Tackity, tackity, tack, tack... I’mmmm Baaack.. Nick here with a tutorial that is sure to be the highlight of your day. That is if you have some upholstering to do that requires upholstery tacks.
Sooo, back in the day we were tasked with creating a headboard (this headboard to be exact) that required the use of upholstery tacks. We went online and found some tacks that we really liked. Once our tacks arrived we got started.
One tack, two tack, three tack, crap!
We’re dealing bent tacks, unequally spaced tacks, and worse yet.... it was about as straight as Galloping Gertie on a stormy day (don’t recognize the reference, look it up… it’s jaw dropping). After doing some searching online I found a tool.
BINGO! This is where the extremely handy, Frugal Dutchman comes into play. Sounds like a super hero, The Frugal Dutchman! Fighting crime and saving furniture! Pow, Smack, Bang! Ok back to reality Nick, must finish post.
Cardboard, adhesive, and a utility knife; check, check, and check! I started by cutting a piece of cardboard, six inches by four inches... and then another at six inches by two inches. Adhere those babies together for strength using a spray adhesive. Then using a ruler, layout the desired spacing and cut slits in in the cardboard.
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Ready and begin, load that sucker up with tacks and start hammering them in! I hammer them in until they are sitting just above the cardboard and then I pull the cardboard out. The first couple of rounds in the cardboard will be tough, this is the break-in period. I should also mention that the Frugal Dutchman decided to use a hammer and punch instead of buying a hammer designed or decorative nails. If a tack bends over or falls off the cardboard... don’t fret! We go back and install those fallen tacks with a hammer and needle-nose pliers.
Lastly if you get a couple that stray from their inline brothers, then you can manipulate them back inline by tapping on the side of the tacks. There you have it!
To see our original transformation of this chair click (here) and for the upholstery tutorial click (here)
A super hero, several tacks, and one kick-butt project! What kinda of projects have you been working on? Are you a Frugal warrior with a unnatural ability to say NO! If so lets hear some of your stories.
"Tackity, tackity, tack, tack... I’mmmm Baaack.. " This made me LOL at work! And I looked up Gallopin' Gertie. So surreal! Looks like something from a funhouse! Might've been cool to be that car... Until you crash into the Sound!
ReplyDeleteA moment of silence for my husband's pride.
ReplyDeleteI hope one day you will do a tutorial on tufting.. I've always wondered about that:)
ReplyDeleteVery impressed with the Frugal Dutchman. I believe your wit and your humor are only surpassed by your talents. I will sleep well at night knowing that the Frugal Dutchman is ever standing guard over all old furniture everywhere. Thank you FD!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!! I just looked at my box of tacks and my unfinished chair with the very uneven tacks in it and knew I was going to have to get back at it. This is soooo clever and helpful.
ReplyDeleteI have experience that this blog is really have all those quality that characterize a blog to be a good one.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me where you found the nail/tacks?
ReplyDeleteHere is the link for the tacks; be sure to take pictures to send us. We love seeing what you guys are up too.
Deletehttp://www.kingrichardco.com/dn.htm
So glad i read this BEFORE I started in with the tacks! The cardboard idea is brilliant, thank you! I'll be finishing up my headboard this week. theyearoflivingfabulously.com
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