryer a bit if the glue is too strong. I have never put a piece in the microwave (as I don't own one) but I would be worried all of the glue would soften, including the glue keeping the structure together. But I hope some people can tell you more about their experiences with this process. You can use the original fabric as a pattern, but you probably already knew that ;-)
Thanks Josje! I loved how simple the frame is. It will work very well with the other pieces I have.
DeleteYes your are right. I will have to use the removed fabric as a pattern. I hope I don't make a mess of it.
I was also worried the wood joints would come unglued if I microwaved it. So a hair dryer sounds safer.
Hello Catherine, I do not know if it could help, but Martha Mclean reupholstered that same sofa and blogged about it: http://www.myprojectsinminiature.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2013-01-18T08:40:00-08:00&max-results=7
ReplyDeleteI hope this is useful. good luck.
Big hug,
Giac
Thank you Giac. I will have a look at that web page. XXX
DeleteSorry Catherine, I can't help you, because I have never done such a job before. I see the others could help you, so I also can see on these sites how to do this job.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Ilona
Hugs to you Ilona. Thank you for leaving a message. :-)
DeleteWOW Giac!!! That is fantastic!!! Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I have all of you to share with. Thank you and great big hugs to Everyone for their help and comments!
As others have mentioned, heat will help soften the glue.
ReplyDeleteI also use a temporary fabric adhesive quite a bit. It comes in spray form and dissolves after a few minutes. I use it to hold the old and new upholstery fabrics together while I cut, rather than tracing the old piece onto the new. It saves a bit of time, and is more accurate. I also sometimes use the spray on the top of the cushions to prevent the fabric from wiggling about and distorting. It's a life saver if you are planning to use striped fabric! The brand I use is Sulky.
Thank you Eliza. I really appreciate the wonderful tips you have given me. XXX
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI once tried to disassemble a piece of mini furniture, not Bespaq but a cheap Euro Minis desk in the microwave.
It only took 10 seconds on 900 Watt and a little careful wiggling.
You should always carefully watch the process and I must add, in my attempt no fabric was involved.
I do not know if (synthetic) fabric would catch fire or not.
The whole thing came apart but nothing some tiny dabs of glue won't fix.
Thought I should share the experience, but for those who try: you try at own risk.
Whatever method you choose: good luck :)
Yes, I was afraid of the microwave method for just getting off the fabric. I can see the wood joints would come unglued too. Too scary for me. Though it might have worked for someone else. :-)
DeleteNo tips to offer I'm afraid but I did buy a Bespaq sofa at the Sydney fair so I will be checking out the Giac's link and looking forward to seeing what you do with yours.
ReplyDeleteML Fi x
I have never even seen a piece of Bespaq in person. I am really looking forward to getting the settee in the mail.
DeleteI look forward to seeing your sofa.
I think I am going to try the hair dryer idea to get the fabric off.
LOL
ReplyDeleteHere is revealed, WHO blew me the sofa :-)
I see you've already had a great help from many people, so I believe that you have a clear idea.
I usually reupholstered chairs and sofas without disassembling them (with the method indicated via the Giac link) and I must say it is a difficult job but gives good results.
For you will be a no brainer :-)
Curious to see the result.
Lovely hugs,
Flora
I understand they don't use a great deal of glue and it shouldn't be too hard to get off the fabric that is on the sofa.
DeleteI can assure you no one would ever get one of the wing chairs I made apart without destroying it.
Thank you Flora!
Hi Catherine, I did my own upholstering the way Josje explaines in her comment. It worked out well, but then I upholstered a rather cheap piece of Euromini's. So it was less risky than in your case: ruining your precious Bespac piece would be awfull. Good luck, and I hope to see the result. I am sure you will make a unique and gorgeous piece of furniture of it!
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I am going to try. Thank you!
DeleteCatherine, there is a most helpful tutorial by Kris from Dollhouse Miniature Furniture - Tutorial/1 inch minis. I have never seen a more accurate tutorial but I can't find it. I looked and looked last night and this morning and I can't find it. I give up. If you're interested, you'll have to look for it. It's not on her regular blog. It belongs to the CDHM website. I have it in my favourites somewhere but since I have like a million favourites, I can't find it there either. This is so frustrating! Well, at least I tried! Good luck finding it. If you do, it's the answer to your problem.
ReplyDeleteLucille, What a sweetheart you are to have tried so hard to find that for me. Thank you! I feel sure I can find it. I will look for it this afternoon. Thank you for all your trouble!!!
DeleteSorry I'm so late, Catherine. Almost all my furniture in my house is Bespaq or similar and dumb ol' me, I just yanked the old fabric off --no heating, though that sounds like a good tip! I used a blade but that's about it. Your Crazy Cord piping covered any minor flaws. Just do it and I am CERTAIN your make-over will be BRILL!
ReplyDeleteWOW john. The furniture in your house is all lovely! I am really looking forward to the sofa arriving.
DeleteThanks for your confidence. I hope i don't make a mess of it. ;-)
Missed your post Catherine but glad I found it the sofa is beautiful. I have just bouth a couple of similar chairs at the Fair and had little trouble removing the covered pieces, they must have been quite old and they just came away. One frame also fell to pieces to I just have to sand all the wooden bits and recover the fabric pieces. I will finish reading all the comments though I am sure to learn something. Look forward to seeing your recovered sofa!
ReplyDeleteI've had so much trouble trying to find this information. Thanks for sharing everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to determine if anyone ever found a tutorial on reupholstery by Kris of 1 Inch Minis that Lucille said belongs to the CDHM website and is not on Kris' site.All I can find on CDHM is a nice tut by Kerri Pajuti-to Reupholster a wing chair.Just wondering if there was some mistake,or if I misunderstood.I would love to see it if Kris did do such a tutorial,as her work is always so helpful to us all.Thanx!Kat
ReplyDeleteKat... The only one I found was by Kerri Pajutee. She was the one who said to microwave your piece of furniture to loosen the glue. I think if I had done that with the Bespaq sofa it would have fallen apart. Meaning all the wood joints too.
DeleteYes,it just might have,and man,that would have been a shame,with this lovely piece!Well,thanx for your answer and again,thanx for sharing your talents and skills with the rest of us.I always enjoy coming 'here'! :) Kat
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