Build your own poker table upholstery

You will need either two tables or a saw horse set up, which I recommend covering up with newspaper or painting cloth (see Figure 20.1) so they don’t get spray on adhesive all over them. You’ll need one can of spray-on adhesive for the job. I had great luck with V&S 581 Foam and Fabric Spray Adhesive. It’s strong and dries fast, so you’ll need to have everything lined up and ready to go the moment you start spraying.

Figure 20.1: Start with the ends

Figure 20.2: Padding completed on one end

Start with the ends. Center the foam length-wise and centered on the frame. Lift up one end and spray the adhesive on both the foam and the wood allowing just a few seconds before setting the foam back down. You don’t need to overdo it on the spray. Use just enough to secure the foam to the wood. For the moment, just concentrate on attaching foam to the straight part of the end of the frame. Use your hand to press down on the top of the foam. This will help the adhesive catch as much of the foam as possible.

For the corners, you will need to cut out 3 or 4 V-shaped notches into the inside of the foam to make the turn (see Figure 20.3). Start out small and increase the size of the notches as much as you need to make the foam as smooth as possible thru the turn. As soon as you are happy, repeat the spraying technique for the corners and be sure to spray between the cuts so they will dry and stay together. There’s a little extra pressure on the adhesive due to the curve, so hold the padding down with your hands for a minute or so longer than on the strait piece before releasing the pressure. See Figure 20.2 for what the final end should look like. Repeat these steps with the opposite end and corners before starting with the sides.

The sides are a bit easier. You will most likely end up with a piece that’s a bit too long and needs to be cut to fit between the two end pieces. When cutting, leave just a little extra to form a “tight fit” at the seam. Make as straight of a cut through the padding as. Use the same spraying procedure as with the straight runs on the end, but be sure to spray between the seams of each piece of foam on both sides and stick them together. This will prevent the seam from being visible through the Naugahyde later on. Here is what you will end up with.

<< Previous page | Next page >>